Plus Size Wedding Gown Guide - Shop by Shape
Plus size wedding gown, shopping doesn't have to be
traumatic. Shopping for your plus size wedding gown can be so
much easier if you know in advance which styles will flatter
you. Dress Slimmer on your Wedding Day with Body
Fit and Style. The following is an excerpt from Plus
Size Bridal Guide. Hourglass Figure - Also called X shape,
Curvy Shape: You have the easiest shape to dress. You can
call attention to your waist. Soft fabrics are very flattering
to you. If you are tall, your defined waist creates balance. If
you are short, you may want to de-emphasize your waist a little
so you don't look chopped in half. You would accomplish this by
wearing a plus size wedding gown with vertical lines that curve
in at the waist instead of a dress that has an actual,
horizontal waistline. You are curvaceous. Celebrate it!!!!! The
hourglass figure can easily wear ball gown, sheath or a-line
style wedding gowns.
Rectangular Figure - Also called H Shape, I Shape, and
Straight Shape: Because your silhouette is straight up and
down, you would want to create waist definition with vertical
lines that curve in. Princess seams work well for you. Fitted
bodices with a slightly dropped waist, Basque waist or v-waist
work well for you, as well. Anything that gives the illusion of
a waist without a horizontal line at your waist will work well
for you. Empire waistline is your friend. You can wear sheaths,
empire style, raised waist, a-line, Basque waistline, dropped
waist. Avoid gathered or heavily pleated fabric at the waist. If
you are in the upper plus sizes, you might look in evening wear
and look for a white beaded gown in the tunic and skirt style.
Apple Figure - Also called O Shape, Circle Shape or Round
Shape: This is the most difficult shape to dress. Your
figure is visually larger or wider above the waist and narrower
around your hips and thighs. Think vertical lines. Avoid
anything that creates an actual horizontal line at the waist.
Some a-line in the skirt is ok if it falls in a nice, soft
drape. No crinolines. Avoid gathered or heavily pleated fabric
at the waist. Empire style and soft drape a-line styles are your
best choices. If you could find a two piece gown with a straight
skirt and a tunic style top, this would work very well for you.
You might look in evening wear and look for a white beaded, lace
or crepe gown in this style, especially if you wear the upper
plus sizes and just not feeling comfortable in any other style.
Pear Figure - Also called A Shape, Triangle Shape:
Wonderful pear shaped women have a waist - sometimes a tiny
waist. You can wear bodices that are fitted and defined. You can
even have a gown with a horizontal line at the waist. You can
wear a-line or anything that flares out. A fitted bodice that
comes to a V in the front elongates your slim upper body and
makes the skirt just flow over your hips and makes them
disappear. Sometimes, however, a pear shaped woman can have very
small or sloping shoulders. You may need to add some small
shoulder pads (fabric store) to hold the shoulders up. Avoid
straight skirted gowns. They will pull across the hip area. And
you may read somewhere that empire style works for pear shape,
but I disagree. Empire style hides your greatest asset - your
little waist. A-line, defined waist ballgown, or Basque styles
will look great on you.
Plus size bridal shopping can be a wonderful and exciting
experience. By knowing your body type, you can easily shop at
online bridal shops. By choosing the right design for your body
type, your perfect plus size wedding gown will arrive at your
door ready to make you the beautiful bride you always dreamed of
being.