Flatter that figure By Hayley - 06.04.2017

How to Choose The Best Wedding Dress for Your Body Type

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment that most women dream of their whole lives; it’s a memory that you will cherish for the rest of your life and an opportunity to share your love with your friends and family. Yes, we’re talking about your wedding day.

But with all the things you have to look forward to, there is also a fair amount of stress involved in the big day, and finding the perfect wedding dress is part of that stress. You want to look more beautiful than you ever have before, and it will certainly help if your wedding dress flatters your figure.

We all have different body types, and different silhouettes look better on some than they do others, that’s why it’s important to know what your body type is and how to dress it. Once you have found the gown and said ‘yes to the dress’ you will be smiling from ear to ear!

Below are my top tips for choosing the perfect wedding dress for your body type.

What body type are you?

Use the below pointers to help you find out which one you are.

Characteristics of the hourglass

• Well defined (narrow) waist
• Hip and bust tend to be almost the same and quite generous

Characteristics of the inverted triangle

• Shoulders are wider than the hip
• Bust tends to be proportionally large
• Hips are small

Characteristics of the rectangle

• No defined waist
• The hips tend to have a similar width as the shoulders
• You do not have a lot of curves
• Your bust tends to be small or average

Characteristics of the pear

• The hips are wider than the shoulder
• Fat tends to accumulate on the hips and buttocks

Characteristics of the apple

• No defined waist
• Weight tends to form on the stomach
• Average bust size

Picking the right dress for your body type

Inverted triangle

If you are blessed with a larger breasts, the key for finding the perfect wedding dress for your shape is picking out the right neckline. Firstly you want to choose a modest neckline so as to avoid spillage. A scoop, off-the-shoulder, or sweetheart neckline will work wonders but plunging necklines won’t. Avoid skinny straps and choose something that offers more support. Also, opt for modesty lace or a lace overlay to draw attention away from your bust area.

Pear

Pear shaped women look great in an A-line gown (most body types do as it’s a universally flattering style), or play down your curves in a draped Grecian dress. When choosing a dress for a pear shape, you should avoid dresses that highlight your bottom (like mermaid and tiered gowns) and instead try to disguise fuller hips.

Apple

Pick gowns in sturdy fabrics like taffeta or satin and styles that will accentuate your upper half and disguise your lower problem areas; the perfect dress for you is an empire waist dress.

Hourglass

An hourglass figure is one of the most sought-after figures and you want to pick out a dress that accentuates your small waist like a body hugging mermaid. Other shapes that look great on your figure are corset dresses and dresses with an exaggerated dropped waist. In fact, you’re one of the lucky ones - as almost every style suits an hourglass shape.

Rectangle

For slim, straight figures, create the illusion of curves by picking out voluminous dresses such as a ball gown - which typically has a fitted bodice - and a full skirt or a sheath dress. Dresses with flowing embroidery will also flatter.

Please note that these are only suggestions. If you find a dress that makes you feel fabulous; if you don’t want to take it off; if you can’t stop looking at yourself in the mirror - it's fine to break the rules. They are only guidelines, and at the end of the day, you know best.

Bridal jargon

When shopping for your gown it is important to know some key terms. The bridal industry has some strange terms and sayings; if you’re in doubt about style descriptions, check out the below for a quick update.

• Ballgown: The number one distinguishing trait of a ball gown is its very full skirt. The silhouette also has a fitted bodice and is cinched at the natural waist. The fullness of the dress will make you look curvier and make you feel very glamorous.
• Mermaid: This shape is defined by a slim, tapered, figure-hugging skirt that follows the line of the hips and thighs and flares out below the knee. Best for Brides with hourglass figures who want to show off their curves.
• Column: This formfitting style follows the body’s natural line and doesn’t flare out. It’s also referred to as a sheath. Best suited for Petite women, since this slim shape adds length. This silhouette also looks great on brides with sleek lean figures.
• Drop waist: This silhouette is exactly as you would imagine—it drops and flares out slightly below the waistline around your hip area. Best for Brides who want to flaunt their trim middles and shape, since it hugs your waist and hips.
• A-line: As its name implies, this cut is narrow at the top and extends out along the body in the shape of — you guessed it — an “A.” Best for all body types. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular skirt silhouettes — it’s super-flattering on almost everyone!
• Trumpet: A straight-lined skirt subtly flares from the knee toward the hem in a trumpet shape.