The next most important lady - after me

The weekend started on Friday this week - hurrah - with a marathon shopping trip with the Mother of the Bride. We traipsed and we trawled with just quick stops for coffee and sushi. By the end of the day my feet felt as though they belonged to someone else and the beloved cowboy boots have been banished to the cupboard for a few weeks as payment for their acts of torture on my toes.

Anyway - Mummy tried on a rather lovely ensemble from L K Bennett and was chuffed to fit into a size 14 - the dieting has paid off and she looked fabulous (she couldn't breathe, or sit down - but that's besides the point). The jury is still out as to whether this is the outfit, but it was definitely the best so far.

Being Mother of Bride is jolly tricky I've come to realise. You want to look stylish, but in no way over shadow the bride. You need to blend and tone in with the bridesmaids, but not look like one or clash hideously. And you need shoes that ensure you don't look taller than your husband and head gear that doesn't give you hat hair.

We've decided anything floral and floaty is out and we're after something just a little bit Jackie O with perhaps a touch of Audrey thrown in for good measure - sans the cigarette holder.

In between frock hunting we found bridesmaid shoes for £25 a pair - reduced from £60! We also searched for my shoes and after a brief period of panic when it seemed that as a bride this season you are meant to take shoe inspiration from table dancing hookers (they were all diamante platforms and huge cone heels) I eventually found them for just £36. They are yet to be embellished - but once finished will look just as marvellous as these at the tiniest fraction of the price - I'll not have it said that I can't be thrifty. Pictures to come.