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Stress-Less
Online Wedding Tip
Use Internet resources to your advantage
when researching wedding gown styles.
Press the play button to learn
how.
(Video plays in a new window.)
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Plus Size Empire Wedding Dress >> |
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Choosing the right style requires self-reflection and brutal honesty. Your dress
may look good on the hanger, but if you have to take a deep breath before you
zip it, you’ll regret it later. Of course you may lose weight — intentionally or
unintentionally — before the big day, but don’t build your plans around doing
that. It's best to err on the side of a little too big rather than too small.
Here are some guidelines experts say to keep in mind as you narrow down your
choices:
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Tall girls are at a definite advantage and look fabulous in long
silhouettes. Shorter brides should choose dresses proportioned to their
size, with small trim and detailing. Also, full skirts and trains swallow a
petite bride.
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Try on a veil when modeling dresses to get a better idea of the complete
look.
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Bring as many accessories with you to the
fitting as you can.
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Think about the way you normally dress. Would you describe your
style as formal, sophisticated, classy, classic, edgy, understated,
couture, free spirited, or youthful? If you have a distinct look, this may
not be the time to depart from it.
Here is a primer on the basic shapes and styles you will see as you go
through photos, drawings, and dresses.
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Ball gowns
have a classical, elegant look and feel. Their fitted bodices and full,
bell-shaped skirts hide many figure flaws and emphasize small waistlines.
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The column design hugs the body and accentuates the bride's feminine
curves. A column dress looks stunning on petite, very slim and tall brides.
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An empire-line gown begins just below the bust and flares out into an
A-line skirt. It is ideal for a small-busted, slim-figured or full-figured woman who doesn’t
want a dress that hugs her figure.
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The mermaid dress has a bottom spread like a mermaid tail, with a top
very similar to the column design. The gown's natural hourglass shape is perfect for
the bride who wants to show off her figure.
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Fishtail gowns
are similar to the column or mermaid styles from the front but fans out in
back due to an extra panel of fabric sewn into the back of the gown.
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The sheath is a fitted, straight dress that can be tapered from the
hip to the hem. It is a sleek look that works equally well for a tall, thin
figure as it does for a short, curvy one.
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The princess style gives the illusion of height due to its
form-fitting bodice with two vertical seams that travel from bust to hem.
The vertical lines are slimming and elongating, which is ideal for a shorter
bride.
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Ankle-length
or tea-length gowns, just right for an afternoon or causal wedding,
look best on petite brides.
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A-line
wedding gowns suit most people. They typically have a fitted bodice and are
shaped like the letter "A," with seams that run from the waist or shoulders
to the bottom of the skirt.
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Strapless gowns accentuate a classy, personal style and show off pretty
shoulders and backs.
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Historical gowns can be quite lovely. Just be sure the period you choose
reflects the rest of the wedding.
Special Weddings
Imagine getting married in Hawaii or Tahiti or on a cruise. Well, more and
more brides are doing just that — imagining and planning their weddings far from
home. They’re called
destination weddings and the gowns these brides wear often reflect the
locale. Another trend that may require a "special" wedding dress is theme
weddings, such as
vintage,
gothic,
Renaissance,
Victorian, fantasy, and fairy tale.
But will it look good on YOU?
No one knows better than you do what styles are most flattering to your
figure. If you are in love with a certain dress, only to discover it is designed
for someone 5'9" tall, who is built like a runway model, but you are none of the
above, keep looking. Whether you are petite (you’ll have to have a regular-size
dress cut down), a perfect size 10, in between sizes, or a plus size, there is a
dress for you.
How to Decipher Wedding Dress Sizes
Wedding dresses are made smaller than street clothes. Don’t be dismayed when you
discover that your perfectly acceptable size 12 is listed as a large. There are
online sites that tell or show you
how
to take measurements for a wedding dress. Even if you are buying your dress
in a bridal shop, be sure to look at their dress-size guides. To get the size
exactly right, check out the correct measurements for each size.
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