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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

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Six Ways to Look Dreadful at Your Daughter’s Wedding — A Mother-of-the-Bride Moment

April 20, 2017 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 5 Comments

A mother of the bride tries on dresses to cover the figure flaws she'll take to her daughter's wedding -- flabby arms, wobbly neck and falling bustline. Photo by Barbara Newhall
The mother of the bride faces up to some of the figure flaws she’ll be taking to her daughter’s wedding — wobbly neck and arms, descending bustline. Photo by Barbara Newhall

By Barbara Falconer Newhall

They used to be known as figure flaws. I’m sure there’s a brand-new, trendy euphemism for them — “body features” maybe. I’m thinking of  those wayward physical parts that you mostly forget about when you’re not in a department store fitting room, just you, that three-way mirror and those unforgiving florescent lights.

My daughter’s wedding is coming up in May, and I’ve got my share of body features that I’d rather not take to the party.

Yeah. I know. It’s her day, not mine. But when the guests are done looking at the bride, they might well turn their attention to

A mother of the bride laments the belly fat she'll be taking to her daughter's wedding. Photo by Barbara Newhall
Belly fat! Wrong dress? Or a job for a good, old-fashioned girdle? Photo by Barbara Newhall

that short, chubby lady standing next to her. Her mom. Me. The one with the flabby arms, runaway belly fat, pathetic dowager’s hump, wiggly turkey gobbler neck, droopy boobs, and sun spots on her face, hands and what passes for a decolletage.

That’s six, count ’em six, ways to look dreadful on my daughter’s wedding day.

Coming soon — a mini collection of mother-of-the-bride dresses that I’m hoping will conceal, hide, cover up, squeeze into submission (show off?) those uncooperative body parts.

Meanwhile, more fashion at “For China’s Young Fashionistas, the Cultural Revolution Is So Over.” And another mother-of-the-bride story at “No to Bride Barbie. Yes to a Real-Life Wedding.”

Figure flaws that the mother of the bride will take to her daughter's wedding include the wretched dowager's hump. Photo by Barbara Newhall
Ah, the wretched dowager’s hump. Photo by Barbara Newhall

 

Filed Under: A Case of the Human Condition, My Ever-Changing Family

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Comments

  1. ginger says

    April 20, 2017 at 6:36 am

    you make me laugh out loud!

    Reply
    • Barbara Falconer Newhall says

      April 25, 2017 at 11:13 pm

      He-he . . .

      Reply
  2. Sharie McNamee says

    April 20, 2017 at 5:28 am

    Barbie, that is your winning trait, you see how to turn everyday observations into something funny that everyone has in common, so we can laugh together.

    Reply
    • Barbara Falconer Newhall says

      April 25, 2017 at 11:16 pm

      The trick is to get myself to the place where I can laugh at my particular case of the human condition. It helps when someone reassures me that they are having the same challenge.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Mother-of-the-Bride Dress: What, Oh, What Do I Wear to My Daughter's Wedding?・Barbara Falconer Newhall says:
    April 19, 2018 at 11:22 am

    […] for the figure flaws I so lamented in last week’s post —  “Six Ways to Look Dreadful at Your Daughter’s Wedding” — I’m going to wear them proudly. Try to, anyway. My homespun Grandma Falconer and my […]

    Reply

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Shopping for a Mother-of-the-Groom Dress — Is That Me in the Mirror? Or Somebody’s Grandmother?

a long rack of fluffy white wedding gowns for sale at David's Bridal Salon, Pinole, CA. Photo by BF Newhall

My son is getting married. I’ll need a dress. A dress that makes me look terrific. It’s time to hit the department stores and bridal salons. Read more.

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