There are as
many different types of wedding gowns available as there are women to wear
them. However, not all gowns will look good on everyone. Be aware of your body
shape, and try on the gown styles that best accentuate your unique figure.
Short and
petite: You may want to consider a high neckline, A-line,
empire, or princess silhouettes, small collars and cuffs, short sleeves or
sleeveless with long gloves. Or, dresses that are trim at the neckline and
shoulders to draw the eye upward. You should stay away from a belt, unless it
is a very narrow one. Try to avoid frills and excessive detailing.
Tall
and slender: Look for dresses with
trims that wrap completely around the gown and veil, wide midriffs and sashes,
large collars, big cuffs, flared or tiered skirts and low necklines.
Thin: you
can choose fabrics that are softly draping or heavier and have texture or a
bold pattern. They may have a sheen, such as satins, velvets, and brocades.
Choose a dress with a full, gathered skirt with lots of ornamentation. Consider
long, full sleeves, a bloused bodice top, a cropped jacket, a sash in a
contrasting colour, or a wide sculpted collar.
Pear-shaped: Choose
a gown with a long, textured bodice and abundant trim. This creates the
illusion of a fuller upper body, while drawing the eyes to that area. Full
sleeves that extend the shoulder also help. The skirt should accentuate the
waist and be simple, with controlled fullness. Stay away from slim, sheath
silhouettes, very full skirts, heavy ornamentation in the hip area, and high
necklines, which make the shoulders look narrower.
Hourglass: Make
the most of your waist by balancing your proportions in simple classic lines.
Off-the-shoulder sleeves and plunging necklines are fine. You do not want too
much detail on the bodice or skirt; they have a tendency to make you look too
heavy.
Full-figured:
Consider a princess silhouette featuring vertical panels with no waist seam or
the straight, sleek lines. Avoid heavy or clinging materials, bold patterns,
contrasting colours, or figure-hugging styles such as the sheath or trumpet
skirt. To minimize hips, a dropped V waist will be most flattering. Intricate
embroidery near the neckline draws attention to your facial features, as will a
V- or shallow U-neckline.
Big-busted: You
may wish to stay with elongated bodices and necklines that are V- or U-shaped
or high with a keyhole yoke. Avoid cinched waists or empire styles that come up
high under the bust, and clingy fabrics that accentuate your fullness. Choose
instead full, billowing skirts with lots of ornamentation, which will create a
curvier lower body. Keep sleeves simple with a natural shoulder line, and avoid
adornments on the bodice.
Broad shoulders: Look
for dresses with smooth set-in sleeves, low V necklines or high, covered necks.
Avoid puffed full sleeves, bare necklines, broad collars, haltered tops and
shoulder pads.
Narrow shoulders: Drape them with cape collars or capelets. Accentuate them with sleeves that
gather at the top, necklines that are bare or widely curved, and shoulder pads
built into the dress.
No matter what the trend of the moment is, always
choose a gown that you feel comfortable in, as well as one that looks
attractive on you and is flattering to your figure. Watch in the mirror how it
moves when you walk and ask someone honest (read: your mother or your best
friend) how it looks from the back; remember that most of your guests will see
more of you from the back than any other way.
