Susan Lucci's Zesty Mother-Of-The-Groom Look Is Perfect Outfit Inspo For Older Women
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If you're looking for a mother-of-the-groom (or bride) outfit that's fashion-forward yet still comfortable and classy, look no further than Susan Lucci for inspo. The queen of daytime TV nailed parental wedding glam in 2016 when she paired a multi-colored A-Line dress from Ralph Lauren Purple Label's 2016 collection with a matching clutch for her son Andreas Huber and Courtney Velasco's nuptials. The abstract pattern and mix of blues, oranges, reds, greens, and yellows brought fun and proved older women can totally still rock color. Opting for a flowy skirt stopped the look feeling frumpy and added ethereal flow and movement that ensured it was airy enough for the August ceremony. Yet, the tailored paneling on her top half still flattered her figure and prevented the look from overwhelming her frame (the petite star stands at 5 feet, 2 inches tall).
It's a myth that older women should keep their upper arms and décolletage covered at formal events — and Lucci proved why strapless has no age limit. Her dress sat high enough to avoid showing a lot of cleavage, which could have bordered inappropriate for a family event, but still showed her toned arms. Having bare shoulders ensured her look was still fun and flirty and confirmed Lucci is a celeb mom proving frumpy mother of the bride or groom looks are a thing of the past. Her silver necklace also helped create the illusion of more coverage over her chest in a glamorous way.
Lucci, who was 69 at the time, uploaded a shot to Instagram showing her with her now late husband Helmut Huber, and her comments section was overrun with praise. "Beautiful dress Susan!!," one fan wrote. "Gorgeous pic & that dress is a scene stealer," commented another.
How to get Susan Lucci's colorful mother-of-the-groom look
If you're looking to copy Susan Lucci's look for your child's wedding, or any other formal occasion, reach for a dress with plenty of color and a structured top and flowy skirt. And don't forget Lucci's chic trick of matching your clutch to the main color of the dress. Don't overdo it with jewelry either, as that could throw off the outfit's balance. Lucci kept her jewelry in the same cool color family via her silver bracelet, earrings, and necklace. Though they were eye-catching, they were cohesive, so didn't distract from her busy dress.
To emulate the New York native's style, grab your strapless bra (which can actually fit well with the easiest tips and tricks) and try the Generic Elegant Flowy Sunset Dress. It's multi-colored with a similarly structured top and also has a similar flowy bottom, making it ideal for older women who want a more forgiving skirt that will skim over the hips and allow for more movement. The Grace Karin Strapless Maxi Dress in Blue Orange also gives similar vibes to Lucci's 'fit. The blue and orange contrast will ensure you stand out without outdoing the happy couple or pushing you into the trap of wearing a color you shouldn't to a wedding. It also has a ruched top, and ruched dresses are notoriously forgiving and flattering on almost every body type because of how they skim and create shape. The ruching hugging your torso means you won't have to worry about the dress slipping either. But, if that's a concern (particularly if there's a chance you'll be running after any grandchildren on the day), apply body tape like Fearless Double Sided Clothing & Body Tape or CLING IT2 Double Sided Tape for Clothes to ensure it stays in place.