Let's face it - dressing up can be difficult. And Woman's World fashion guru, Jane Garner, knows the trickiest fashion question of all is "What should I wear to my daughter's wedding?" 

The bride is gleefully trying on gown after gown, thoroughly enjoying her search for The Dress for her big day. Her mother's smiles and tears express the huge emotion invested in the ultimate choice.

Though she might never let her daughter know it, every mother of the bride also has a nagging doubt - will she get her outfit right too? Her role epitomises all the worries women experience when they must dress up for a special occasion. A wedding, it seems, can reduce the most confident dresser to an uncertain wreck, concerned she will suddenly dress mutton as lamb.

The rules used to be simple. The mother of the bride wore a smart suit with matching hat, bag and shoes, rather like the Queen on a royal visit. But as in fashion generally, wedding etiquette has relaxed to the point of confusion, leaving mothers and guests wondering what is expected of them.

The best way to get it right is first to ask the bride. Does she have a particular style or colour in mind for you? Any preference on hats? Is she helping choose Mum's outfit or will she be 'shopped out' and leaving you to decide alone?

Armed with these requests and preferably a colour swatch or two, you should first do a bit of armchair shopping, looking through the pages of magazines, watching outfits on television and the Internet to filter out what really won't work for you.

Next fix a budget and remember it must cover everything from top to toe. You can always cheat and match expensive clothes with budget shoes, for example, or go for a simple outfit and a posh hat, because mixing price tags is definitely allowed.

This autumn's fashion collections are refreshingly smart, with shades, shapes and fabrics designed to make the most of any woman's height and figure. Decide early on the best height shoes, size of handbag and hat, your hairstyle for the day and the colours, designs and fashion brands you know make you look good.

When you do go shopping take along an honest friend. That way you won't make an expensive mistake that will haunt you in the wedding photographs!

'Special collection' choices for autumn

Coterie

Colours

• silver grey
• winter white
• biscuit
• ice blue
• baby pink
• scarlet
• raspberry
• cherry red
• silver
• pewter
• bronze
• mink
  

  Condici
• chocolate
• midnight blue
• rich purple
• black
  

Fabrics

• velvet
• airy knits
• patent leather
• satin
• silk
  

  Nigel Rayment
• metallic finish or shot fabrics
• ultra fine wool
• patent leather

Styles

• bow-tied jackets
• wild shoes - zebra or leopard skin
• refined crochet
• slender skirts
• flirty hems - sleeves and skirts
• puffed sleeves
• knee length skirts and dresses
• ultra long evening dresses