Mother Of The Bride Pant Suits, Plus Size to Petite

Your little girl's getting married! You're going to be the mother of the bride, and that carries responsibilities. Not only will you want to look your best, you won't want to outshine your beautiful daughter on her most important day. A neat trick, if you can do it!

Dresses can be very pretty but, with all the frills and flounces, they can prevent you from doing all the rushing about that the bride's mother often has to do on the wedding day. For those women who, for whatever reason, prefer to keep their legs out of view, a pant suit is very suitable. Mother of the bride pant suits can be just as feminine as a dress but have the advantage of the mobility given by any other women's pant suit. What's more, pant suits for weddings are not at all unusual these days.

You will have a place of honor at the top table and everyone will be able to see how you look. You can't let your daughter down now, you've brought her this far. So, without stealing her limelight, you have to look the part. You're older than the bride and the bridesmaids but you're still a woman. Women can carry themselves with style and elegance at any age.

Don't think that you can leave shopping for your mother of the bride pant suit until the last moment. Start planning now because in the rush of the run up to the wedding, your outfit could become an afterthought.

How you dress will depend on your age, general appearance and, the clincher, your outlook on life and fashion in general. If the bride and bridesmaids are all wearing gowns, you don't need to worry about competing with them. Don't follow fashion, lead it!

A pant suit on the mother of the bride can often flatter her more than a dress and yet be just as dressy. (If you see what I mean!) There are some really great pant suits on sale these days, in every fit from plus size to petite, so don't think you can't find one to suit you. For an honest opinion of what will suit you best on the big day, ask your friends. Better still, ask your daughter! Daughters can be very frank at times ...

One great advantage for the mother of the bride who wears a pant suit is that she can re-use the separates or even the whole ensemble in the future. It's harder for the bride's mother to do this if she has chosen to wear a special dress for the occasion.

The first choice is whether to have your pant suit tailor-made or to buy one off the rack. Don't just jump at the tailor-made option even if you have the cash, there are some very good pant suits to be had ready made.

Choose the color carefully, it should not only go with your own style, it shouldn't clash with the bride's or the bridesmaids' outfits. Try to avoid the very formal and businesslike suits that are often worn to work. This is a joyous occasion and, as the mother of the pride, your pant suit should reflect that. Consider softer, feminine materials such as satin or linen. Allow for fancy bead-work in places if you wish.

Don't be afraid, be original. You're entitled to enjoy yourself a little on this special day. After all, you are the mother of the bride! Try unusual (for you) colors and textures.

Wearing a pant suit as the mother of the bride gives you a lot more options than wearing a dress for the wedding when it comes to accessories. Let your personality shine out here. Select jewelry that you love but seldom get a chance to wear. You know all those treasured things in the back of your jewelry box? Get them all out and examine every one of them. You've probably got some real treasures in there. Is there anything that your daughter bought you when she was a child? A cheap little plastic brooch in the shape of a mermaid, perhaps? Now is the time to wear it and wear it with pride!

Give some thought to your shoes. You might look great in killer heels, but will you feel great at the end of the day? Flats can look just as good as heels if you get a feminine style. Don't get working shoes of either kind, you're dressing up, remember?

If both you and your daughter are comfortable with the style and color that you choose for your mother of the pride pant suit, everything will be fine.