Some Wedding Gown Basics: Shapes and Silhouettes

Possibly the most exciting part of planning your wedding is choosing the dress. The size of your wedding doesn't make that much difference except that you would want to forego a cathedral train.  They are not in style now anyway so it shouldn't be much of a hardship.  You can find this information in about a million different places so I have thrown in my two cents on some of the styles.   

Sheath:  A Sheath is a form-fitting straight dress that looks best on trim boyish figures.  Most often nothing is worn under it so seams and lumps do not show. It’s not the best choice for full-busted women. A slip-dress is similar but skims the body.  Be careful--both of these styles show every lump, bump, and buldge. If you are not in great shape don't let anyone steer you in this direction.  

Mermaid:  This style actually looks great on women of various sizes and it is one of my personal favorites.  It's form fitting, hugging the waist and hips and then flares out at the knees.  Shapely women of many sizes look great in this style and it can be very striking. Tall women can look great in it to.  Often, but not always, the mermaid style is strapless.  A nice wrap balances it out and adds flair.  Good fabrics for this cut are lace, raw silk, and satins with a bit of stretch.

Ball Gown:  A ball gown has a tight bodice and a very full skirt.  It is a formal floor-length style that looks good on almost any figure.  It is often strapless but is flattering with a wide variety of neck lines. It may be a little "fluffy" for a small venue but it it looks good on you go for it.

Princess:  This is a traditional style that many younger women tend to choose. 

A-Line:  An A-line dress is just what it sounds like.  It has the shape of the letter A.  It is not a full skirt but one that gently flares from the underarm to the floor.  Magazines and advice columns will tell readers that anyone can wear this shape but it is a BIG FAT LIE.  Don't believe it.  An A-Line dress looks god-awful on short-waisted women with wide hips and a full bust.  It minimizes their best feature and maximizes the worst. If you have that figure-type and you want to look short, matronly, and dumpy chose the A-line.  I personally hate them.  

Strapless:  For about the past 10 years strapless gowns have been the most popular neckline. It is actually hard to find anything that isn't strapless.  That said--If you don't have toned shoulders and arms unsightly fat bulges will pop over the edge of the dress in the back and there will be little fat hang-overs at the underarms.  When you try them on take someone with you who will be BRUTALLY honest.  You can cover that stuff up with a good wrap--but that sort of defeats the purpose.  Also--underarms are an issue.  If your dress is strappless get those pits waxed.  Unless you just don't have much hair there it's hard not to have some stubble by the end of the evening.