Greetings sweet readers,

So, you are going dress shopping. Most likely you have in tow: your mom, some besties and a book filled with glossy magazine pages showing images of dresses you just have to try on. Or maybe you show up empty-handed with no clue what you want. Well today I wanted to help shed some light on (in the words of Stacy and Clinton from “What not to Wear”) dressing the body you have…  aka Not Living in Wedding Dream Land.  Just because it’s once in a lifetime dress doesn’t mean the basic principles of fit and design should be ignored in favor of choosing ‘your favorite’.  The way a dress looks on you (not the hanger) should always be paramount when selecting The One.

There are 6 basic body types. Honestly, I really don’t like putting people in “categories”; it feels kinda wrong. But we will for the sake of this post. It’s ok if your body is a mixture of two body types; mine is.  David’s Bridal has a great feature on their website called “Figure Flattery” They do a great job of breaking it down so you can find the best wedding dress for your figure! BTW, did you know that Vera has a line called White by Vera Wang at David’s Bridal! EEKK! The dresses are everything you’d expect from Vera, but easier on the budget.

If you find yourself lacking in the waist department (like me) then you are a apple shape. Its important to cinch in your waist and give it definition. Here are my picks for you:

For a Pear-shape avoid styles that hugs the hips…. Unless you’re J.Lo – then go for it. For the rest of us here are my picks to camo a well endowed bottom half.

Lets talk about full-figures and girls with ample bosom. Now the biggest thing if you fall into this category is to emphasize the assets. One tip: if you have a large chest please, pretty please don’t get a strapless gown with a straight across neckline. It will make your girls look as if they are out to conquer the world (likely without you). Instead look for (if you must have a strapless gown) sweetheart necklines or a slight dip.

For all you tall gals My best tip is be sure that the gown waist, sleeves (if you have them), and hemline are the appropriate length. Otherwise you will end up looking like you borrowed the gown from your much shorter sister. Invest in a good tailor, its worth it!

Last, but certainly not least, are petites. I think this is a great category to be in if you remember one thing. Don’t let the dress and its details overwhelm you. They should be small, because, well you are. If you are in this category think small intricate details and clean lines. Here are my picks for you.

Ok now I want to go try on dresses for my wedding re-do! Ladies head over to David’s Bridal and check out White by Vera Wang. How can you go wrong!

xoxo

Sara