PHOTOGRAPH: NIKKIHOLLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UKHOW I FOUND
MY DREAM
DRESS
WHEN GLORIA JACKSON’S
DAUGHTER, CORRIE,
MARRIED JAMES BUTCHER
ON 4 JULY 2009, SHE KNEW
SHE WANTED SOMETHING
EXTRA SPECIAL...Fashionista mums
WITH DAUGHTERS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, THESE MOTHER OF
THE BRIDES WERE UNDER SERIOUS PRESSURE TO LOOK GOOD
POLLY WOOD, the
mum of Tatler
editor Kate
Reardon, says:
‘I searched for my
favourite colour
and shape, and
found a tunic with
flounced cuffs at
Essam Guenedy.’Kate Halfpenny’s
mum, JOSEPHINE
PARRY, says: ‘Kate
asked me to give
her away – I was
so proud, but what
to wear? I picked a
bouclé silk jacket
and skirt by Theory
at Fenwick.’Designer Charlotte
Balbier’s mum,
AMANDA WYATT,
says: ‘My silk-satin
dress with black
spots, bought from
a small Cheshire
boutique, flattered
my triangle shape. I
felt wonderful in it.’1
COMFORT IS KEY ‘ e golden rule for the
mother-of-the-bride’s out t is “be true to
yourself ”. You should wear something that makes
you comfortable and makes you look good; you
want your daughter to feel proud of you, a er all.’2
RECRUIT HELP ‘If the bride has a colour theme
in mind, it is important that she includes you in
it. If the bride is not available to go shopping, I
would recommend you take a good friend whose
taste you respect. A second opinion is invaluable.’3
USE YOUR HEAD OR NOT ‘Hat or fascinator?
If protocol requires it – or if you love wearing
hats and they suit you – then why not? If the
wedding is more informal, and you never wearhats, then why make yourself feel – and possibly
even look – awkward on such an important day?’4
SPEND WHERE IT COUNTS ‘Treat yourself to
professional hair and make-up – though do
make sure that they bring out the best of you and
not turn you into someone no one recognises!’5
BUY’N’DYE ‘Your daughter’s wedding is a
great excuse to splash out on some designer
shoes, like Louboutin’s classic ‘Simple Pump’ in
ivory (£395, brownsfashion.com). For less than
£50, you can get them dyed any shade to match
your out t. For London-based mums, I would
recommend Bobbi Specialist Dyer in Winchmore
Hill (bobbispecialistshoedyer.com).’GLORIA’S BESPOKE CHECKLIST
O ‘Go to wedding shows – you’ll
meet designers who you might
not know even exist.’ Book your
tickets now for Brides The Show
between 3 - 5 October 2014.
O ‘Be prepared. Take sketches to
help the designer visualise your
dress. Mine looked like Lowry
drawings, but Allison got it.’
O ‘Be practical. Think about style
and comfort. A tight dress may
look great, but you need to dance,
eat and, er, spend a penny easily.’
O ‘Do coordinate with your
daughter’s palette. You don’t
want to clash with the^
bridesmaids in photographs.’‘I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE
I WAS WHEN MY MOBILE R ANG,
and my husband, Peter, told me
James was planning to propose to
Corrie. We were thrilled. I saw a
fantastic lavender dress and coat
on a model at a wedding show
and thought it could easily
be adapted for me. e out t
was by designer Allison Rodger
(allisonrodger.co.uk); it was a lace
shi with a detachable drape and
collarless coat. Edwina Ibbotson
(edwinaibbotson.co.uk) made
me a hat to match. e cost,
including the hat and LK Bennett
courts, was £2,800. But it had to
be perfect – having one daughter,
I was only going to do this once.’CAROLINE BURSTEIN
AS THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF BOUTIQUE
BROWNS, CAROLINE KNOWS WHAT WORKS ANDWHAT DOESN’T WHATEVER YOUR BUDGET
HOW I FOUND
GO BESPOKE
‘
‘
BUDGET
BLOWN!
STYLISH
UNDER
£250A BIT OF A
SPLURGE
Patent clutch, £15,
marksandspencer.comDress, £398,
jcrew.comFascinator, £29,
monsoon.co.ukSinamay hat, £300,
neridafraiman.comLace dress, £125,
coast-stores.com
Earrings, £15,
Jon Richard at
debenhams.comClutch, £795,
anyahindmarch.comEarrings, £300,
monicavinader.comHeels, £245, Stuart
Weitzman at
russellandbromley.co.ukHeels, £69,
monsoon.co.ukClutch, £1,470, Azzedine
Alaïa at brownsfashion.comPrinted coat, £1,795,
marykatrantzou.comGold and 0.67ct
diamond cuff, £13,665,
natashacollis.comHeels, £425, Pollini at
brownsfashion.comDress, £1,995,
Valentino at
brownsfashion.com5 SIMPLE
style steps
My
Gloria and Peter
with Corrie on her
wedding day