What kind of Wedding Dress will fit you best?
Paperia | January 2015
We talked earlier about how to shop for a wedding dress, but before you even step foot into a boutique – it’s important to do some research and brainstorming. If you have a clear idea of the style of gown you’re seeking, your experience will be much more enjoyable and efficient!
Perhaps the best place to start is to consider your body shape. Dresses are designed and cut specifically with these body shapes in mind in order to accentuate your finest features!
Hourglass
- Your hips and shoulders are about the same size, and you have a smaller, well-defined waist
- Best fit – Ball Gown or Mermaid
Pear
- You are curvy and have full hips and thighs
- Best fit – A-line or Empire
Apple
- You have broader shoulders and more narrow hips
- Best fit – Ball Gown or Tea-Length
H-Shape
- Also known as “rectangle,” your shoulders, waist, and hips are all about the same size
- Best fit – Sheath or A-line
Now let’s take a closer look at each style, or “silhouette” as some boutiques call them.
Ball Gown
- A fitted bodice that flairs at the waist and has a full skirt. This is the quintessential “fairy-tale” gown that you could picture Cinderella wearing as she loses her glass slipper.
Mermaid
- Fitted to the body from the chest to the knee, and then flairs out from the knee to the ground. Some styles flare out more dramatically and are referred to as “trumpet-style” mermaid gowns.
A-Line
- This style has a fitted bodice that extends through the waist then slowly flairs out to the ground, giving the dress a resemblance to an upper-case letter “A”.
Sheath
- Narrow shape that hangs straight down from the neckline to the hem. A bias-cut sheath is often referred to as a “second skin,” because it hugs the midriff perfectly and lays effortlessly on the hips.
Tea-length
- Also known as “short gown,” this style ends between the knee and ankle and is most appropriate for more casual or outdoor affairs. This draws attention to your legs and balances out the top half of the body.
Empire
- A high-waited bodice that hugs your rib cage and the long flowing skirt drapes down, forgiving hips and thighs, and creating the illusion of height.
So now you’ve identified your body shape and selected the style of dress that compliments your figure. Next, you’ll want to consider the type of fabric. There are literally TONS of fabrics to choose from, and when you consider blends, the list grows even longer!
Here’s a brief run-down of some of the most popular wedding gown fabrics.
- Chiffon: Delicate, sheer, transparent, and flowing – made from silk or rayon
- Satin: a heavy, smooth fabric with a high shine
- Silk: soft, lustrous fiber produced by silkworms while making cocoons
- Taffeta: a fine silk or synthetic fabric with a crisp texture
- Lace: delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open web-like pattern
You can now consider yourself educated on wedding gowns! Get ready to strut your style with confidence and grace.
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