Updated for Spring/Summer 2020.
My pick of cocktail or knee-length occasion dresses with sleeves that are excellent value and will make you look stunning at the wedding.
Inexpensive Mother of the Bride outfits
If you’re looking for an inexpensive outfit for your daughter or son’s wedding take a browse through Amazon’s offerings. Amazon sells lots of fashion these days including formal and occasion dresses ideal for weddings.
If you fear you are unlikely ever to wear your wedding-day dress again then choosing a fabulous frock at a great price could be the way to go.
Remember this dress does not need to be your usual style. You can opt for something much more feminine, in a much brighter colour, more floaty or more dressy than you’d usually choose.
Don’t pay too much attention to the detailling of the dress. If you are only going to wear it once the quality is much less important than for a wardrobe staple. The same goes for cleaning. If you prefer to buy washable items because dry cleaning is a costly nuisance, today you don’t need to take cleaning instructions into account.
Wedding guest dresses in plus sizes and all colours
The great thing about Amazon retailers is that many offer the same dress in many colorways so you can buy an outfit that will complement the theme of the wedding and work well with bridesmaids and ‘the other mother’ outfits too.
Most dresses come in a very large range of sizes including plus. Thank goodness!
My edit of 2020 Amazon occasion dresses
With so many styles to scroll through it’s easy to get tired and give up because as usual, for us ladies over 50, many of the styles are not quite right. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you and selected just a few lovely dresses that will work for just about everyone.
Sleeves or no sleeves? So many pretty summer outfits are strappy or sleeveless but unless you are very toned you’ll probably want to cover your upper arms after the age of 60 or so. That’s why all my selections have sleeves.
Lots of Amazon’s items are aimed at young girls and women who can wear just about any style and look great. Fun styles for summer often mean mini length hems. Very short dresses focus eyes on our knees and thighs, so are best left for beach holidays by most of us. But an above the knee dress might look just right if you are not as tall as the model. So don’t dismiss these if you are 5’6 or under.
Even boho maxis with flounces can look droopy on us after a certain age even if all the younger guests look gorgeous in them on the day. So most of these frocks stop on or around the knee.
Most are one solid colour because if you are a Mother of the Bride or Groom it’s important people can pick you out of the crowd and one statement colour makes this possible. And a single colour makes you look really good in group photos too.
Remember to upstyle your outfit with accessories. A single colour means you can add statement jewellery – an attention-grabbing necklace or dangly earrings. And the great thing about jewellery is, it will look lovely on you whether you’re 50 or 90, size 8 or 28. Just leave very fine chains in their box as you’ll want something a bit more noticeable for the pics.
Finally, most of my choices are not figure-hugging styles. These look superb on the model but can be a disappointment in real life. I am no fan of the super-sexy yummy mummy on a daughter’s wedding day. I believe modesty and stylishness are what win the day. Look good, get noticed, but don’t outshine the bride.
So here’s my pick of Amazon Summer 2019 dresses ideal for weddings for all women 50-90.
Dresses on Amazon. co.uk and Amazon.com
I’ve updated all links below to make sure that as at March 2020 these styles are still available. I’ve included outfits I love from the Amazon uk site and a selection in the grid below from the .com US site. Many retailers will ship anywhere with adjustments in delivery charges. Fortunately these dresses don’t weigh very much so shipping charges should not be very much.
My first choice is a layered dress with long jacket. If you are shorter than the model it will be a modest knee length – ideal for a Mother of the Bride or Groom.
Five star rated very elegant fitted dress with fashionablebell sleeve detail on Amazon uk in pink and lots of other colours.
These are all affiliate links so, at no cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you click on one of the links and buy. Big thankyou!
Super floaty trousers with embroidered top and jacket. This is such a wearable three piece for a relaxed but very elegant look in grey and many colours.
A chic navy dress that is very much in style right now. You’ll wear this again and again. Check out the great reviews for this youthful pleated chiffon dress on Amazon uk.
For my pick of outfits on Amazon .com look at the five designs below.
A super smart lightweight spring or summer wedding outfit in classic navy by Richards. No need to add a necklace just pearl or gemstone earrings.
This dress in mid blue by AW Bridal has a lovely pleated effect bodice and a defined waist that makes it especially elegant whatever your figure type.
Got your own recommendations? Leave a comment so other readers can browse these too.
Calvin Klein sells on Amazon.com and here is a summery dress with a fashionable tiered bell sleeve in pink
Hidress has designed this floaty but chic blue-grey dress with an assymetrical hem and sweet lightweight cover-up which would look fabulous if you have grey or silver hair.
Adrianna Papell is well-known internationally for her occasion wear and mother of the bride dresses. Here’s a smart pink outfit with a peplum to accentuate your figure (and detract from larger hips!). Tiny cap sleeves for a warm wedding day or see her range of easy-to-wear jackets and tops.
If you find any super styles on Amazon do leave a comment so that readers can take a look too.