How do you LOOK AMAZING in the wedding dress you love and in the body God gave you?
It’s about embracing {uh, working with}your imperfections and celebrating your assets! And, it’s about choosing the right style of gown that fits your body type!
Easier said than done? Let’s… look to a pro: Wedding dress designer Amy Jo Tatum, Amy Jo Tatum Bridal Couture and author of the fantastic blog Bride Chic has written an excellent article entitled 411 on Body Types {excerpts below} on how to choose the right wedding gown based on your body type. “Target your flaws then minimize or camouflage them; always, always heighten your assets.” {Amy Jo Tatum}
The Petite Bride
If you’re petite and in shape, you can wear just about any gown as long as you scale down to the right proportion. Choose a bodice and neckline that draws the eye up to your decolletage. GO FOR… a gown with a panel or seams running up the front. The unbroken lines give you height. Empire waists are one of your best options considering you go floor length. A v-neck or u-neck gives the impression of a longer neck. GOWNS to CONSIDER: A Mermaid. An A-line. Sheath and even gown silhouettes. Best proportion is a floor length gown with veil or train of same length. Prints and laces, motifs should be scaled down and worn on the upper portions of your body. Busy designs below the waist draw the eye downward. Soft and sheer fabrics like crepe and chiffon that drape to the body. PASS UP: Any ball gown. Heavy elaborate fabrics. Wide belts, sashes {if you must, go thin}. Any design with puffy sleeves. Any train longer than a sweep.
The Tall Bride
You’re a lucky duck cause you’ll look good in just about any style. GO FOR: Sheaths and evening gown silhouettes. Shrugs and boleros. Ball gowns. You can go all out and carry off all those beautiful back details: florals, bows, big and intricate bustles, heavier fabrics, wide belts etc. PASS UP: bouffant hair-do’s and high headpieces. Victorian gowns with high necks and long, tight sleeves. Long panel trains. Flats or ballerina slippers if your hem is above the floor and your feet are long and narrow.
The Full-Figured Bride
GO FOR: Any A-line or princess style flatters with their vertical lines moving upward. An empire waist {plays down a thick midriff and hides big hips and bottom}. A ball gown {as there’s a determined waistline and the voluminous skirts hide the tummy, bottom and hips, focusing on a nipped-in waist. Low, wide necklines. Consider the scoop, sweetheart, keyhole and V-neck, all of which emphasize your cleavage and decolletage. Long and fitted sleeves, preferably in lightweight fabrics to make your arms look slimmer. PASS UP: Any gown with massive embellishment. Go for clean lines and fabrics like crepe, matte satin and shantung. Pass up any weighty fabrics like brocade or velvet that add bulk in the folds and seams as well as heavily beaded laces and organza’s. Pass up shiny fabrics like satin. High shine equals volume. Pass up: Mermaid, evening gown and sheath silhouettes: all too form-fitting. Three-quarter length and big puffy sleeves. No shoulder pads or off the shoulder necklines. Full-figures usually have broad shoulders and arms and this neckline adds volume there.
The Short-Waisted Bride
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GO FOR: Empires waists. This style hides the natural waist and focuses on the bust and neck area. An empire can have slim or full skirts. Go for: Sweetheart or V-necklines. They lengthen your bodice and extend your neck. Go for: High necklines like jewel and turtlenecks. Go for: Vertical lace patterns and prints. Make sure the pattern travels upward. Go for: A-line and princess style as they flatter for the reason there is no defined waist. Fitted through the bodice, these styles taper down to a full skirt. A trapeze or tent style. PASS UP: Any detail that points to the waistline such as, wearing a gown that has a natural waist, a veil that ends there or any gloves or sleeves that are three-quarter length. Any lacy, ruffled or tiered designs.
The Pear-Shaped Bride
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GO FOR: Off the shoulder empire. Concentrate on extending shoulders outward while concealing or minimizing hips. The idea is to match hip proportions with shoulders to create an hourglass. Any top that extends the shoulder line like bateau or Sabrina neckline. Portrait collars. Consider a tailored look with padded shoulders like a long coat dress. A suit with a full or A-line skirt is another option. Any tailored look with shoulder pads will even out your silhouette. Dropped or basque-waist ball gown. The skirts hide full hips. Just remember to coordinate the top to your proportions as well . . . Sabrina or off the shoulder.
Great stuff! Thanks Amy Jo for sharing your expertise! Read the rest of this article here plus lots of others on topics such as: veils, fabrics, custom and eco-friendly gowns and more!
Type and texture. Style and structure. These are some of my favorite things. But, what I truly adore is the hope & promise of LOVE! And, I get the awesome privilege of bringing you these expressions by way of cool, creative designs and really lovely weddings. Chat with me on twitter 
