<p>I’d say that OP should ask her future DIL what she thinks. Most likely DIL will say that her future MIL should wear whatever she likes and feels good in. </p>
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<p>I have been consistent throughout the thread – don’t think it is necessary to buy a second dress at all for any price if the OP has one she already likes. As long as she doesn’t show up like Lady Godiva, suspect it will all be fine.</p>
<p>I just went to a cousin’s wedding. I found a dress I loved, but that might have been considered too formal. So I went shopping. And shopping. And shopping. The vast majority of dresses that would have been appropriate (semi-formal) were not cut for figures like mine. They were all straight cut & tight around the butt. Lovely for some bodies (and ages), not so much for mine. Finally I went back to the initial dress. I will wear it again, without question.</p>
<p>I enjoy shopping, but there are some times during which the popular styles just won’t cut it.</p>
<p>OP, wear what makes you happy!</p>
<p>FWIW, my MIL spent over $2,000 (in 1986 dollars) on her MOG, more than I spent on my wedding dress, and I cried when I saw it. The theme (remember that these were the days in which everything was more matchy-matchy than it is today) was a mauvey-rose color; my mother and grandmothers had pale pink beaded gowns, and my MIL chose a dress that had bright, almost fluorescent yellows and pinks and a big, hoop-like skirt. It actually would have been a stand-out gown for a different event, but it was SUPER attention-getting, too much so for a MOB/MOG dress. She was an attention-getting sort to begin with - kind of a Joan Rivers type. </p>
<p>Depending on the event, i think dressy suits / dinner-type suits can also be flattering depending on one’s figure. </p>
<p>I doubt either of the sons will notice that she is wearing the same dress, and would the new daughter in law even have been present at the wedding six years ago?
Its not necessarily extravagant or tacky to buy a new dress, whether your budget is $50 or $500, but if you already own a great dress, buying another for the sake of buying something brand new is kinda tacky imo, especially if you make a point of mentioning it.</p>
<p>“As long as she doesn’t show up like Lady Godiva, suspect it will all be fine.”</p>
<p>Or like Lady Gaga. ;)</p>
<p>I’m still stuck on the idea that guys buy new suits for occasions. My guys each own one. That’s what H and S wore to D’s wedding. Would not have occurred to them to buy another. </p>
<p>Not that there’s anything wrong with that.</p>
<p>So, for those who say you wouldn’t wear the same dress to both weddings, I have a question. What if the prior dress truly is much more flattering than anything else the MOG could find? Do you still think she should wear a new – but much less flattering – dress?</p>
<p>That’s the key for me. Like many others, I remember what everyone wears and enjoy clothes (but hate shopping). But I’m also keenly attuned to what flatters people and it bugs me when people wear unflattering clothes when I know they have flattering choices in their closet because I can clearly remember them! </p>
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<p>That is being Bridezilla, IMHO. So what if the MOB or MOG’s dress doesn’t match what everyone else is wearing or is garish? The wedding isn’t about the clothes…</p>
<p>“Its not necessarily extravagant or tacky to buy a new dress, whether your budget is $50 or $500, but if you already own a great dress, buying another for the sake of buying something brand new is kinda tacky imo, especially if you make a point of mentioning it.”</p>
<p>Is that true for every piece of clothing, or just dresses? I don’t get your logic whatsoever. By that token, it’s “tacky” to buy a pair of black pants, or a black cardigan, or a workout outfit if I already own one that’s in good shape. </p>
<p>The OP wasn’t going to make a big announcement either way that her dress was old or new. </p>
<p>“I’m still stuck on the idea that guys buy new suits for occasions. My guys each own one. That’s what H and S wore to D’s wedding. Would not have occurred to them to buy another.”</p>
<p>I think it’s how you were raised. My dad, who is basically Mr. GQ (extremely suave, extremely well-dressed), would have bought new suits, shirts, ties, etc. for occasions. My H would never do so!</p>
<p>So I usually only buy more of those things if the ones I have are wearing out… I need new workout clothes (ones I have are close to ratty), and have been shopping this weekend. But I wouldn’t buy more than I would wear in a week or so of working out (between laundry events). I do not own two cardigans in the same color. I do have two pairs of black pants, but that is because I work in a business casual environment and like to be able to mix and match, and need to have things to wear while other things are at the dry cleaner. So it is fairly true across the board for me.</p>
<p>So you’re not a fashionista or particularly into clothes, that’s all. </p>
<p>Brides who get upset about guests wearing clothes that are appropriately formal for the occasion, but are the wrong color or shape for the “theme” of the wedding, are confusing a wedding with a movie, in my opinion. A bride is not the art director on a movie set; she (and the parents) are giving a party.</p>
<p>Crying is not being a bridezilla, intparent. Throwing a tantrum “over my dead body you are not wearing this” is.</p>
<p>Well, sorry, I don’t care for garish, so sue me.</p>
<p>And a MOG is different from an “ordinary” guest. </p>
<p>I dont think wanting the photos to look nice and not have someone with a clown nose & googly glasses be distracting, ( which is what a garish or unusual outfit would be), is being a bridezilla.</p>
<p>Kids can be funny though.
My youngest thought my wrap dress that showed a bit of one breast was a bit much, ( it was appropriate imo & just the way it fit), but thought it was ok for me to wear a bikini top to go swimming in public the other day. ( I changed into a one piece, I was just using the bikini top, cause at 105f, it was more comfortable than wearing a bra)</p>
<p>Yes, back in the day when I got married the bride would choose the color theme of the wedding. Mine was pink and silver. My mom is also very Josn Rivers- like (she even looks like Joan but with a lot less work done to her face.) She wore a beautiful lilac colored watered silk ball gown to my sisters ( which I have hanging in basement closet and will never wear.) To mine she wore a long strapless dress, pink silk satin on bottom and black beaded bodice. Both dresses were stunning and, IMO, she deserved to look stunning at her daughters wedding. My sister and I were still star of the evenings ( sorry grooms - that is just the way it is.) </p>
<p>Color theme was also only for wedding party, not guests. </p>
<p>"Brides who get upset about guests wearing clothes that are appropriately formal for the occasion, but are the wrong color or shape for the “theme” of the wedding, are confusing a wedding with a movie, in my opinion. "</p>
<p>Well, good thing no one was talking about that situation. </p>
<p>And I’ve agreed I don’t see anything wrong with the OP’s desire to re-wear. I personally would go find something else equally as fabulous, but that’s just me. Some women, like my friend, are just flummoxed at trying to find nice clothing, and others just aren’t interested. </p>
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<p>And why should the fashionistas dictate what the OP should or shouldn’t do? Dress yourself (and your spouse if he will let you), but don’t expect everyone else to want to put the same amount of energy and money into it.</p>