How To Choose The Right Wedding Dress To Flatter Your Figure

Do you know what style flatters your body type? Many brides don’t, but by choosing wisely, you can highlight your best features while camouflaging your “problem areas”.

Here’s a guide that can help you look your best for your wedding day. This is just a guide to go by; ultimately, you have to decide what looks good on you and how you feel in it!

Styles that look good on everyone include A-line silhouettes, Queen Anne necklines, tank/scoop necklines, cap sleeves.

1. FULL HIPS

Stick with:

A-Line silhouette (conceals fuller hips)

Avoid:

Sheaths (emphasizes fuller hips)

Overly full skirts (makes you look heavy)

2. THICK-WAISTED

Stick with:

Empire silhouette (hides thick waists)

Avoid:

Princess silhouette (draws attention to waist)

3. VERY SLENDER

Stick with:

Ball Gown silhouette (adds curves and enhances waistline)

Spaghetti straps

Dropped waistlines

Flaired skirts

Low necklines

4. FULL FIGURED

Stick with:

A-Line silhouettes

Basque waistlines

Open necklines, such as V-neck

Lots of detailing near neckline to draw attention to your face

Full skirts

Long sleeves (will hide chunky arms)

Avoid:

Spaghetti straps

Poufy sleeves

Open Clingy fabrics

Ruffles

Tulle skirts

5. PEAR-SHAPED FIGURE

Stickwith:

Ball Gown silhouette (accentuates waist and hides hips)

Off the shoulder neckline (helps proportion your larger hips)

Detailed bodice and plain skirt

Avoid:

Bows in the back of your dress at hip level

6. HOUR-GLASS FIGURE

Stick with:

Sheath silhouette (emphasizes your curves)

Mermaid silhouette (also emphasizes your curves)

Portrait necklines (shows off your shoulders)

“V” necklines (also shows off your shoulders)

Strapless dresses

Avoid:

Too much beading and detailing (will make you appear heavier than you are)

Full or ruffled gowns (will make you appear heavy)

High necklines (minimizes bust and will you disproportional)

Puffed sleeves (will make you disproportional)

7. PETITE

Stick with:

Sheath silhouette (adds length and makes you appear taller)

Princess silhouette (makes you appear taller)

Empire waist

High necklines

Short sleeve or sleeveless with long gloves

Avoid:

Ball Gown silhouette (makes you appear shorter)

Belts or waist seams

Detailing on the bottom of the skirt

8. SMALL BUST

Stick with:

Jewel neckline (makes bust look bigger)

V-neckline if a “B” or “C” cup

Bateau neckline (will make bust look bigger)

Strapless gowns

Sleeveless gowns

Avoid:

V-necklines if an “A” cup

9. LARGE BUST

Stick with:

A-Line silhouette

Sweetheart neckline

Strapless gowns

Avoid:

Jewel necklines (will make bust look bigger)

Halter neckline

V-necklines if over a “C” cup

Spaghetti straps

Empire gowns

10. BROAD SHOULDERS

Stick with:

Strapless gowns

Avoid:

Off the shoulder necklines (will make shoulder appear larger)

Jewel necklines

Bateau necklines

Oversized sleeves

So make sure you check out what works for you before you go shopping for a wedding dress.