This week's expert was kind enough to address a few questions for Bride's Guide readers. Here, Beverley Siri-Borelli of Siri Inc. fires off on everything from bridesmaids dresses to mother of the bride looks! I wish I had known this stuff before I got married!
SCB: What is the most popular MOB style dress or shape of dress? Why do you think women are loving this shape?
BSB: Knee-length dresses are selling best for MOBs. As for shape, our most popular style was the Zeta-Jones dress, a straight, A-line, or pleated skirted dress with a three-quarter sleeve. The name speaks for itself: it's chic, sophisticated, and classic -- a universal wish for most women. Plus, she can wear it again for another event. (Even moms are practical these days.)
SCB: Should an MOB's dress color match that of the bridesmaids?
BSB: They should have their own special look separate from the bridesmaids at the wedding, but opt for something that complements the bridal party's colors. A darker or lighter shade of the bridesmaids' dresses (a deeper lavender with lilac maids or teal for the mother of the bride to go with ocean blue bridesmaids), or the second accent color in the wedding could possibly work nicely in the pictures (ocean with sand accent for the maids and a sand tone for the mother). It's important that the tones all blend well together.
SCB: What new trends are you seeing in both bridesmaids dresses and MOB ensembles?
BSB: Short is in. Bridesmaids want hems to fall above the knee, and mothers like them just at or below the knee. And fitted, straight skirt strapless dresses with clean waists are popular for the maids now -- with or without a detachable sash. As for colors, I've been seeing lots of jewel tones, such as iris, emerald, and sapphire.
For the MOBs, suit separates are loosing popularity and fitted dresses, topped with a shrug or jacket, are gaining it. Mothers in most parts of the country don't want to scream color, though, so they prefer deeper muted colors (pine, teal, plum, and bordeaux) or neutrals such as pewter, champagne, and oyster.
From Bride's Guide reader, Jessica: My wedding is planned for next July at a country club in NJ. I am considering a wine color for my bridesmaids to wear. Should they wear tea length dresses?
BSB: It's the time of day, not the venue, that dictates the attire. What time of day is your wedding? If it's in the afternoon, tea length is most appropriate. If the wedding is in the evening, then either tea length or gown length is appropriate; however, if you choose tea length but want a formal affair, the style and fabric should be dressier, like organza or moiré, not just a sundress. A one-shoulder dress or off-the-shoulder retro-glamour style is a nice cocktail look. As for flowers, black roses are stunning, but if they want more color, then a combination of reds, oranges, and a touch of yellow will make a beautiful bouquet.
From Bride's Guide reader, Michelle: My wedding is next year in September. Where does a junior bridesmaid walk during the processional? Can she walk down the aisle by herself?
BSB: If she doesn't have a partner she should walk after the bridesmaids and before the flower girls. If she does, they can walk down before the bridesmaids.
From: Maureen Carbonneau | 7/17/10 at 11:12 am
I agree with Beverly. The Zeta Jones is currently a popular choice for our mothers here at Page Six...it's haute in Skippack Pa. I recently had a mom wear the Zeta Jones in signature taffeta. She wore the long version with the pleated skirt. She was invited to a wedding recently and had it cut to tea length. I was told it made a big hit! The same customer has a son now getting married and is wearing the Palm Beach in navy. You can not go wrong wearing a Siri as a mother of the wedding!