Dress, Dress Up, Your Wedding Dress!
Whether it's for a prom, a night on the town, a first date, or (finally) your wedding, you've got to look at your body type to find the perfect dress. If you're going to dress up for a black tie cocktail party or dress down for a comfortable night on the town, don't go shopping until you've figured out your body shape. You don't want to make the banquet hall dim the lights because you don't like the way your dress fits! The following body types and tips should make finding dress designs that will compliment your figure (instead of fighting against it!) as easy as pie (Wait-don't have a slice. You need to fit into that dress!).
Let's start with the easiest of all body types, the one you see on Hollywood's silver screens, the HOURGLASS. Hips and shoulders are proportional, waist is more slender. Arms and legs aren't a factor here, because we're talking about how the DRESS fits on your figure. If you have this body type congratulations--and please don't stand next to me and my non-hourglass body!
The first tip is to stay away from the heavy dress. I don't mean dresses that make you look heavier, but they are actually weighed down by beading and perhaps jewelry--have you seen the dress made of gold coins? These tend to put weight on you, which is never a good thing. Besides that, the sky is the limit for you. Wearing a wrap dress or a little black dress can be pulled of easily. For the wedding dress, corseted bodices are great anything that accentuates the waistline. Don't go too tight. We want to stay away from bulky looking shoulders or Marylin Monroe hips.
The CIRCLE body type will have a larger waist, not very defined, with a larger bust line. Heavier around the middle of your entire body. If you see that your hips and shoulders are slighter than your midsection, then you have a circle or round body shape.
The empire style dress is the first and best choice for you. I recently hit the Sky Bar in LA and you would not believe how popular this style of dress is nowadays! Everybody was wearing them! They will make you look cute while taking the attention away from the middle part of your figure. If you're looking for mother of the bride outfits or mother of the groom dresses, you may find this dress too cutesy and not formal enough. Other dresses that lift or drop the waistline work well, too. A-line cuts which will make your body look longer are another option. by the way, don't dress like you've just left the convent! Show off your shoulders, arms, and legs. Drop the neckline down. Showing a little skin will add a slimming effect--and perhaps draw the right kind of attention your way!
Next we have the RECTANGLE shape, which is just like it sounds. Even and straight, from shoulders to hips. Think athlete and runner bodies, with straight lines and possibly a smaller bust.
Congrats on your healthy physique, but good luck finding a feminine dress. You have a challenge on your hands (and your body) because what you are missing is curves. you need to find a DRESS that will give you the appearance of more curves, and less lines. A busy patterned dress is great, especially if the design draws in at the waistline. You want to pull the waistline in, too, which will give you more hourglass. Do this with belts, ties, and ribbons around your waist. Empire is another excellent choice for this body because it will raise the waistline while accentuating the bust line. If you're 'ahem' lacking up top, do like my mom used to say and push them together and make one big one! I'm partially kidding, but I do think adding and lifting with support under the breast will give you more curve and get you closer to fitting into just about any dress.
The most difficult to dress is the APPLE shape. This is the body of a football player in pads (sorry, but it works for a visual). You have broader shoulders, a larger bust area, possibly a heavier waist, too. Thin arms and legs 9which are great--we're going to use those babies!) are part of this type.
Stay away from any style that will make you look wider up top, such as lots of decor, halter tops, shoulder revealing styles, larger sleeves, and so on. This is why so many plus size wedding dresses are simply wrong with their style choices. You'll want to avoid slimming your lower body even more with tight fitting apparel. I know, you want to show off your slim areas, but it will make your upper body larger. Let's wear a dress that makes you look less round, which would be a neckline that V's or plunges. Bring out the puffy skirt,too. No, it won't make you look bigger down there but it will even out your body shape more. If you can bring in the waist and get away with it, even better. If not, we're back to the old standby, the empire waist. You'll notice a lot of plus size bridesmaid dresses for weddings that will follow these guidelines (also, the mother of the groom dress will fall under this shape).
Finally, we reach the most common body type for women, the PEAR. We are so dainty on top, slim neckline with thin arms, delicate shoulders, small to normal sized bust lines, even a slender waistline...and then child bearing hips and thighs that Sir Mix-A-Lot couldn't get enough of. Lucky for us, we are the most popular target of the typical dress manufacturers and wedding dress designers.
The a-line skirt (click here for a google search) will accentuate your thinner waist and hopefully bring out the bust area. They also help hide the wider hips and larger thighs. As for your top area, you can go anywhere you'd like since, up here, you're looking lean and mean. You want to make your upper body the focal point, so lighten up with your hues up top and darken down below. Revealing your arms and shoulders is great, too. We're dreawing attention away from your lower body. You'll notice the bridesmaid dress at just about every wedding will bring up the waistline (and you should be thanking your soon to be married friend for that).
Now that you have your body type down and what works well with it, you can design your own dress. Find patterns that match up with the information above, and go to town. If you're looking to design your own wedding dress, figure out your body shape and have your designer follow your guidelines.