“Some mothers are concerned with wearing a dress that is too young and trendy, and others are afraid of looking too old, but overall, each woman wants to look sophisticated and beautiful.”

Fletcher, who has dressed thousands of mothers over her thirty-year stint as a style consultant, has seen many fashions come and go. Currently, the bridal salon owner is seeing a huge interest in dresses with soft, feminine detailing, like ruching. Bolero jackets, which are cropped with long sleeves, are also very popular, since many mothers find them both stylish, yet understated. Formal ball gowns and long strapless dresses still remain in style, but, according to Fletcher, the color palette of dresses now includes earth tones. “Bronzes, coppers aubergines, and chocolate are extremely popular right now, and those colors flatter almost every woman.”

There are also several colors Fletcher advises mother to steer clear from, including the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses. Other no-nos include bright reds, since they are statement colors and don’t blend in well; blacks, since they can give the wrong connotation; and the obvious whites and creams. “Wearing white is still a faux pas, but it’s okay to wear light colors like taupe and champagne,” adds Fletcher. “It truly all depends on the bride’s wishes. It’s her big day and she certainly deserves to have some say in what the mothers are wearing.”

Fletcher believes that the best way to find the perfect dress is to be open-minded and try on a variety of gowns. “A lot of times women fall in love with the picture of a dress, but it doesn’t work on their figure,” she says. “And a dress can look horrible on a hanger but marvelous on your body. Unfortunately, there’s no science behind finding the right dress. Usually you try on multiple dresses until you find that just feels right and makes you feel beautiful and stylish.” And with all the help mothers give their sons and daughters leading up to the big day, every mother deserves to look and feel fabulous in her dress.