How to Pick the Perfect Wedding Dress for Your Body Shape

Follow this simple guide to help you select the perfect wedding dress for your body type.

All brides want the perfect dress; after all it is the most important day of your life. Choosing the right style can be stressful and downright overwhelming. But, knowing your body type and the styles that flatter it can help you through the selection process.

Wedding dresses are available in several basic styles: mermaid, empire waist, ball gown, a-line and sheath.

The Mermaid

The mermaid dress is made for taller women with an hour glass shape. Women who have voluptuous busts and hips may want to stay away from this style of dress.

The Empire Waist

The empire waist dress is great for both thinner and curvier women. The small bodice ends just below the bust line which creates the appearance of a fuller bust and draws attention from larger hips. Women who are tall also look great in this type of design.

If you are on the plus side, then the empire dress is for you. Select a dress where the skirt begins just under the bust and flows into a gradual floor length. Make sure there is no pleating or it can look too much like a maternity dress.

The Ball Gown

The ball gown gives a fairytale appeal to any wedding. The fitted bodice and flared skirt are perfect for traditional brides and look best on fuller figures. However a ball gown looks fabulous on almost all figure types.

Pear shaped women (more curves on the lower half and smaller busts) look great in this dress style due to the dress skimming over the hips and thigh.

The A-Line

The A-Line dress has a tendency to be the most popular because it can be flattering to just about any shape.

The flare of the waistline can hid curvy hips and legs, the length of the bodice can give height to petite women and the A in the waistline can give the appearance of curves to a thinner woman. This dress is perfect for pear and apple shaped bodies.

Typically the most slenderizing neckline for this shape is a deep V, which will draw the eyes toward the vertical and not the horizontal.

The Sheath

The sheath is for the tall or thin and petite women. It can make the petite bride look taller. The sheath is also perfect for women with an athletic figure (small bust, small bottom with almost no curves) who can accentuate their slender shoulders and arms. The gown is normally fitted to the lines of the body and typically goes to floor length.

Copyright Karren Bennett. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

Karren Bennett - Karren Bennett is a professional writer and children's literature fanatic. She has hundreds of published articles on subjects of law, ...

Source: http://suite101.com/article/how-to-pick-the-perfect-wedding-dress-for-your-body-shape-a410997

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