I'm recommending these 9 elegant mother of the bride outfits to all my friends - and saving them for when it's my turn

Congratulations! Weddings are a time for celebrating, and it's especially exciting if your role is mother of the bride. Watching your daughter tie the knot is a significant life event, and you deserve to look and feel fabulous in the best mother of the bride outfit.

I'm a fashion editor and personal shopper, and I've helped lots of women find special occasion looks. This year, two of my friends, Angela and Debbie, are both celebrating their daughters' weddings and have asked for my advice on suitable outfits. I've also got two daughters myself, and although there are no signs of them settling down just yet, I've always got my eye on the styles that would make the perfect outfit if and when the day finally arrives!

Start by discussing the details with your daughter. Will the wedding be traditional or more relaxed? What is the happy couple's overall vision and theme for the wedding day? These details are really important and will have a big impact on your outfit, as the kind of look you’d wear for a formal black tie wedding is very different from what you’d want to wear to a relaxed garden party.

Celebrity stylist Rachel Fanconi, who counts Hollywood A-lister (and over 50s fashion icon) Dame Helen Mirren among her clients, says: “Check the dress code first, are there any traditional rules you must follow, or a certain colour theme?” Once you know the type of outfit you need, you can start to look for styles that will flatter your figure, accentuate your best features and make you feel confident.

“Don’t feel pressured by the weight of the big occasion and stray too far away from your core look”, says Rachel. “You don’t automatically have to wear a dress if that's not your usual thing. Comfort is key, you can always tell if a woman feels great.”

Think about the photos and how your dress will look alongside the bride and her bridesmaids. It will likely be a long and emotional day, and you’ll need to feel confident in your outfit so you can feel present and enjoy the event. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the shopping experience and reduce any possible stress by thinking about your budget before you start.

9 best mother of the bride outfits

So with all that in mind, I've done the hard work for you, trying on the best that the high street has to offer. I've found nine fabulous outfits that are far from frumpy, and will ensure you look as great as the bride!

Best mother of the bride outfits: what we looked for

When researching the best mother of the bride dresses, I wanted to reflect the wide range of different celebrations that the modern bride might opt for, from a less formal low-key gathering to a full-scale traditional event. I thought about what you'd be required to wear in a church, and what you might want to wear if you're on a dancefloor or a beach. Weddings can be long days, so comfort and longevity are key.

I concentrated on dresses as this is the most common request I get from friends and clients, but I added a jumpsuit as an alternative. As a mother of the bride or groom, you might feel a certain amount of pressure to look more glamorous than anyone else attending the wedding, but I think any of the best wedding guest dresses will fit the bill, as long as you feel comfortable and confident in your final choice.

I also took into consideration size range - for example, the Phase Eight jumpsuit is available in both regular and petite fits, and up to a UK size 26.

I have a lot of experience of which colours tend to work well for a mother of the bride or groom - you want to get the balance right between standing out from the other guests, but not upstaging the bride, so I tried a lot of pretty pastels and subtle florals.

Scroll through to see more try-on images of the outfits...

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I tried on a selection of outfits and I judged them on the overall impact of the shape and colour, along with evaluating their figure-flattering style details and how easy they were to wear. I eliminated any outfit that felt uncomfortable to wear or required complicated underwear. When trying on the outfits, I wore smooth flesh-coloured underwear (this t-shirt bra is great if, like me, you have a big bust). I also considered the price of the outfits and how easy they were to elevate with additional accessories.

My favourite pieces were the ones I felt I might want to wear for more than one occasion. The Rixo dress would be lovely for a christening, a day at the races, a graduation ceremony or even other weddings. I was surprised that several options can go in the washing machine, too.

I had a lovely day in store at Hobbs, but I actually think an even more joyful experience would be to get your daughter round for a glass of fizz and a try-on session at home. No traipsing from store to store, getting dressed and undressed so many times!

The ones that just missed the list

I tried on many outfits for this feature, some were ordered online, while others were discovered in my favourite stores. Shopping for the perfect outfit needn't be stressful; set aside plenty of time to do your research and have some fun trying on a variety of styles. I especially enjoyed my visit to Phase Eight, who have a wide range of lace and embellished party dresses, and Hobbs, where the staff were helpful in suggesting co-ordinating accessories to complete the outfits. Pictured above are three fit and flare dresses from Hobbs that would make great alternatives to the green Maddie dress.

FAQs

What colour should the mother of the bride wear?

Colour is important when selecting the best mother of the bride outfits. Brides traditionally wear white, but there aren’t any strict rules when it comes to which colour the mother-of-the-bride should wear.

Your daughter will probably have a colour scheme for her bridesmaids, and it is usually expected that the mother of the bride wears a matching or complementary shade. Discuss this with her to avoid wearing a clashing tone.

If your daughter is happy to leave all the decisions to you, I would suggest avoiding white or off-white so as not to upstage the bride. You might want to avoid black too as that's traditionally seen as a mourning colour. If you have a favourite colour that you feel great in, then seek out styles in the same shade. If you need any inspiration, look at the spring summer fashion trends for the latest hues.

What is the most popular colour for mother of the bride outfits?

Weddings are romantic celebrations, so the most popular colours for elegant outfits for mother of the bride are soft pastels and pretty floral prints. However you may wish to chose a bold bright shade, a graphic print or opt for classic neutrals - navy is a sophisticated shade if you want a darker tone.

The best mother of the bride outfit should make you feel fabulous and special on the day. As there will be many family photos, it's a good idea to work with your in-laws, so you can complement the best mother of the groom dresses too.

Should the mother of the bride wear a hat?

For a formal church wedding the mother of the bride would be traditionally expected to wear a hat. However, in recent years, many modern mums have opted for a less traditional fascinator or a smaller hat (known as a 'percher'). The choice is completely yours. Wearing a large hat does take a certain amount of confidence, and can be slightly annoying after a few hours, but there is nothing more show-stopping than a statement hat, so if you want to elevate yourself above the other guests, then go for it - the bigger the better!