Use this chart as a reference when looking for a wedding dress silhouette
WEDDING DRESS TYPES
There are many different silhouettes and this article will show you how to find the best wedding dress silhouette for your body type.
Women are blessed with different body types so they need to search for different wedding dress types. There is no standard in nature for what a woman’s body is supposed to look like, we’re not made using a mold. Some women are curvier, others are lean; some have tall frames, while others are petite. As varied as women’s bodies are, so are wedding dress silhouettes. There is no one style that will look good
on every type of female body. This concept becomes even more tangible when shopping for your perfect wedding dress because there are many wedding dress types.
Shopping for your perfect wedding dress provides you with a limited amount of time per appointment, which usually last only one hour. You have 60 minutes to listen to the suggestions of your trusted bridal stylist, the yays and nays of your small entourage, and try on fabulous gowns from different designers. The best way to make the experience more enjoyable, and a crucial step in your prep work before going to your appointment, is to figure out what is your body shape. Doing so will help minimize the stress of playing dress up and make for a more enjoyable bridal shopping experience.
Let’s face it, shopping for your wedding dress is the most exciting part of the process. Following is a list of body types and recommendations on which wedding dress silhouette best accentuates your assets.
HOURGLASS
If your shoulders and hips are roughly the same size and separated by a tiny waist, your body shape is what is commonly known as “hourglass.” You can wear pretty much every style, but a mermaid like Calla Blanches Loretta dress is your best ally to flaunt those luscious curves.
INVERTED TRIANGLE
Women with an inverted triangle body have broader shoulder than hips, with little to no waist definition. Your goal with this body type is to create a more balance between your upper and lower half. You do this by adding emphasis to your lower half, down-playing your strong shoulder line, and making sure your bust and waist are defined. For the bride whose bust, waist and shoulders are pretty similar in width, we suggest going for an A-line dress that accentuates the waistline. If you need more definition, a beautiful beaded belt will help narrow the waist, and a V-neck is the perfect way to create the illusion of an inverted triangle on your torso. Look for A-line dresses like a dress by Allure style: 9966.
ATHLETIC OR INVERTED TRIANGLE
If your waist is slightly smaller than your shoulders and hips, which are similar in size, then you have what is considered an athletic body. You want a wedding dress that will create that hourglass figure for you by cinching your waist. A sheath dress with a strapless or halter top is your best bet to accomplish this, just like a dress from Kara Oceane, the Juliana gown.
RECTANGLE OR STRAIGHT
The rectangular body shape is characterized by a straight silhouette with no many curves, shoulders and hips of similar width, little to no waist definition, and very long legs. The focus of this body shape should be on defining the waist by breaking up the rectangle and giving the illusion of more curves. If you find that your bust, waist and hips have similar measurements, you’ll need to find a wedding dress that accentuates your curves and creates the illusion of an hourglass shape with a more defined waist. A style like Kara Oceane Naomi is just the ticket. Wedding dress types are many, but we are doing just fine so far, let’s keep going.
APPLE OR ROUND
The apple shape, also referred to as circular or round shape is determined by your measurements. Your shoulders, bust, waist and hips are fairly uniform, but your shoulders and hips may be slightly narrower. Your waistline is rather undefined. We suggest looking for wedding dress styles like A-line or Empire.
PEAR OR TRIANGLE
Having a pear-shaped body means your torso is narrower than your hips. If u want to keep the focus on your smaller waist, an A-line or ball gown will help conceal your luscious hips in a skirt that flows from the waist down. A gorgeous off the shoulder dress like Allure 9908 or White One Thrills gown with a high neckline would look perfect on you.
Just because the experts have weighed in with their suggestions, it doesn’t mean you can’t step out of your comfort zone and try on that stunning mermaid gown you’ve always been dreaming of. When trying on wedding dresses, we encourage you to have fun, listen to trusted opinions from your favourite bridal stylist, and more importantly, listen to your heart and that little voice inside your head. She knows you better than anyone and she knows what looks best on you. At the end of the day, you are the one who will be walking down the aisle, so you have to say yes to the one dress that makes you feel absolutely stunning from the inside out. Trust your intuition!
If you want to start the Bridal Shopping Experience start by browsing Blu Ivory Collections and remember to book an appointment ahead of time to save your spot in their change room.
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