Anyone involved in planning a wedding will know one very basic fact that there are a lot of choices to make. Making these choices is often even more difficult due simply to the range of options available. Consider how many places or venues are available for weddings, think about all of the decorator themes, try to envision the hundreds of types of flowers, and stop to consider the many types of wedding dresses too.
Most women have a mental image of their wedding day, but not everyone has a clear cut idea about the sort of dress they would like to wear. While someone might envision a massive tulle skirt all covered in glittering sequins, or someone else might want to wear a fishtail gown that is long and elegant, not all body types work with all kinds of gowns.
This means that the guiding rule in selecting the perfect wedding dress is to first understand your body type and then select a dress that is the most flattering for it. The most commonly recognized types will include those with straight, pear, spoon, hourglass, oval and diamond shapes. These descriptors are generally used to explain the way that body weight is distributed. For example:
Straight this woman has bust and hips that are almost the same measurement with a waist only slightly smaller
Pear a woman with this figure has hips that are larger than the bust, and the waist slopes out to the hips
Spoon similar to pear with the exception that there is much more definition between hips and waist
Hourglass with hips and bust the same size and a well-defined waist line region
Oval this figure has a waist that is larger than the bust and hips, and the bust area is usually quite full
Diamond narrow shoulders and a waist that is larger than bust or hips.
Once you have determined your body type you can then use some standard recommendations for dress selection. For example:
Straight dresses should have full skirts and extremely fitted waists in order to create definition. An ideal wedding gown would have gathering or embellishments that would add volume or attract attention to the bust and shoulder area
Pear select dresses that draw the eye to the top of the body. This means A-line gowns, fitted waists, and wrap styles with fluttery sleeves. The Empire and princess cuts work well with this figure
Spoon de-emphasize the belly area and draw attention to the upper body by selecting Empire or A-line styles. These can really add volume to the bust and shoulders while only skimming the larger areas of the figure
Hourglass create balance and proportion by selecting gowns that emphasize the natural waist line area and which use matching styling in all areas of the garment. For example, a full skirt should be accompanied by fuller sleeves, and a fitted top should be matched by a slim bottom
Oval work to create a more defined waist by selecting gowns with darting, accented waist bands, and A-line shapes. Choosing wider necklines and off the shoulder styles can also help to create a visual sense of narrowing at the waist too
Diamond add volume to the top of the body and minimize the bottom by creating a waist line. This can be done by selecting a two-piece wedding gown or by opting for a wider neckline or off the shoulder style.
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