Choosing your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding prep, but if you’re not sure what style suits your body type, you may have a hard time finding the perfect dress. It’s not only about which silhouette will flatter your shape, but certain gown styles and necklines are better suited for different body shapes and sizes. Here are our best tips on how to choose a wedding dress for your body type!
Hourglass
Typically, women with an hourglass frame have a bust and hip that has the same or almost the same measurement. The goal for choosing a wedding dress for hourglass frames is finding a fit that flatters your curves. Here are five tips to keep in mind:
1. If you want to accentuate your curves, look for a dress with a fit and flare style. Trumpet, mermaid, and bias cut gowns would also work well for your shape. These fits will play up your figure in all the right places.
2. You may also want to consider adding a beaded belt or a dress with ruching at the waist to enhance your narrowest feature.
3. On the other hand, if you don’t want to accentuate your hourglass frame and would rather downplay your curves, opt for a gown with an A-line skirt or a ball gown to disguise your hips, and a modest neckline like a scoop neck, rather than a deep sweetheart.
4. A sheath gown is another great option for an hourglass frame. The streamlined silhouette of a sheath dress will flatter you from head to toe and show off all of your best assets.
5. Look for styles and fabrics that reduce bulk and prevent boxiness, and your gorgeous figure will flourish!
Rectangular
You have a rectangular body type if you have no defined waist, and your hips have a similar width as your shoulders – you have a more athletic build. Rectangular shapes don’t have many curves, so you’ll want to create them with a silhouette.
1. Look for a gown that cinches you in at the waistline to split up your body, adding volume to your bust and hips.
2. Add a belt or similar detailing to help create the illusion of a waist and curvier body.
3. Ruffles and embellishments add volume to the top half, or you can layer ruffles on the bottom half to create volume down there. Look for styles that are fit and flare to flatter your body type best.
4. Bias cut gowns work for rectangular shapes more than any other shape. Your slender frame will embrace the cling of the bias cut style.
Triangle
The triangle body type is wider on the top, with hips that are narrower than your shoulders. These are four tips to keep in mind!
1. Look for dresses with intricate details, such as embroidery around the middle and bottom of your dress. This draws the eye downward, as do scoop necklines.
2. Stay away from puffed shoulders/sleeves, halters and off-the-shoulder necklines. These will draw attention to your shoulders, making the area look even wider.
3. Thick straps will help narrow wide shoulders, as will sleeves, as long as they’re fitted and not puffed.
4. Ball gowns and A-lines are other good options for triangle shaped body frames. With a natural waist, they flatter a slim upper body and flow away from the hips and thighs with a fuller skirt.
Pear
Pear shaped frames are smaller on the top than the bottom with wider hips than shoulders. With a pear frame, you want to draw attention to your upper body, and perhaps de-emphasize your bottom half. Here are five tips when choosing a wedding dress for pear shaped frames.
1. Look for princess style dresses that are able to balance your torso and bust, and disguise your fuller hips.
2. Avoid tiered, trumpet and mermaid style dresses. These dresses draw attention to your bottom half and aren’t the most flattering for the pear body type.
3. You can also try out empire line dresses for a pear frame. They highlight the smallest part of your body and are just gorgeous for your shape.
4. Look for a dress with detail around the neckline. This will draw attention to your upper body.
5. Of course, if you want to flaunt your bottom assets, choose a gown that is fitted around your hips. Just keep in mind that you may need to do some alterations, because you may be a different size at your hips than at your bust.
Plus-Sized
1. An empire waistline will create a lengthening effect for plus-size brides. Another way to accentuate your waist is with a belt!
2. While some brides choose to flaunt their ample bosoms, others would rather not. If you’re feeling the latter, steer clear of embroidery and lapels around the neckline. This is a sure way to draw attention to this area.
3. V-neck and sweetheart necklines will cover your décolleté, but are still extremely flattering. If you need extra support up top, a v-neck with shoulder straps is a great option.
4. Long sleeve wedding dresses are not ideal for plus-size brides. Long sleeves actually make your arms look bigger, so stick to shoulder cap sleeves or short sleeves if you want to cover your shoulders and hide your arms.
5. Look for soft and airy fabrics for the skirt of your dress. Hard fabrics can be used for the corset or upper hip area, but for the skirt, soft and airy fabrics can be easily draped to disguise your heaviest areas.
Small Boobs
1. A sweetheart neckline will be your best friend. The shape of the neckline softens the line around the bust, allowing more flesh to be seen. A gown with a constructed sweetheart bodice will lift and enlarge the chest.
2. Structure is key for brides with a small chest. A structured, corseted bodice (fit to flare or ball gown) is ideal, since structure adds padding and thickness, enhancing your chest.
3. A plunging v-neck also looks great on women with small boobs. You can get away with it without being too revealing on your wedding day, and it’s super flattering for your body type.
4. On the flip side, super high necklines are also gorgeous on small breasted brides. They bring attention away from your bust, drawing the eye to the shoulders and neck, giving the illusion of a fuller bust.
5. Intricate lace details on the upper torso of your dress will help bring volume to your bust, making the area look fuller.
Big Boobs
1. For busty brides, v-neck, sweetheart and scoop necklines are your best bet! They’re both flattering and sexy – just make sure to bend over to test how much cleavage the dress will reveal. You’ll be bending over to hug many people on your wedding day and you want to keep it classy!
2. Wedding dresses like mermaid or trumpet style, with a dropped waistline are ideal for large breasted brides. A-line, princess line and ball gowns are great options for you too!
3. Avoid bodices that have extra extra volume in the form of ruching, beading or intricate details. Instead, leave the details for the waistline or skirt to add balance to your look!
4. A skirt with ruching or asymmetrical pleating will balance and slim your figure. Side detail is also beautiful and recommended to draw the eye!
Choosing a wedding dress will be so much easier with these tips for your body type! Wedding dress shopping should be a fun experience, and it will be as long as you know what you’re looking for- happy shopping!
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