LaPointe Mother of the Bride Dresses: Gowns, Colours and Fit

Most mother of the bride dressing goes wrong in the same direction: too much jacket, too much colour matching, too much worry about being appropriate. LaPointe solves it from the other end. The New York house makes long, clean columns in satin and jersey, finished with a single dramatic detail, usually feathers. That is exactly the brief for the woman who needs to look polished in four hundred photographs and still be comfortable at midnight.

This guide covers the LaPointe gowns and separates that work for a mother of the bride, how to choose a colour that sits with the wedding party, how the sizing runs, and what to wear with each piece.

Why does LaPointe work for the mother of the bride?

Three reasons. The silhouettes are long and covered where they need to be, with sleeves, capes and high necks in the range, so nothing needs a cover-up. The fabrics photograph well: a heavy satin catches light evenly and does not crease into lines across the stomach by the speeches. And the colour range is deep enough to sit beside a bridal party without matching it, which is the one thing a mother of the bride should never do.

Sally LaPointe founded the label in New York in 2010, and the house has always cut for grown women who want to be noticed in a room. It is a natural fit for the role.

Which LaPointe gowns suit a mother of the bride?

The satin halter gown with feathers. The Satin Halter Gown With Feathers in Marine is the strongest single choice for an evening wedding. The halter neck lengthens the line, the bias satin skims rather than clings, and the feather trim gives the movement that makes a gown look expensive when you walk. In Marine it reads as navy in daylight and deep blue under candlelight. It also comes in Oat, for a softer, lighter wedding.

The satin tab gown. For a black tie ceremony the Satin Tab Gown in Indigo is the most formal piece in the range without being fussy. The plain version keeps the attention on the cut; the feathered version in Dark Brown adds a finish that holds its own beside a heavily embellished bridal gown.

The cape dress. If you want your arms covered without a jacket, the Satin Cape Dress With Feathers is the answer. The cape falls from the shoulder, so it moves with you, and it removes the bolero question entirely. Wear black only when the couple has said black is welcome; otherwise look at the cream version for a civil ceremony, checked with the bride first.

The draped neck gown. The Georgette Asymmetric Draped Gown With Feathers in Chocolate is the softest option in the edit. Chocolate is one of the best mother of the bride colours there is: warmer than navy, kinder to skin than black, and almost never worn by the bridesmaids.

What colour should the mother of the bride wear?

Start with what the bride and the bridesmaids are wearing, then step one tone away. If the bridesmaids are in sage, a deep green reads as a relative of theirs; a chocolate reads as its own decision. If the wedding is all white and gold, Marine and Indigo give the photographs a grounding shade.

LaPointe colours worth knowing for this occasion:

• Marine and Indigo: the safest formal colours, deeper than navy.
• Chocolate and Dark Brown: warm, rich and flattering in candlelight.
• Oat and Cloud: soft pale shades for a daytime wedding. Check with the bride before wearing anything this light.
• Mulberry and Berry: for an autumn wedding where the palette is already warm.

Avoid ivory and cream unless the bride has asked for it. That rule has not changed and it will not.

What about separates?

A long skirt with a dressed top is often more comfortable than a gown across a twelve hour day, and LaPointe is good at it. The Satin Wrap Maxi Skirt in Emerald with a matching satin caftan top gives a full length column in one colour with more room through the waist than a gown. The caftan covers the upper arm and moves freely, which matters when you are hugging guests all evening.

For a modern ceremony, a wide satin trouser with a cape top is an elegant alternative to a dress. See the LaPointe matching sets guide for how the house pairs its separates.

How does LaPointe sizing work for a mother of the bride?

LaPointe sizes on the US ladder at source, from 00, and Luxury Handbags lists the UK equivalent on every product page. The satin gowns are cut on the bias with some ease, so most women take their usual size. The jersey gowns stretch and are closer to the body; size up if you are between sizes and want the gown to skim.

Order early. A gown for a wedding should arrive at least six weeks before the date so a tailor can take up the hem for your exact shoe. Our LaPointe sizing guide has the full conversion table.

What do you wear with it?

Shoes: a slim heel you can stand in for six hours, in a metallic that matches your jewellery. Have the gown hemmed to that shoe.

Bag: a small structured clutch. The feathers do the decorative work; the bag should not compete.

Jewellery: keep the neck clear on a halter. One pair of good earrings is enough with a feathered piece.

Cover: for an outdoor evening, a simple wrap in the gown colour. LaPointe also makes feather cuffs and opera gloves that finish a sleeveless gown without adding a layer.

For the wider etiquette on formal weddings, read our guide to the black tie wedding guest dress code.

Frequently asked questions

Is LaPointe a good choice for a mother of the bride dress?

Yes. LaPointe makes long satin and jersey gowns with covered options such as halter necks, capes and caftan sleeves, in deep colours that sit beside a bridal party without matching it. The heavy satin photographs well and does not crease badly over a long day.

Which LaPointe gown is best for a black tie wedding?

The Satin Tab Gown and the Satin Halter Gown With Feathers are the most formal pieces in the range. In Marine, Indigo and Chocolate they suit an evening black tie ceremony without looking like a bridesmaid dress.

What colours should the mother of the bride avoid?

Avoid ivory, cream and white unless the bride has asked for them, and avoid matching the bridesmaids exactly. Choose a shade one tone away from the wedding palette, such as Marine with a pale scheme, Chocolate with a green scheme.

Does LaPointe make mother of the bride dresses with sleeves?

LaPointe covers the arms with capes and caftan cuts rather than a fitted sleeve. The Satin Cape Dress With Feathers and the Satin Caftan Top give arm coverage without a separate jacket.

How does LaPointe sizing run?

LaPointe uses the US size ladder from 00. The bias cut satin gowns have some ease, so most women take their usual size, while the jersey gowns sit closer to the body. Luxury Handbags shows the UK size on every product page.

How far ahead should I buy a mother of the bride dress?

Allow at least six weeks before the wedding so there is time for the gown to arrive and for a tailor to hem it to your shoe. LaPointe gowns are cut long for a heel, so most need a hem.

Read next

• What to wear to a black tie wedding
• LaPointe wedding guest dresses
• LaPointe evening gowns
• The LaPointe sizing guide

Written by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Luxury Shoes .