Plus: Lisa solves your fashion dilemmas below
When my eldest daughter announced she was getting married this summer, the first priority was finding something to wear. For her, not me, obvs.
The bride takes precedence in everything and sets the tone. If she wanted to wear cow-bells and a vintage nightie, then The Mum turning up in a Queen Camilla-style coat and matching dress would look psychotic. It was crucial to get her sorted and happy.
She flirted with a trouser suit, gauze, flounces, bows and all-out whoosh. Eventually we found The One. A ‘simple’, very flattering ivory column from Roksanda with big sleeves. Next up: my 84-year-old mother (we settled on a Jasper Conran silk shirt dress) and my other daughter, who kept WhatsApping pictures of increasingly lovely but bride-overshadowing outfits (a heart-splattered dress from Farm Rio was perfect for her).
The groom thought his mum might like some help. We liaised about colours and WhatsApped pictures. But she’s fashion-savvy and knew what she wanted, luckily. There was still the small matter of my own outfit, and questions from friends, colleagues and designers wondering what I’d wear. No pressure. Vintage seemed best: guaranteed one-off and fabulous fabrics.
Then one day, walking down Bond Street, I nipped into Dior – as you do. There it was: the Bar Jacket I’d always wanted, although not in navy as I’d imagined, but in a stunning, glow-uppy pink. As I live in separates, I could wear the jacket endlessly, with jeans, navy, black or cream trousers… But how to wear it for the wedding? The pink pleated skirts in the store were too bulky on me. And what to wear beneath the jacket in case it was so warm I ended up taking it off (it was, I did)? Layers are helpful. If you go for a dress, make sure there’s a jacket that works over it before you buy.
Dior said it could make me a lace skirt and chiffon blouse that it would dye to match the jacket. A single colour top-to-bottom would look better in pictures on my 5ft 4in frame. And like the jacket, I could wear them after. Finding a designer you can let get on with everything, knowing you’ll end up with an outfit that makes you feel like yourself, but the film-star version, is the dream – and worth the considerable investment.
Shoes? My wedding ones 36 years ago came from Jimmy, who worked out of a prefab in east London. The brand he co-founded has grown since then: my daughter and I both got ours from the Bond Street Jimmy Choo boutique. Crucially, they are comfortable.
Finally, for make-up, we got the professionals in. Last time I had a big do and did my own, I regretted it – I look washed out in the photos. A morning with the bridesmaids being made up was really fun. We used Ruuby, which works with excellent artists in London, Surrey, Manchester and the Cotswolds. Even my no-make-up-I’m-boho younger daughter loved her look. And I would say this, but the bride looked sensational.
Get wedding ready...
Wool crepe dress, £750, Beulah
Jacquard cropped jacket, £490 and skirt, £750, Suzannah
Florere collarless double-breasted blazer, £198 and Florere wide leg trousers, £148
Satin shirt, £160 and trousers, £180, Essentiel Antwerp
Valentino Crepe shirt dress, £386.75, Hardly Ever Worn It
Silk twill dress, £549, Ridley London
Lisa wears: jacket, blouse and skirt, from a selection, Dior; shoes, from a selection, Jimmy Choo; sunglasses, £99, Bloobloom; all jewellery, Lisa’s own; make-up: Ruuby.
Lisa solves your style dilemmas
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