Wedding Dress Shapes

Choosing a Wedding Dress Shape

In a way wedding dresses are like any other items of clothing - some will suit you, some won't and the secret of looking good is to know which is which.

The relative infrequency of wearing formal gowns these days means that few of us, even if we are confident about our choices of every day clothes, are entirely sure about what sort of wedding dress will make us look our best.

These are the most commonly encountered shapes of wedding gown, with a quick run down of who should, and shouldn't, consider each. If you have not already figured out what body shape you are, look here first.

Ball Gowns

The distinguishing features of the ball gown style wedding gown are a fitted bodice, a defined waist and a full skirt. It is probably the sort of wedding dress most little girls dream of wearing on their big day, but while it will make some of them look wonderful when the have grown up, it really is not for everyone.

Ball gowns work for:

Thin and tall brides, triangle or rectangle figures, slight pear shaped figure, slim hourglass figures.

If you are tall and slim with a well balanced shape, a classic ball gown can work great. If your figure is less than perfect, try a less defined waist (as in the middle above) or a less full skirt with perhaps some ruching to soften the look (as in the image on the left above).

Ball gowns won't work for:

Petite figure, pronounced pear-shaped figure or larger hourglasses.

While often recommended to disguise a pear shape, this is only true of the hips are just slightly wider than the shoulders, those with larger hips will find it disguises nothing but emphasises the hips instead. These are statement dresses and can overwhelm small brides.

A-Line Dresses

Less full than ball gowns, with a skirt that flares out from either a natural or a dropped waistline, usually with no seam at the waistline. This is a style that flatters almost all figures and works especially well for pear-shaped or fuller-figured brides. The fullness of the skirt can be varied quite a bit.

A-Line works for:

Petite or full-figured brides, short waists

The simple lines of an a-line dress can make a small bride look taller and a full figured brides one slimmer. It is also flattering for the pear-shaped, especially with a lower waistline.

A-Line won't work for:

Thick waists, hourglass figures.

If your waistline is large, the dress will end up looking straight - effectively losing the a-line that gives it it's name, and will emphasise your waist. While hourglass figures can wear a-line dresses, they will not be making the most of their curves if they do.

Empire Line Dresses

Straighter than a-line and less figure hugging, in an empire line dress the skirt starts just below the bust, and falls softly from there. The style and shape of the seam above the skirt can vary quite a bit, as the examples above show.

Empire line works for:

Petit figures, larger waist, small bust

Brides who don't want a figure-hugging dress should consider an empire line. It is good to conceal a larger waist. Tends to elongate the body, giving an appearance of being taller.

Empire line won't work for:

Curvy, pear-shaped or full figures.

Tends not to work with a larger bust, and the line of the skirt emphasises larger hips.

Column or Sheath Dresses

Column dresses have a slim outline, cut close to and following the natural curves of the body. Some have a waist seam but generally they are sheath dresses. They are often bias-cut (centre, right), which allows the fabric to flow around the body and can be very flattering - provided you are slim.

Column dresses work for:

Slim, tall brides, rectangle and triangle body shapes

Column dresses have a very sleek modern look and can be stunning.

Column dresses won't work for:

Curvy, pear-shaped or full figures. Short brides.

A column dress hides nothing - it follows the body contours, wherever they are! They can make a short slim bride seem insignificant, especially if the groom is tall.

Mermaid Dresses

The top of these dresses can be like sheath dresses, but they flare out below the knee, putting more emphasis on the curves above. Fishtails tend to have most of the flaring to the back of the dress, with mermaid it is very evident in front too. They are invariably quite figure-hugging.

Mermaid dresses work for:

Slim but curvy or hourglass figures

Very good on an hourglass figure, showing off the curves of the body to perfection.

Mermaid dresses won't work for:

Pear-shaped or full figures

Curves need to be in proportion and a waist which is noticeably smaller than the hips or shoulders is essential for this style to work. Really emphasises the hips, so not a style for the pear-shaped bride.

credit :http://www.flyawayweddings.com/style-guide/dress-shape2.php

The Best Wedding Dress Style for your Shape

What Shape are You?

When you start taking a close look at body shapes - yours and other people's - an interesting thing emerges: most women are pear shaped, most models have the much less common triangle shape.

Bear this in mind when you look at dresses on a model, what looks terrific on them may do nothing for you at all!

Look at the categories of body shape below and decide which one is closest to you.

Take a look at Yourself

To see what your shape is, stand face-on in front of a full length mirror and have a good look at yourself.

• Draw an imaginary line from the widest point of your shoulders to the widest part of your hips. Is it a straight line? Or are your hips wider than your shoulder or vice versa.
• Now take a look at the definition of your waist - how far from your imaginary line is the narrowest point of your waist?

Once you have this information, use the images below to see which one is most like you.

What Body Shape are You?

It is obvious that within these 4 main categories is massive variation, you can be a thin or an overweight pear shape, a small-framed or large framed rectangle, a very tall or a very petit hourglass and so on, and these thing must also be considered when thinking about the style of wedding gown that will best suit you.

Pear Shaped

This is the most common body shape - hips are wider than shoulders, waist is usually quite well defined.

What suit's
Strapless, V-neck or scooped necklines, possibly in off shoulder styles. A-line is the best shape, but avoid too full a skirt. Empress line can also work well. Diagonal draping on the bodice is very flattering.

What to Avoid
Halter-necks or high cut necks make hips look bigger. Bias or straight cut dresses also emphasis hips, as do full, gathered or pleated skirts. Avoid any bulk around the hips. Mermaid styles just won't work.

Rectangle Shaped

Here the hips and shoulders are about the same width, and there is not much definition at the waist.

What suit's
Go for a waistline with a V shape at the front to create the illusion of a smaller waist. Structured and corseted bodices with fairly full skirts also achieve this effect. Empire line styles particularly well as do bias cuts if you are tall. Keep necklines wide and use detailing either above or below the waist, not both.

What to Avoid
Halter necks or high necks make the shoulders look narrow and as result do not flatter the waist. Avoid ruching or draping in the waist area. Straight cut dresses are in danger of making you look boxy.

Triangle Shaped

Really an inverted triangle, with the shoulders wider than the hips. Most models are this shape.

What suit's
Bias cut or straight cut dresses can look very sophisticated, and this shape can easily take very full ball gown styles. Halter-necks or higher cut necks balance shoulders and hips and flatter a smaller chest. Bustles or bows in the hip area can add shapeliness.

What to Avoid
Very low cut neckline can make you look "all top" unless carefully balanced. Avoid full or very fancy sleeves and wider necklines.

Hourglass Shaped

Hips and shoulders are the same width and there is a well defined waist. Think Marilyn Monroe!

What suit's
Strapless, V-neck or scooped neckline. Off shoulder styles work well but in any case keep the neckline quite low. A-line is a good shape; a shapely mermaid style works well for slimmer hourglasses. Use ruching or draping to disguise less perfect bits!

What to Avoid
Bias cut or straight dresses don't suit the typical curves of the hourglass unless you are very tall and slim. Gathered or pleated skirts can make your hips look big, so be careful. Empire styles will hide your best features.

credit : http://www.flyawayweddings.com/style-guide/dress-shape.php