Wedding Dress – How To Choose!!

posted by Catherine Starling on June 26, 2010.

Information| News

The wedding dress is a truly important part of any bride’s day and with so much choice it can be hard to know where to start. Its important try on a variety of different styles as you may be surprised what suits you.

Here are some hints and tips to help you on your way along with some of the many different types of dress shapes on offer. There are three main important things to consider when you first start looking for a dress, the first is budget then the type/feel of your wedding and of course your body shape. See below some practical advise that should help you find ‘the one’.

Think about the bouquet you would like and if it will contrast nicely with the dress
Do not leave the purchase to late, leaving yourself not enough time for alterations
Think about the colour and tone of the dress – to make your skin glow
The dress should make you feel totally relaxed when wearing it
The dress should express your personality as well as looking wonderful
Choose a reputable shop or designer you feel confident with
Consider your overall ‘look’ and think about your hair style, jewellery, head pieces etc
What time of year is the wedding

Ball Gown

(Lady Diana Spender, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly)

This is the ultimate Cinderella dress and can be a one-piece dress or a separate bodice and skirt; it skims the floor with petticoats or hoops to give the skirt its fullness.

This style is wonderful if you are tall and slim, or medium height and tend towards a pear shape as you can emphasise the waist and disguise broader hips with a full skirt.

Using accessories such as long opera gloves, high tiara’s, and higher shoes emphasis a lean silhouette and add drama to the overall look.

A ball gown is perfect with a train and with the fullness of this style of dress, this will just add to its impact and what a grand statement it could make. Consider though whether you would like the train detachable, this may be a good option especially when it comes to the evening reception and all that dancing.

A-Line

(Jennifer Lopez, Audrey Hepburn)

This style has a fitted bodice and the skirt is ‘A’ shaped and can vary in degree of flare.

This style suits most shapes and has been the most popular dress style of the 21^st century to date.

This style is elongating on a petite frame, and the waist emphasis can help define a shapely figure. Make sure you have the dress cut to proportion your body correctly.

This style is very versatile can be a full length sweeping skirt to a shorter prom skirt, different colours and textures of bodice can be used for a more dramatic look.

Princess Line

(Royal Princess Elizabeth II, Carmen Electra)

Similar to the A-Line but the empire is cut so it flows unbroken from top to bottom in to vertical panels creating a clean, minimal and slimming style.

This style will suit most body shapes and height’s, this style is uncluttered and simple, lending itself to be a very flattering shape.

Empire Line

(Kate Winslet, Liv Tyler, Emily Mortimer)

The Empire line has a raised waistline cut beneath the bust with a full dress.

Suitable for most shapes, the Empire has a vintage feel to it with its period style gathered to the bust with sheer caped sleeves. With its high waist, this style is particularly flattering for a small bust, short legs or pear shaped figure.

This is also an excellent choice for pregnant brides as the lack of waist makes it quite roomy.

Column/Straight

(Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon – The Queen Mother)

This is a slim fitted style, it can be constructed with a built in corseted bodice.

Flattering for tall, slim or petite frames as the slim profile skims the body’s curves.

It can vary in length from short to floor sweeping gowns.

Mermaid and Fishtail

(Sophie Rhys-Jones, Denise Richards, Anne Heche)

Usually associated with the ‘Bias Cut’, you don’t need to be tall but you do need to be slim to carry this style off.

The mermaid dress is typically figure hugging to the knee, then flares out to the hem.