Wedding Dress Styles For Body Types: Find Your Best Silhouette
Preparing to start shopping for gowns and wondering what might be the best wedding dress styles for your body type? This blog post breaks it all down for you, including the main wedding dress silhouettes and how their unique characteristics can help you bring out your favorite parts of yourself.
Finding your perfect bridal gown all begins with getting a better understanding of how the different types of wedding dress styles and silhouettes will work for your unique body.
That's why for this week's blog post at Hand-Me-Gowns, we break down all the different wedding dress styles for body types of all shapes and sizes. We hope that post will give y'all a clearer picture as to what might be the right pick for you when shopping for your bridal gown.
Different body types
Small bust, broad shoulders, big bust, slender frame - these are just some of the body types that brides think they must consider when searching for their perfect wedding dress.
Let's take a brief look at the different body shapes and which one you think best matches your self.
Hourglass: Hourglass body types tend to have a more distinctive waistline. Their bust-lines and hips are closer together in size, making for a dramatic curve in the middle. Interesting little factoid here: Hourglasses are said to be the most rare of all the body shapes!
Pear: Pear-shaped bodies are known to be a little wider on the bottom than on the top. While many think that this means you need to cover up your hips, pear body types can wear all kinds of different wedding dress styles.
Apple: Also referred to as an oval shape, apple body types have a wider middle area compared to their bust lines and hips.
Upon first glance, it might seem as though a more apple-shaped body is the polar opposite to an hourglass shape, with the implication being that these two unique body shapes could never pull off looking amazing in the same wedding dress style! And that is simply some strange type of fiction. The fact is that we've seen so many similar gown silhouettes fit amazingly on both apple and hourglass body types.
Rectangle: Rectangle figures tend to have a more equal distribution between the bust, hips, and their midsection. One characteristic about a rectangle body shape is that they tend to have a smaller bust line. Are you a rectangle body type? Flaunt it! And don't forget that curves can be accentuated with a fitting wedding dress, like a sheath or fit-and-flare silhouette.
Triangle/Inverted triangle: Those who are triangle shapes have beautifully wide shoulders and a bigger bust line. If your broad shoulders are one of the favorite parts of yourself, don't be afraid to rock a wedding dress style that shows these features off.
A-line wedding dress are arguably the most popular of the wedding dress styles out there. And one of the best things about them is that these gowns flatter all different body types!
So, when preparing to shop for your wedding dress, the question you really should be asking yourself is, "What do I want to work with?" "What do I want to flaunt?"
On top of just feeling great in your new dream gown, trying on different wedding dress styles is an opportunity to show off some of the favorite parts of yourself. So whether it's about your amazing arms or your gracefully long neck, we've got some tips further down in this blog post that'll help you get the confidence you need to find your perfect wedding dress silhouette.
Wedding dress styles for body types
If you’re looking to find out more about the best wedding dress styles for different body types, know that the fit will vary depending on the fabric, designer, and so many other factors. Here's a closer look at the different types of wedding dress silhouettes and what they will give its wearer, so you can have a bit of a jumping off point for choosing your own perfect gown.
The A-line wedding dress
A-line gowns are arguably the most versatile of all wedding dress silhouettes – they’re flexible and all around functional, which means they are built to flatter all body types. It’s no surprise that A-lines are also the most popular of the wedding dress styles.
The adaptable contour is created by its flowing A-shape from where your waistline starts, which means that this type of wedding dress silhouette really works with your unique body shape. If you're open to all and any type of bridal style vibe, an A-line wedding dress will definitely work with you to create the look your want.
The ball gown wedding dress
Known for being your typical "showstopper", ball gown wedding dress silhouettes are your ticket to elegance. Ball gowns bring shape with its fitted bodice and a billowing shirt that flairs out at the waistline. Ball gowns help give its wearer an hourglass shape, and contrary to popular belief, aren't limited to the more formal weddings.
Many people say that ball gowns tend to look better on taller brides, but that is simply not true! Just look at the model in the image below who is wearing your typical princess ball gown; she's not tall, but the gown looks stunning on her.
While this wedding dress style can seem more rigid or harder to work with, one thing we actually love about ball gowns is that they give brides the opportunity to play around with different levels of feminine expression and accents while accentuating their favorite parts of their body.
The trumpet wedding dress
A trumpet silhouette wedding dress is a flattering style with a fitted bodice that extends at the middle of your thighs. If you're on the inverted triangle, rectangle, or hourglass spectrum on the body shape scale, then this could be your perfect wedding dress for highlighting those curves. And don't be shy to try on a sleeveless trumpet gown to accentuate your arms if you're proud of all the work you've put in at the gym pre-wedding.
Wondering if we carry these wedding dress styles for plus size brides? We carry pre-owned gowns in sizes 0-24 at Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal.
The mermaid wedding dress
Wedding dresses with a mermaid silhouette are tightly fitted until just past the knee when the gown theatrically flares out, giving the bride a dramatic look as they walk down the aisle.
Contrary to popular opinion, many different body types can pull off a stylish mermaid wedding dress, from the more full-figured brides with broader shoulders to petite types looking for a hip-hugging gown to bring out some curves. While mermaid gowns are definitely the diva-looking type of wedding dress, we say whatever your bridal personality, you're allowed to wear whatever dress you like!
Technically mermaid, trumpet, and fishtail styles count as fit-and-flare wedding dress silhouettes. The difference between them is that they just offer varied levels of drama.
A sheath/column wedding dress on the left and mermaid silhouette on the right! There are so many ways to show off your arms with your wedding gown, whether it’s with a mermaid gown or an off-the-shoulder sheath wedding dress.
The sheath wedding dress
This wedding dress silhouette is somewhere between an A-line and your basic fit-and-flare silhouette gown. Also called a column wedding dress, sexy sheath gowns are quite the chameleon, as you can find anything from a more simple-looking dress to a bridal look that’s much more lavish and detailed. And while many sheath wedding dresses can appear simple or plain-looking on the rack, their good quality fabric and form-fitting style make these gowns anything but.
So if you’re in the market for the ultimate form-fitter, then a sheath wedding dress provides. These gowns a go-to pick for those brides with hourglass or rectangle body types looking to highlight their gorgeous figure. For shorter brides, a sheath wedding dress can really give you some height.
The tea-length wedding dress
No long train needed for this bride! A trending wedding dress silhouette, a tea-length gown's main characteristic is that the hem stops somewhere between below your knee and above your ankle. We love tea-length wedding dresses because they're timeless, comfortable, and most importantly, they flatter all body types. We must add here that petite brides have shown lots of love for tea-length wedding dresses for their lovely elongating effect, but like we said they flatter all shapes and sizes.
Plus, tea-length dresses can be the perfect choice if you're having an outdoor wedding, say at the beach or by the lake for that countryside wedding of your dreams. A shorter gown is typically much easier to clean after your big day.
Gorgeous tea-length wedding dresses are so versatile and fun, and not to mention a perfect bridal look for an outdoor wedding.
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, South Jersey
Want to find the best wedding dress style for you? All you need to do is make sure to book your bridal appointment at a shop that you feel you vibe with, and stylists that will be your best cheerleader every step of the way.
From personalized bridal appointments (your own Spotify playlist!) to hundreds of pre-owned wedding dresses in all styles, shapes, and sizes available to our brides, Hand-Me-Gowns is not your ordinary boutique.
Our mission is to offer affordable wedding dresses to those brides out there looking for something a little different. We have gowns on offer that are sold on consignment, and others we’ve received from shops that have never been worn at all. Put all of that together, and our shop in Downtown Hammonton, New Jersey is there for you to find your dream gown with the help of our passionate bridal stylists.
We’re currently serving those in the South Jersey and Philadelphia area and beyond, so book an appointment today and get ready to be wow-ed with what we have to offer you.
Sustainably Yours,
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
xoxo
