Plus size MOB?

[WBandMe]

My mom has been putting off looking for a dress because she's overweight and doesn't EVER wear dresses. When I bought mine we convinced her to try one on and I thought it looked nice, but she felt like she looked like she was wearing a tent. The consultant actually grabbed her bra straps and yanked the girls up to show her how she'd look with the right undergarments, and that made a WORLD of difference but she's still not convinced. I know she has an idea in her mind of how she wants to look and she keeps saying she's going to lose weight before the wedding, but it's in less than 8 months and she's made no effort. I'm worried it'll get down to a month or two and she won't have lost weight and won't find anything she's happy wearing and will end up feeling bad about herself on the wedding day, and I don't want that to happen. I want her to feel beautiful, but I don't know what to do. Even online when you search for plus size dresses, the model is like a size 16 or 18, tops. It's not giving me a good idea of what looks the best on bigger people, and there aren't any pics I could use to sway her. Does anyone have any suggestions or pics of your own?

[mitch]

First of all the Woman in the shop was right. With Your Puppies in the right Bra it can make the world of difference. The right Underwear can make You feel a Million Dollars. Something about knowing You have "Sexy" on underneath the clothes. And that can happen no matter what size You are.

Once You have that in place then the Dress is secondary. As long as She is comfortable wearing it. Then She will feel and look stunning.

If You feel feminine then You look feminine.

The Lady who gave Me away is a Plus-Size. She wore an Egyptian Kaftan to Our Wedding. One She actually had made to measure when in Egypt. She said it was to tie in with My love of Egypt. Everyone commented on Her Dress. And She walked into the Registry Office with Me with Her head held high.

[RosieAngel]

I agree with taking her out bra-shopping first! I've always been comically top-heavy, but spending the extra $$$ on the right undergarments makes me look and feel pounds lighter!

Some brands that my larger busted friends and I can recommend:

Chantelle
Felina
Freya
Goddess
Lunaire

[Whitewater]

You want to go to Lane Bryant. Not right now (unless your mom would feel better in winter colors!) but this spring, maybe, when they have their spring and early summer dresses in.

Lane Bryant goes up to a 24, and that's where I found my rehearsal dress. I don't like dresses either -- I'm a 24 on top and an 18 on the bottom,and it is SO DIFFICULT to find a nice dress that looks good on me. Besides the whole different sizes thing I am short, with a very short waist, so dresses that hang to mid-calf make me look even shorter and squat :(

The dress I found is a cross between a V neck and an Empire waist . . . its waist is right under my chest, but it has a plunging V-neck which saves it. Most empire dresses make me look pregnant, but this one, not so much because of the V neck. Unfortunately right now my tummy kind of bulges out so the dress doesn't hang straight down from my waist, but that all should go away by the time I actually have to wear it!

Would you be open to her wearing a pants suit? Suits can often be much more flattering because the jackets are tailored to create a waistline (and if you find one that isn't, keep looking!), the buttons going up and down create the illusion of height, and straight leg pants don't show off every single fat bulge -- been there, done that, and I think I have about a dozen different pants and at least 6 different suit tops!

I much prefer a suit to a dress, if I can get away with it. Besides Lane Bryant, believe it or not Target has a decent women's selection, so does Sears.

I found a beautiful skirt suit that strongly reminds me of something Jackie Kennedy would have worn in a pink plaid a few years ago at Lane Bryant. Because the pink is pretty overwhelming, I just pair it with either a brown/khaki top or a pair of chocolate brown pants -- it looks fabulous.

With a little creativity and thinking outside the fashion box, I'm sure your mom will be able to find something that she looks nice in and that works for her!


Whitewater

[ally20o7]

Here are several sites that have plus size MOB stuff

http://www.roamans.com/Plus-Size-Mother-of-the-Bride.aspx?DeptId=14310

http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/6016844/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007112~6016844?origin=l eftnav

http://www.avenue.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=17887&tCategoryId=17933&pCategoryId=75991&catalogId=40000000326&storeId=326&langId=-1

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=/qid=/ref=br_1_9/177-6257024-4793531?ie=UTF8&node=343394011&frombrowse=1&asin=B000M1GAUQ&rh=&page=1

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/store/nodePage.jsp?startPage=1&currPage=3&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302036000&bmUID=1225443861824

If she isn't comfortable wearing sleeveless, she can always get a cute cardigan or shrug to go over top.

[WBandMe]

Here are several sites that have plus size MOB stuff

http://www.roamans.com/Plus-Size-Mother-of-the-Bride.aspx?DeptId=14310

http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/6016844/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007112~6016844?origin=l eftnav

http://www.avenue.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=17887&tCategoryId=17933&pCategoryId=75991&catalogId=40000000326&storeId=326&langId=-1

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=/qid=/ref=br_1_9/177-6257024-4793531?ie=UTF8&node=343394011&frombrowse=1&asin=B000M1GAUQ&rh=&page=1

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/store/nodePage.jsp?startPage=1&currPage=3&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302036000&bmUID=1225443861824

If she isn't comfortable wearing sleeveless, she can always get a cute cardigan or shrug to go over top.

It wouldn't let me give you reputation again yet, so... thanks! I'm gonna check out these links right now.