How to choose a dress based on your body type
Until you try on pretty much every style wedding dress, you aren't going to know what looks good on you. You really need to go into dress shopping with an open mind and try on things you wouldn't normally choose.
I swear to you, at the bridal shop where I work I see the same situation all the time.
A woman comes in and and says, for example "I definitely don't want lace, strapless, or fit and flare". And guess what dress they end up choosing? A strapless, lace, fit and flare. Honestly!
When you go dress shopping, always always always try on at least one dress that you would never ever pick, it just might be the one!
Here are some guidelines for certain body types
If you have: A Full Chest
Girls who have large breasts often want to cover them up. Nobody wants to be busting out of their dress in front of grandma and their new in-laws. Girls who are self conscious about their full chests often go for this style of dress:
If you have a full chest, these are probably NOT the right styles for you!
Believe it or not, straps and sleeves on a v-neck gown make your shoulders and chest look wider, causing you to look like a linebacker!
What SHOULD large chested women wear...
STRAPLESS! As long as the fit is right (there is enough fabric to hold in the girls) a strapless bust often minimizes a larger breast size without making your upper body look wider. Look at the difference between the last picture in the first section, and the last picture in this section. The model in the first section looks much larger than the one right above here, even though both women are probably the same size. The excess fabric on the sleeves widens the shoulders and makes you look much heavier than you actually are!
If you have: A Small Chest
Brides with small chests actually have a bit of advantage. It is much easier to add the illusion of breast size than to minimize it. Cups sewn into your dress can add a lift and some extra padding to accentuate small breasts and make them look a bit fuller and larger. There are a few styles that small breasted brides should avoid.
First of all: a dress with little to no padding or support. This look below causes your chest to look even smaller.
Second: a plunging neckline. Small chested girls end up looking very bony. If you have small breasts, exposing them this much isn't the best look for you.
So, you want to make your chest look a little fuller?
Try a sweetheart neckline!
The dip in a sweetheart neckline gives the illusion of cleavage. This style is great for small chested girls not only because of the shape but also the lift that a sweetheart neckline can give (especially with the right padding or cups!)
Don't feel comfortable in a strapless because you don't want to be pulling it up all night? Ask your seamstress to add a simple halter strap like this:
This look gives you a great lift and extra support!
If you have: large hips
Girls who have big hips, or hips that are large in proportion to the rest of their body, should NOT wear mermaid, trumpet, or fit and flare dresses.
See how this style really hugs the hips? If you are trying to minimize your hips, this is not the right style. On the other hand, if you have small hips and want to create the illusion of curves, a fit and flare may be just the thing!
What should girls with larger hips wear? Hide your hips with:
An a-line gown! This style doesn't hug your hips. Instead, the flowy fabric falls nicely below your waist so that your hips look smaller. Since the dress isn't tight around your hips, you can easily hide them.
Until you try on pretty much every style wedding dress, you aren't going to know what looks good on you. You really need to go into dress shopping with an open mind and try on things you wouldn't normally choose.
I swear to you, at the bridal shop where I work I see the same situation all the time.
A woman comes in and and says, for example "I definitely don't want lace, strapless, or fit and flare". And guess what dress they end up choosing? A strapless, lace, fit and flare. Honestly!
When you go dress shopping, always always always try on at least one dress that you would never ever pick, it just might be the one!
Here are some guidelines for certain body types
If you have: A Full Chest
Girls who have large breasts often want to cover them up. Nobody wants to be busting out of their dress in front of grandma and their new in-laws. Girls who are self conscious about their full chests often go for this style of dress:
Believe it or not, straps and sleeves on a v-neck gown make your shoulders and chest look wider, causing you to look like a linebacker!
What SHOULD large chested women wear...
If you have: A Small Chest
Brides with small chests actually have a bit of advantage. It is much easier to add the illusion of breast size than to minimize it. Cups sewn into your dress can add a lift and some extra padding to accentuate small breasts and make them look a bit fuller and larger. There are a few styles that small breasted brides should avoid.
First of all: a dress with little to no padding or support. This look below causes your chest to look even smaller.
Second: a plunging neckline. Small chested girls end up looking very bony. If you have small breasts, exposing them this much isn't the best look for you.
So, you want to make your chest look a little fuller?
Try a sweetheart neckline!
Don't feel comfortable in a strapless because you don't want to be pulling it up all night? Ask your seamstress to add a simple halter strap like this:
If you have: large hips
Girls who have big hips, or hips that are large in proportion to the rest of their body, should NOT wear mermaid, trumpet, or fit and flare dresses.
What should girls with larger hips wear? Hide your hips with:
An a-line gown! This style doesn't hug your hips. Instead, the flowy fabric falls nicely below your waist so that your hips look smaller. Since the dress isn't tight around your hips, you can easily hide them.
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