Wedding Dress Body Types, Buying The Right Wedding Dress, Classic Dress Shapes

Posted on 11. Jan, 2009 by Lucky in wedding dresses

Wedding Dress Body Types

Hourglass: Two-piece and corset dresses enhance the hourglass figure. Anything that accentuates the bride’s waist is in. Beautiful ball gowns and corseted bodices normally work for the bust line as well. Bridal bouquets should not overwhelm. Bridal headpieces should not be overdone if the bridal ball gown is elaborate.

Pear shaped: A-line princess dresses disguise fuller hips and the pear shaped body types best. This also balances torso to bust. Chapel length bridal veils add sleeker lines. For wedding hairstyles don’t have all your hair swept up to help emphasize balance.

Petite: Clean, unbroken contours without too much fabric tend to elongate.Big Ball gowns and mermaid wedding dress shapes can overwhelm. Chapel or finger-tip bridal veils ensure that the petite bride is framed well. Keep bridal accessories and wedding accessories to a minimum.

Tall: From ball gowns, princess line and A- line wedding dresses, straight bridal dresses and mermaid dresses; all are great for the tall bride who can carry almost any dress style. Avoid empire line dresses that can look almost “tent like”. Avoid wedding flowers or bouquets that are too small or large. Ensure they work proportionately with you and your body type.

Fuller waisted: Princess-line and drop waist wedding dresses are most flattering. Draw the eye up with stunning bridal and wedding accessories. Killer Diamonds will do the trick! Bridal shoes with height may assist.

Broader shoulder: Broader shouldered brides should veer from halter and off-the-shoulder necklines, which tend to accentuate the shoulders. Try strapless and scoop necklines. For bridal accessories fine delicate jewelry works best with your body type.

Fuller busted: Bridal corsets can work magic. You will find reputable names under bridal supplies or bridal accessories. Wedding dresses that are scoop and square necklines enhance bust lines. Widely set apart straps diminish fuller busted figures. Strapless dresses are on your wedding checklist as a “wait and see how it looks possibility”.

Fuller Arms: Off the shoulder straps or sheer fabric is a great wedding dress tip. In solid fabric, usually three-quarter or long sleeve works best to elongate the line of the arm. Sleeves should not be cut tight. Ever!

Round or Square Body Type: If all your measurements are similar then you are a square or round body type. To add definition and the appearance of an hourglass shape you’ll want to select dresses with gathers or other details on the hips and bust. This will highlight those areas and give you a feminine shape. Generally an a-line dress will be the most flattering and have the most options for you.

Selecting A Bridal Gown For Your Body Type

Choosing your bridal gown is one of the most important fashion decisions you will ever make so be sure that it is the right one. It is hard enough to find that perfect gown for your wedding day, but to add to the frustration you must find something that works with your body type so that you will not only look amazing, but feel comfortable in. Brides come in all different shapes and sizes so we must choose a gown accordingly that will be flattering to our specific shape. The following are examples of body shapes and gowns that work according those figures.

Everyone thinks they know how to choose a wedding gown. What most women don’t realize is fabrics, style and measurements can influence the style of wedding dress that best complements a particular body type. This article will help you choose the right wedding dress style for your own body shape.

The Full-Figured Bride:
If you’re a full-figured woman, the best silhouette is the A-line style. A-line style lengthens the whole body without drawing attention to your waistline. The empire waist is another good choice. The empire is narrowest just below the bust, which conceals your waist and hips. Many plus-sized girls tend to purchase wedding gowns that cover a lot of skin. If religion isn’t an issue, don’t be afraid to show some skin. Skin is sexy, and showing your arms and neckline can often make you appear slimmer. Deep V-necks and scoop necks flatter curvy figures, and always look best on full-figured women.

The Petite Bride:
A-line wedding dresses are also flattering on petite women. As we stated earlier, this style lengthens the body. Sheaths seem to shorten a small body even more, so petite women should avoid sheath-style wedding dresses. Also steer clear of very full skirts, which will make you look ‘bottom heavy’. You want to keep your wedding dress proportionate to your body. Be careful with strapless gowns — a petite woman may have to lift her arms to reach up to her new husband (can you say ‘wardrobe malfunction’?). A cap sleeve gives the feeling of a strapless gown, and also serves the practical purpose of holding the gown in place.

The Large-Busted Bride:
Off-the-shoulder gowns look wonderful on a full bust. It draws our attention upward, emphasizes the shoulders and minimizes the chest. Keep your skirt narrow. Wearing a full skirt will make you look large both on top and bottom.

The Bottom-Heavy Bride:
Women who are larger through their hips and buttocks should look for a wedding dress that focuses on their upper body — preferably with a full skirt.
Show off your arms, back and bustline. A corset-style bodice with lacing will highlight your upper body. We want to draw attention away from your hips. Avoid pleats or gathered fabric around the waist. An A-line skirted wedding dress always works the best for this body type.

Buying The Right Wedding Dress

Most brides find their wedding dress at bridal salons, but you can also look in vintage-clothing stores, consignment shops, and outlet stores. Customarily, a bridal salon will require an appointment to ensure that you get expert personal attention. Take someone with you, but not an entourage; too many opinions detract from the most important one – yours. Bring pictures of dresses, but don’t worry if you’re not sure what you want. A good salesperson will assess your likes and dislikes and advise you on styles to flatter your figure. Also try a few styles to flatter your figure. Also try a few styles that you don’t immediately gravitate toward – many a bride has imagined herself in something sleek and modern, only to decide on a traditional ball gown the moment she slips it on. Be honest with the salesperson about your budget; she can keep you from falling in love with something you can’t afford. When trying on different styles, lift your arms as you will when you dance, and sit down in the dress; you’ll feel more beautiful on your wedding day if you’re comfortable.

After you’ve made a decision, the dress should be made according to your current measurements. (No matter your intentions to diet, don’t order the dress in a smaller size; it’s much easier to take a dress in than to let it out.) The salon will probably require a deposit at this point, with the balance due after the first or last fitting. Once the dress comes in, the store will schedule a first fitting, with one, two, or more fittings to follow. Try on the dress again after the final fitting to make to make sure it’s perfect. It takes four to six months to have a dress made and fitted, so begin shopping eight to twelve months in advance.

When budgeting, remember to account for alterations and cleaning. These procedures can add hundreds of dollars of your total cost. Don’t wait to have your dress cleaned; if necessary, arrange for a friend to drop it off at a cleaner that specializes in wedding dresses while you’re on your honeymoon. Spots you can’t see will yellow over time and may be impossible to remove later.

Classic Dress Shapes

Bridal styles go in and out of fashion, but today virtually every wedding dress has its origins in one of these six silhouettes. Not every dress is equally suited to every bride, however. Determine which shapes are best for your figure by seeking the advice of the salesperson at the bridal salon where you shop, and by trying on several different styles. Then, narrow your search accordingly. The various sleeves and necklines here can show up on almost any style; so if a ball gown with a boat neck is what you’re after, you only need to shop around.

Sheath:
The close-fitting sheath (left) is well suited to the trim, petite bride who wants to look taller and accentuate her curves; it also looks great on a tall bride with narrow hips. Avoid a sheath if you have wide hips and narrow shoulders. A boat neck follows the curve of the collarbone and can flatter women with smaller busts.

Slip Dress:
Tracing its ancestry back to the thirties, the slip dress (right) was popular with the decade’s screen starts. It is decidedly revealing – the exclusive domain of the lean and trim – often in a lightweight, flowing fabric. This silhouette flatters both tall and petite brides. Thin spaghetti straps add a delicate, youthful look.

Empire:
Napoleon’s Josephine favored this narrow, high-waisted style (above). The cropped bodice emphasizes the bosom and should be avoided by those who are well-endowed. The skirt may be slim or slightly flared, a boon for the bride who wants to disguise her waist and hips. And it is especially flattering on a petite bride. Cap sleeves that cover only the shoulder are a particularly beautiful element of this style.

A-Line:
As its name suggests, the A-line (left) forms a triangular shape, with a narrow bodice and wide skirt. Its uninterrupted lines – there is no horizontal seam at the waist – flatter both diminutive and stout brides seeking a longer, leaner look. The rounded jewel neck is a good choice for brides who wish to emphasize their bust.

Ball Gown:
Over time, the necklines and sleeves of this romantic favorite (right) have varied, but the small waist and full skirt are constants. It flatters brides with hourglass or full figures but might overwhelm petite women. A strapless bodice gives a bare yet refined look to brides with lovely shoulders and collarbones.

Princess:
The princess style (above), characterized by vertical seams, and flatters almost every figure. The long lines add the impression of height, streamline a generous figure, and lengthen a short waist. An off-the-shoulder neckline highlights the collarbone and shoulders but may restrict movement.

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