While today's brides have the freedom to express themselves freely, their mothers have many factors to consider when selecting a dress. Luckily variety is the name of the game in mother-of-the-bride apparel. “It’s not like when my girls got married all you had to choose from was suit like outfits,” says Sarah Roemer of Bridal Couture of Short Hills in Chatham (973-701-7337; bridalcoutureofshorthills.com).

“There are so many young and less traditional styles to choose from today,” Roemer adds. Strapless and flirty form-fitting styles from European designers like Model Novias showcase bold colors like pink and turquoise in floral prints that are fun and whimsical are being worn by younger mothers. Roemer also features the designs of Chris Kole in silk overlays resplendent in bright colors can be covered with a jacket or shawl. For the more traditional mother of the bride, Roemer carries her own line of 12 gowns in raw silk in an array of more muted colors like wine, antique lavender, and navy.

Jacqueline DiPietro of Jacqueline in Livingston (973-992-3535; jacquelineeveningwear.com) observes that long is still the trend in mother-of-the-bride dresses and sees strapless as a big trend, noting that many of the mothers are dressing younger. “I see many mothers opting for a mermaid style that is fitted and flairs at the bottom rather than a traditional ball gown. Popular high-end designers include Claire's Collection dazzling with hand-beaded details and Stephen Yearick, while more moderate favorites include Jovani and Elise Designs. DiPierto sees the palate for mothers featuring more traditional colors like chocolate brown, navy blue, gold, and black.

When it comes to destination weddings, moms want a lighter more flowing feeling opting for silk chiffon or light organza fabrics that are easy to pack and look soft and feminine. While vibrant colors continue to pop in bridal parties and themes (some brides are adding splashes of color in sashes and shoes), mothers like to travel under the radar with a palette that may include champagne, celadon green, chocolate brown, navy, or black. “While fabric weight is a main factor for dressing the destination mother of the bride,” says DiPietro, “it's really about selecting a style that makes you look and feel best your best.”