Mother of the Bride Trend Report

"The message from today's MOB is that style is an attitude that is not defined by age."

She's beautiful, she's smart, she's dynamic, she looks younger than ever before and this wedding is one of the most special days of her life. She's today's mother-of-the-bride. Her daughter will be in the spotlight as the bride, but make no mistake about it; mom is also a major focus on this special occasion as she serves as the informal hostess, mingling with family and friends throughout the day.

What the mother-of-the-bride (MOB) will wear is no small decision for her. Many wedding ceremonies begin only after she is escorted down the aisle to her seat, whereupon the bridal party and the bride follow soon after. This season she can celebrate the spotlight with the smart fashion choices available to her. She is a seasoned person and most importantly a modern woman, and she wants her fashions to reflect that. The message from today's MOB is that style is an attitude that is not defined by age. The best looks for 2000 "break out" of the traditional MOB category to offer fashions that are in up-to-the-minute color, silhouette and styling. Listed below are season highlights:

Suited for the Occasion -- Jacket dressing, two separate pieces, and mock two-piece looks stand out for MOB's. They translate well for a variety of figure types and are an "easy" choice for the wedding (and any other appropriate special occasion). They offer the versatility of two separate looks, as the jacket can be worn during the ceremony and taken off for the reception. When Mom does take the jacket off, look for this season's floor length dresses to reveal modified bare looks.

There are two basic takes on the jackets that are worn over coordinating long slim dresses. They are either classic cut in length and softly tailored at the waist, or shorter to the hip. Another two-piece option that emerges is metallic cardigans worn over coordinating satin shimmer dresses, which can also be worn tied over the shoulders.

Bare Options -- Styles may be different for jackets, but the trend of bare styling is consistent for the dresses that are pared with them or for dress silhouettes sold separately. Bare for moms translate into wearable sleeveless, short sleeve or tank styles. However, don't rule out spaghetti straps for the moms who want to show off well-toned arms or spotlight shoulders. A must-have for baring looks is a lightweight shoulder wrap (often times sold with a dress). It all comes down to which style better suits the mother-of-the-bride's individuality and celebrates her confidence.

Color Choices -- Today's modern MOB has a variety of color options. She can choose to coordinate with the groom's mother, or the bridal party, or she can select a color that enables her own personal style to stand out. If the bride has chosen rum pink as her accent color, Mom can complete the color story tonally with a dress in the champagne and gold family. Look for a color relationship between MOB and bridesmaids' fashions. Both have fresh spring options of periwinkle, lilac and sage. Shades of gray, marcasite, silver and platinum are newsy and a directional option to black. All colors get a new feel with the metallic and iridescent fabrications.

It's the details and carefully placed touches of embellishment that can make all the difference on simple silhouettes and give color and fabric newness. For fabrics, it's all about shimmer. Watch for metallic and iridescent treatments. The placement of beading and sequins on cuffs, collars and bodices help transform simple styles into sensational. Also, embroideries, which are so important in wedding gowns, show up on MOB fashions.www.davidsbridal.com