Consider:
* The type of wedding you are having. Formal/ outdoorsey/ traditional?
* The season. A heavy, princess ball gown is pretty, but isn’t the best idea in the height of Summer. Neither are thin sheathed column dresses in July;
* Having bridesmaids? If not, time to rethink that princess ball gown mentioned above because going to the bathroom isn’t going to be possible much;
* The type of veil/ jewellery you want to wear;
* Have an open mind. Your ‘ideal’ dress that you’ve been dreaming about since you were 6 years old doesn’t look as nice as the one you hadn’t ever considered before. If you watch that show on DSTV’s TLC channel called “Yes to the Dress”, you’ll know what I mean.
You also need to think about the do’s and don’ts of your body type:
Pear shaped:
Do: A skirt that gradually flares out in an A form from the natural waist to the floor, highlighting the narrowness of the midsection and floating away from the hips and thighs. A boat or a V neckline will showcase a more slender upper body.
Don’t: Wear a mermaid or trumpet style dress. It will do nothing for your hips and it jets out at the widest part of your body – which will make you look even bigger.
Busty
Do: A dress with a scooped/sweetheart neckline will open up your face and display your décolletage without showing too much cleavage.
Don’t: Choose a neckline that goes straight across as this will make you look like a javelin thrower.
Small chested:
Do: A ruched bodice, as the extra fabric will help fill out your upper body and create the illusion of curves. Lightly padded halter styles will also work. Alternatively, self-adhesive silicone bra cups can also add fullness.
Don’t: Choose a sweetheart neckline on a dress that is too big. The ‘sinking’ neckline effect which exposes too much non-cleavage does not for good photos make.
Apple:
Do: A dress with a textured boduce that cinches in at the smallest point on the waistline, then flares out into a gradual A shape. Ruche or lace on the bodice will create a corset-like effect. The most flattering neckline for you is one with a deep V, which will draw eyes vertically.
Don’t: Choose trumpet/ mermaid dress styles, which emphasize the area where your body is widest and flare out at the legs and the knees, where you are most slender.
Tall:
Do: A simple silhouette which will emphasize your natural shape, where every aspect of the dress reflects your longer proportions (think lower waistline, a floor-sweeping hem).
Don’t: Over embellish. Too many bells and whistles, like ruffles and rosettes, can come off as ‘twee’, particularly on a tall person. Also, long sleeves need to go past the wrist or else the dress will look too small for you.
Straight-lined/Tube:
Do: A dress that'll create curves in places where you don’t have, such as a sheath dress in charmeuse that’s cut on the bias. The curving side seam will give you a voluptuous silhouette. Or a ball gown that cinches in at your natural waist and descends into a full, flowing floor-length skirt. It will enhance your slenderness and camouflage a lack of hips.
Don’t: Wear a plain and simple dress that just hangs on you like a curtain. Choose embellishments that enhance your lack of curves.
Plus-sized:
Do: An Empire dress with a skirt that begins just under the bust and flows into a gradual floor-length A-line. For a softer, romantic look, choose a stiff base with a soft sheathy overlay.
Don’t: Choose a loose empire dress as this will look like maternity wear and make you look bigger.
Petit:
Do: The trumpet (mermaid), sheath, and modified A-line gowns are all fine here. The fabric is up to you as you can pull off a high sheen. Detailing should be small and limited to the bodice, to draw the eye upward.
Don’t: Wear ball gowns as it's easy to get lost in that voluminous skirt. Avoid anything calf-length, which will make your legs look short.
Beautiful wedding dresses there!
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