All women are beautiful, charming, and one-of-a-kind. This is an important affirmation to remember, especially if you’re a bride-to-be. No matter what clothes size you use to wear, no matter whether you’re tall or small, super skinny or have a luscious body shape, you’ll look breathtaking on your wedding day. The only thing you should do is to pick a bridal gown that will fit best particularly your figure.
Before we dive deeper into recommendations on wedding dress styles for body types, read a quick reminder on different types of body shapes and how to properly define which one is yours.
Hourglass Body Type
The most prominent characteristics of this type is a balanced upper and lower body. The width of shoulders and hips is almost the same. The harmony of the silhouette is emphasized by a slender waistline. Marilyn Monroe, Scarlett Johansson, Dita von Teese, and many other celebrities are representatives of this body type.
Pear Body Type
Is called so because, like in a pear, the upper body part is narrower than hips. Typically the waistline is well-defined and narrow as well, so all the focus is on the seductive hips. No wonder that Shakira sang “Hips don’t lie” as she is one of the beautiful pear body type representatives. Beyonce and Rihanna are also in this category.
Apple Body Type (Round or Oval)
Do you have a lush bust and slimmer hips? Is your waistline not so well-defined? Is your stomach more rounded? Well, most likely you have an apple body type, as well as Drew Barrymore, Oprah Winfrey, Kate Winslet, and many others.
Rectangle Body Type
Most often this body type is typical for athletic girls. Natural body curves are almost invisible as all key points (shoulders, waist, hips) are almost the same size and proportion. Keira Knightley and Gvinet Paltrow are perfect examples of rectangle body type.
Inverted Triangle Body Type
All the accents are placed on the upper body and wide shoulders. Hips are usually slim and narrow. Demi Moore and Angelina Jolie have such body shapes, and what about you?
So How To Define Your Type Of Figure?
You just need to make a measurement, it’s as simple as that. However, it is to do everything correctly. Firstly, find a measurement tape that doesn’t give an error. Secondly, keep in mind that you need to measure the correct body points: the fullest part of the bust, the narrowest part of waistline, and the fullest part of hips. Then you should compare the metrics you got and their proportions. Look through the body type descriptions once again and define which one describes the proportions most similar to yours. By the way, if you’re still hesitating on your body type, you can use online calculators which will help you find the appropriate answer.
Remember: particular body types are rarely found in their pure form. We’re all unique and special because we have mixed body characteristics. The best way is to pay attention to the most striking and prominent parts of your body and focus on them when defining your type of figure.
Wedding Dresses for Each Body Type
Hourglass Body Shape
As we’ve mentioned previously, brides with such body shapes have harmoniously balanced silhouettes with almost equal bust and hips proportions. Thanks to their narrow waistline, they have very beautiful natural curves. If you have such a body shape, you can pick almost any wedding dress silhouette and look gorgeous. Everything depends on the style you prefer and your personality that you want to emphasize with your wedding gown. Based on your body type wedding dresses that will fit you best are described below.
Best dress wedding styles
Mermaid wedding dresses: the most prominent characteristic of this wedding dress type is a fitted silhouette that dramatically flares out below. It’s a winning choice for any season or wedding celebration type. Are you planning to have a summer or winter celebration? Do you want a traditional cathedral ceremony or a party with close friends? You can adjust your bridal gown by adding sleeves and different embellishments. Opt for fabrics that can keep wedding dress structure well, for example: satin, lace, stretch crepe. Medium-length and cathedral-length veils will work best with mermaid wedding dresses. Speaking of wedding gown colors, you can choose among shades that have been trendy for the last several years: ivory, champagne, blush, etc.
Fitted gowns: if you love minimalistic style with a bohemian vibe, we recommend opting for fitted gowns. As well as the mermaid wedding dresses, fitted gowns can perfectly emphasize your natural figure. However, the focus will be placed not on the waistline, but on your height and slim silhouette. Typically, such dresses are crafted with lightweight fabrics like silk or crepe, so they’re very comfortable and ensure freedom of movement. Such embellishments like lace, embroidery or illusion details will add a special charm to your overall wedding look.
A-line bridal gowns: if you don’t feel comfortable in too tight silhouettes but want to preserve main focus on your refined waist and harmonious upper body, try on A-line wedding gowns. Such dresses are characterized by softer flattering skirts. In such a dress you will look both romantic and conservative. Floral decorative elements will perfectly accomplish your fascinating look.
What to avoid
- Don’t use too many or too massive decorations to emphasize your waist as you can get a reverse effect: instead of adding extra charm to your natural curves, you will overweight your silhouette and make it look bulky and unstylish.
- Too straight or empire waist dress will hide your harmonious body proportions, so we don’t recommend opting for such wedding gowns.
Pear Body Shape
Do you have narrow shoulders and bust with curvy accent hips? Then the wedding dress style for body type below will fit you best!
Best dress styles off-the-shoulder
A-line wedding gowns: as the lower part of such a dress is flattering it can replace attention from hips to your narrow waistline. This way you can balance your body proportions. You can opt both for lightweight and structured fabrics depending on how much formal and traditional look you want to achieve.
Ball gowns: it’s a perfect choice if you want to completely hide your hips and accentuate bust. Moreover, such a dress will be ideal if you have always dreamed of a princess-like wedding dress.
Off-the-shoulder wedding dresses: it’s another winning way to place focus on your tender shoulders and add a seductive flavor to your wedding dress style.
What to avoid
Mermaid wedding dresses will add extra focus on your hips creating an even more unbalanced silhouette. High necklines will make your upper body look visually narrower, so it’s better to choose off-shoulder dresses.
Apple Body Shape
Women with such body shape usually have slim legs and hips. At the same time, the main focus is placed on shoulders, bust, and fuller midsection. There is a stereotype that it’s very hard to find a perfect wedding dress for such a figure, however, we managed to overcome it! Follow our recommendations below:
Best dress styles
Empire waist dresses: these wedding gowns are characterized by raised waistline and broad skirts. That’s why they can perfectly hide your tummy, accentuating arms and bust. Moreover, such a silhouette can make you visually taller. Empire waist dresses are usually very lightweight, airy, and comfortable.
A-line wedding dresses: Have you already noticed that we mentioned this wedding dress silhouette in recommendation for almost each body type? That’s because A-line bridal gowns are really versatile and can make every bride look magnificents! It’s a great choice for apple body shape, as it perfectly balances the upper and lower body.
Deep V-neck: such a silhouette can visually elongate your body and make you look taller and slimmer. It puts a winning emphasis on your bust. You can add more elegance and charm by decorating your V-neck with embroidery or illusion details.
What to avoid
As your main goal is to draw attention from fuller midsection, don’t opt for skinny fitted silhouettes. Heavy waistbands and multi-layered textures will add extensive volume to your figure and destroy overall balance.
Rectangle Body Shape
This body type is typical for athletic women and characterized by almost equal proportions of bust, waist, and hips. Natural curves are not well-visualized, so the main goal should be to choose a wedding dress that will harmonize your silhouette and emphasize waistline.
Best dress styles
Ball gowns: tight bodice can create a visual effect of defined waistline which is multiplied thanks to wide flattered skirt. This way you achieve the illusion of fuller hips as well. Extra layers that are typically used to create voluminous skirts for ball gowns will also make your figure more structured and balanced.
Sheath wedding dresses: it’s a perfect minimalistic basis that can be customized to a rectangle body shape. With interesting bodice detailing, different types of necklines, and sleeves you can move accents as you like to create an effect of natural body curves.
Belts or embellishments to create curves: it works for almost any wedding dress type you choose. With the correctly chosen colors, materials, and placing, such decorative elements can help you establish a more defined waist and make your figure look more hourglass.
What to avoid
Gowns with straight silhouettes, turtlenecks, drop waist dresses, and too heavy fabrics will definitely destroy your look, so try to avoid them.
Inverted Triangle Body Shape
If your upper body is well-accentuated, you have narrow hips and wide shoulders, the following wedding dress types will help you create a more balanced look:
Best dress styles
A-line bridal gowns: as your upper body looks more massive in comparison to hips, a flattering skirt will add the needed volume to the lower body part. Moreover, it’s a great silhouette to accentuate your waist.
V-neck wedding gowns: such a neckline will visually divide the width of your shoulders, so they will look narrower and more balanced. Also V-neck wedding dresses draw attention from hips to bust and can elongate your silhouette.
Dresses with volume on the bottom: multilayered full skirts will add you grace, make you look balanced and romantic.
What to avoid
As the defined waistline will help you balance the overall look, you should avoid silhouettes that hide your waistline (for example, empire waist dresses). Avoid off-shoulder dresses and high necklines.
Essential Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Dress for Your Body Type
- First and foremost: identify your body shape correctly!
- Take into account the season when your celebration will take place
- Your comfort is a main characteristic that the chosen wedding dress fits you well. It’s important to feel freedom of movement, if you want to spend your wedding day in a perfect mood
- Choose embellishments that will perfectly emphasize your body type benefits, not imperfections
- Right color shades can also be used to place the need accents on your silhouette, so pay special attention to this aspect
No matter what body type you have — in Yedyna Wedding Studios we’ll help you find the wedding dress styles for body types that make you both feel and look like a Hollywood star! We have a wide variety of wedding dress styles and silhouettes to choose from, so don’t wait anymore to contact us and pick a wedding dress for shape!