.png)
Whatever your body shape there will be a wedding dress for you – there are so many to choose from. Which, can sometimes be the problem, with so much choice how do you make the right decision? When brides come for their wedding dress appointment with me, at Lavelle Bridal Couture, more often than not they always ask, “there’s so many wedding dress styles and I’m not sure which is the best shape for my body type”. Well, fear not, with plenty of years experience under my belt working in the fashion industry I have a keen eye for body shapes and what will flatter your shape the most.
I also, however, think it’s key to remember that if you feel really good in the dress shape that you’ve chosen then all the rules go out of the window. Trust your gut and if you look and feel beautiful in that dress then go for it! Feeling comfortable in your wedding dress is my number one priority for my brides. Feeling comfortable will mean you feel more confident and will look and feel more beautiful.
I totally appreciate how important finding your dream wedding dress for the big day is. Read on to find out how to find the perfect wedding dress styles to suit your body shape.
Wedding Dress Styles – What Body Shape Am I?
Every bride is different, and you may find that your individual shape features parts of multiple body shapes, however, there are four main types of body shapes:
Triangle – A triangle shape is when you’re top half is wider than your bottom, usually broader shoulders with narrow hips. V-necks are great at balancing broad shoulders, as are scoop and wide necklines. I’d advise looking at a thicker strap or a strap that has detail on it, or perhaps a long sleeve.
Apple – An apple shape has larger breasts, narrow hips and a fuller mid-section. A-line dresses look great on body shapes with a fuller bust.
Pear – The opposite of triangle, a pear shape has narrower shoulders and bust than hips. You probably have a defined waist that slopes in to your hips. Look for a dress that defines your waist whilst skimming over your hips. Or if you’d rather a more fitted style try something that flares out just above the knee.
Hourglass – Your hips and bust are practically the same size with a narrow waist that’s well defined. This body shape usually suits most dress styles but read on to find out which will flatter the most.
Wedding Dress Styles To Suit My Body Shape
So now you have a better idea of what body shape you are I’m going to talk you through the different wedding dress styles to suit those body shapes. If you’re petite or tall, don’t worry; I’ve got you girls covered too. There are 5 main types of wedding dress styles that I have in the boutique for you to try on and below I’ve listed exactly what they are and who they’re suitable for.
A-line Wedding Dress
Suitable for: all body shapes.
Named after the shape that this dress creates, the a-line gown is a soft silhouette. With a fitted bodice the skirt then gets fullers from waist to hem. This shape lends itself to brides with a fuller bust. However it’s also perfect for pear shape brides as the skirt skims the hip, drawing the eye to the waist and bust. For triangle shaped brides chose a dress with a low v-neck, wider straps or sleeves. The continuous line that this silhouette creates also works particularly well for both petite and tall brides. This dress really is perfect for every body shape!
Princess Wedding Dress
Suitable for: all body shapes.
Also know as a ball gown style these dresses are like the a-line’s old sister with a fitted, structured bodice and a full skirt. These dresses are very flattering for a fuller bust or broad shoulders as the fullness of the skirt balances out the proportions. For those with a pear shape, look for something with a natural or dropped waist, drawing the focus in here. Petite brides be weary of this style as sometimes a skirt that’s too full can look overwhelming, however if you are set on this style find something with a bit less structure in the skirt, whether that be in fabric choice like a light tulle or in the cut of the skirt pattern. Hayley Paige’s cascading hems are great for this.
Fit and Flare Wedding Dress
Suitable for: Pear and hourglass figures.
Or trumpet dress as some call it, lands somewhere between an a-line and a mermaid wedding dress. While not as fitted as the mermaid style the fit & flare silhouette is fitted through the bodice and flares out just below the hips, creating a trumpet shape, hence the name.
Column Wedding Dress
Suitable for: Triangle, petite and tall figures.
The column style (also known as a sheath wedding dress) is a slim-cut dress that fits very closely to the contours of the body. These dresses are often made from a luxuriously stretchy crepe fabrics or a bias cut satin, perfect for skimming over the body. These cuts are great for elongating petite brides whilst also flattering taller brides with a continuous line. If you’re a bride who is conscious of your hips it’s best to stay away from this style, although, with embroidered appliqués this feature can often be accentuated.
These dresses are what Dando London does best and this will be your go to designer.
Fishtail Wedding Dress
Suitable for: Hourglass figures
More fitted than the trumpet style a fishtail or mermaid wedding dress is fitted from the bust, through the waist, over the hips and down to the knees where it flares out, quite dramatically, to the hem. Accentuating all your curves making this dress perfect for hourglass figures. This style works well on petite brides, elongating the figure. It also works equally well for taller brides due to the skirt focus. An all over lace pattern or delicate embroidery are perfect for hiding a few lumps and bumps along the way. This silhouette is super sexy and if you’ve got curves for it…flaunt them!
It’s important to remember that there are many variations on these wedding dress styles and even if you’re one type of body shape this won’t limit you to the style of wedding dress that you have. Like I said at the beginning of this blog, if you’re comfortable and confident, the rule book goes out the window. Think of these guidelines as just that, a guide, it doesn’t mean you have to stick to it, it’s just there to give you an idea.
Click here to browse all the wedding dress styles from all of my designers that I currently have in the boutique.
It’s great to do your research before your bridal appointment but don’t worry as I’ll be there to guide and advice you through the whole process. I’ll listen to what’s important to you and together we’ll find your perfect wedding dress for the big day.
Thanks for reading.
Becky xx
