When planning your wedding one of the first things you will likely think about is your dress. After all, it is likely the one thing you’ve been dreaming about the most all these years. Further, the bride is the focus of the wedding. As a result, it is important to choose a dress that you not only love, but that flatters your figure. This ensures you shine at every moment and in every photo.
So here are our Top Tips for Choosing The Perfect Wedding Dress For Your Body Shape.
Hourglass
The hourglass is the classic feminine shape and one of the easiest to dress. So you want to choose a dress that flatters your iconic figure. The best options for the hourglass are dresses with V-necks, halter necks, or strapless tops and flaring or flowing skirts. Further, with an hourglass figure, you can get away with a dress that hugs your figure and shows off your curves.
If you want to show off your curves, you have a wide variety of options. These include satin wedding gowns featuring all over draping. The asymmetrical folds create a series of stunning angles that keep the eyes moving. As a result, it creates a dramatic look.
You can also choose an extremely flattering dropped-waist wedding gown. Dropped-waist gowns gently skim the hips and flares around the mid-thigh. Dresses in this style that end in a circle skirt simultaneously creates a dramatic and elegant look.
Finally, a cinched waist line highlights your balanced curves. You can do this with a variety of dress styles from the true mermaid silhouette style that flares just below the knee, to fit-and-flare styles, to stunning cinched-waist designed dresses featuring delicate belts.
However, if you are looking to minimise aspects of your curves, there are also dress options. You could choose a column dress in gossamer style chiffon to minimise your cleavage, especially if you utilise a top with interior boning and lace up back, with a pleated crossover design.
Pleats can also add texture to a structured bodice that can nip in areas that you want to minimise. Match this with a flattering A-line skirt. A modified A-line dress in cascading tiers of lace can also help create a slender silhouette, while still defining the waist.
Wedding Dress
Tall and Thin
A tall, willowy figure, like the hourglass figure, is easy to dress. Most dresses are designed for taller, slimmer figures, however adding a long, wide skirt or a skinny, flaring skirt can add some drama to your look. However, if you want to create the illusion of curves, we have a few tricks for you!
For example, a stunning, voluminous peplum skirt can create the illusion of curvy hips. Further, intricate geometric designs can add allure and a sense of shape and form. You can also use dresses with bodycon contouring seams to create the illusion of curves.
However, if you want to accentuate your statuesque frame, you can choose a stunning, boho sheath dress. A cutting edge slit-dress is both avant-garde and can help show off your amazing legs as you walk down the aisle and dance. You can also full utilise panel dresses that let you showcase your legs as well as the dress.
Further, a high neckline paired with a full, A-line skirt can balance your height while showcasing it. You can further highlight your longer neck with detailed neckline details and hints of skin.
Finally, a tall, thinner frame allows you to pull off more dramatic wedding gown trends, including crop top bridal gowns, or over-the-top ball gown style wedding dresses. This includes voluminous ballerina styles that won’t overwhelm your taller figure.
Petite
Petite frames need to be careful not to choose dresses that overwhelm their figure. This means it is best to avoid overly puffy sleeves and collars. A big, frothy ball gown or a ballerina skirt is you’re your friend. Instead, dresses with delicate details, simple lines and with a long or mid-length skirt are the best options. Further, petite frames are able to carry off stunning, whimsical styles or lace-heavy, vintage styles, easily.
For those who aren’t that tall, toga-style and goddess style dresses are a fantastic stylistic choice. These floaty dresses create an unbroken line that elongates the frame. A chiffon, A-line bridal dress with floral details is a great choice, as well.
Like the hourglass, short women look fantastic in a mermaid dress as it helps elongate the frame. The trumpet shape of the skirt helps stretch the length of the body. Further, asymmetrical ruching and/or a raised waistline creates and longer, leaner body shape. Draped sleeves are also another lengthening trick that draws the eye up.
Simple reigns supreme, so try minimalist styles, if that is your taste. Form-fitting shell shapes over tulle skirts or simple, silk crepe looks stunning. Finally, plunging V-line necklines draw the eye up, exaggerating the neck and elongating your frame.
Apple
The apple shape needs something with a looser shape or a clean, A-line skirt to flatter the waist. Anything that lengthens the body is ideal, so look for dresses with simple, straight lines. Your neckline is also important. V-necks and one-shoulder styles help highlight your neckline, drawing attention away from the waistline. Further, an empire waist is extremely flattering as it gathers at your thinnest part, while skimming where you are wider.
However, if you want to try and create more definition at your waist, choose a style that cinches in to create a more balanced proportion. Dresses that feature a wide ribbon or a lightly dropped waist are good option for the apple shape. However, you can also try asymmetrical pleating or ruching to create definition.
You will want to avoid wedding dresses with trumpet or mermaid style skirts, however, as they tend to create a less defined waist and throw off your proportions. Avoid anything with exaggerated flare outs below the knee.
Pear
A long gown is the best choice for the pear shape. A longer skirt will help smooth the line from the waist to your feet, creating a gentle sweep to your feet. Pear shapes can wear stunning, high waisted gowns to give their body a slender look. When matched with a strapless design, this draws the eyes away from the hips.
If you prefer detailing on your dress, try adding it to the top of your dress, and leaving the skirt plain to draw attention away from the hips. Further, also avoid diagonal draping which can make you look blocky. Instead, choose a dress that has asymmetrical folds and/or ruffled tiers to create a slimming angle from hip to hemline.
If you want to keep your hips under control, try a Grecian gown with floaty side draping. A-Line skirts, again, help skim over the hips and de-emphasise your curves. Ball gown and empire cut wedding dresses are also ideal for pear-shaped brides.
To help draw the eye up to the neckline, a single strap bodice looks stunning and matches any kind of skirt. However, you can also choose wider straps, cap sleeves, a bolero, or a fuller skirt. The aim is to emphasise a smaller waist and create an hourglass silhouette.
However, if you want to flaunt your assets, you can always choose a gown that is more fitted around the hips. Just make sure you keep your silhouette balanced.
Full Figure
While it used to be that there weren’t many choices for full figured brides, now there is an entire industry dedicated to creating stunning wedding dresses entirely for your stunning figure. The perfect dress for fuller figures is one that cuts diagonally across the body and features V-neck bodices and A-line skirts. Simpler lines are best, no matter if you are choosing a modern or vintage style dress.
You can definitely rock a stunning goddess gown if you focus on getting it fitted. Ideally have it snug under the bust, then skin the rest of your curves. Chiffon is ideal as it hugs the body in the bodice – especially if you use some careful ruching – then skims the rest of the body creating the illusion of a narrower midsection.
While fuller figured women might feel like they need to cover up more, this actually works against them. Covering up an ample bust can actually make it look bigger. Try a V-line neck or wide, supportive straps instead to show off a little cleavage and create a stunning, longer neckline. Add a little detail to draw the eye with simple appliques or twist-front details. But remember to keep things balanced so you don’t look top heavy.
If you are worried about revealing a little too much, try a fitted bodice with a dropped waist or a modest scoop neck with a cinched waist to give the illusion of an hourglass figure without the risk of revealing too much.
Fuller figured brides look stunning in empire-waisted dresses. Add detail at the band with a bow, a little sparkle or even flowers to draw the eye away from the décolletage. A simple, trailing skirt helps balance the rest of the dress out, leaving a stunningly elegant finish.
Embrace your stunning shoulders and neckline with off the shoulder straps and create a gorgeous V-line effect. Finish the plunge just below your collarbone for a little teasing mystery and elegance.
Don’t forget to enter the Bride of the Year competition and we encourage you as always to place your vote here for the current month’s special bride.
