Congratulations!
You’re getting married ….. you’ve chosen your date and your venue, so now it’s time to choose the most important outfit that you are ever likely to wear – one that will make you look and feel fabulous and at your absolute best – your very own wedding dress.
Wedding dress shopping…where do you begin???
Choosing your dress can seem like a daunting task and we understand if you’re a little nervous.
We’re all different – thank goodness – and we all have different body shapes and sizes, but we can assure you that there is a wedding dress out there for each and every bride. It is a case of understanding your shape, and understanding the best style to suit your body type.
Body types
- Hourglass figure
Ladies with an hourglass figure have a defined waist and balanced bust and hip measurements. - Pear-shaped figure
This is the name given to a body shape where hips are wider than shoulders. Shoulders and arms are proportionately slim, and the waistline is well defined. - Apple Shaped Figure
An apple shaped body is less defined at the waist area and more voluptuous around the tummy and bust areas. - Athletic build
Athletic figures are often described as straight up and down. - Petite
Ladies under 5ft 2 with a small frame are described as having a petite figure. - Tall
Ladies over 5ft 8 are considered tall.
Wedding dress styles
Ballgown
This type of wedding dress is often described as a fairy tale gown, with a fitted bodice, and a full skirt that flairs out at the waist. It can be worn by most body types – but is especially good for pear shaped ladies, as it accentuates the bust and waist areas. This syle of gown is not ideal for petite ladies as large skirts can be overwhelming on a small frame.
A-Line
This style of wedding dress has a fitted bodice through the waist and flows out to the ground. It is known as A Line as the shape resembles the outline of an uppercase letter ‘A’. It is an ideal shape for most body types.
Fit and Flare
Gowns that are fitted on the bodice through the waist and flaring out at or below the hips are described as having fit and flare. It is a style that flatters most body types.
Trumpet
Trumpet style gowns are fitted through the body and flair at the mid-thigh level. Gowns of this style suit ladies with hourglass figures, but are generally not so flattering for ladies with an apple or pear shape as it can accentuate the tummy and hip areas.
Mermaid
Mermaid style wedding dresses fit the body closely over the bust waist and hip area, with the skirt flaring out close to the knee. Ideal for ladies with slender frames and hourglass body types who love to show their curves. It is not the best style for an apple body type.
Sheath
This type of wedding gown has a narrow shape that flows straight down from the neckline to the hem. It is deal for lean athletic frames.
Tea length
A tea length gown has a skirt that finishes in between the knee and the ankle.
Empire line
An empire line wedding dress has a bodice which ends just below the bustline, giving a high-waisted appearance. Skirts on this type of gown are generally loosely fitting, skimming the body. This type of gown is a great choice for pregnant ladies and new mums.
We hope that this is a helpful guide for all of our brides-to-be out there – but nothing beats seeing for yourself how the different styles suit your body shape… and that’s where we come in.
Let your fairytale start here… by requesting a
personal consultation with one of our trusted team of experts xx