If you are a soon-to-be wedding bride, you understand the pressure and stress you may get as you search for the perfect wedding dress. Most brides visit countless wedding dress retail stores in pursuit of the perfect fit, but they may not know what works for them. As you try out different wedding dress designs, it is crucial to be aware of what flatters your body type to avoid settling for a dress with an awkward fit. After all, your wedding day should be among the most memorable moments of your life, and a poor fitting dress can ruin a lifetime of memories for you. Several factors must guide you as you try on the available options to find a dress that works for you.
At the Beautiful Day Wedding boutique, we focus on giving every bride personalized service that includes providing custom made wedding gowns to meet your dream wedding dress. Additionally, you get to choose your attire from a wide range of iconic brands like Allure Couture, Casablanca, and Stella York. With the help of our experienced staff, you can sample a variety of designs that comfortably match your body shape, thanks to our comprehensive size range. When coming in for a fitting session, you can trust us to offer a wide variety of styles and designs to help you achieve the ultimate dream of finding a fitting and comfortable wedding dress.
Wedding Dress Styles
Renowned wedding dress designers all have a signature look, with some known for their seamless incorporation of lace material to almost any design for a retro and elegant bridal look. Also, designers are keen to add detailed features that make wedding dresses stand out, including hand-embroidered sequin and bead designs, layered skirt designs, and strapped-up bodice designs, especially at the back. All these custom designs can match any dress style, but they only serve as details to the gown.
The main design of a wedding dress is based on the shape it gives the bride in accentuating certain body features. Some styles are a combination of other designs mashed into one for an overall different look to match any body type. Some of the best wedding dress styles are:
1. Ball Gown Design
Ball gown wedding dresses are arguably the most popular styles available in the market, mostly because of the fairy tale princess look that comes with the design. The layout includes a fitting bodice, which is the upper part of the dress covering the chest and waist area. It narrows down to the waistline, creating a cinched waist, making it perfect for any bride who would like to highlight this area. The skirt section of a ball gown design is the highlight of the dress because of its fully puffed style that widens out as it flows to the floor. If you are looking to be fully endowed in a dramatic design that turns everyone’s attention, the ball gown design will do this effortlessly.
However, brides with a more petite frame might struggle to move around in the dress comfortably because of the heavy material used to puff the skirt out. For example, as you dance, the long train to your feet may trip you regularly if you do not raise the dress with your hands to allow you to step front and back. The ball gown design is an excellent choice for a bride with a big bust and broad shoulders because the dress evens out with the puffed skirt at the bottom to create a balanced look for your body frame.
2. The A-Line Style
Another popular design for all dresses, including wedding gowns, is the A-line design. The style gets its name from the way the skirt part of the dress flows down from the waist in an A shape, giving an overall look of simplistic elegance. At the bottom, the dress is the fullest, covering a wider surface area than the mid-thigh and knee sections.
One of the most significant factors of an A-like design is that it compliments all body types well because it has a small upper body fit that is adjustable to your liking. Despite this, brides with a pear shape body should consider the A-line style as one of the top picks, because it flatters their body shape the best. A woman with a pear-shaped body has fuller hips and a full bottom that overshadows their upper body, especially at the bust. The long flowy A-line design evens the proportions by drawing attention to your waist and bust, instead of the hips and bottom area.
3. The Mermaid Design
For anyone looking to flaunt their curves in an elegant design, consider the mermaid dress style for a full effect. Unlike most wedding dress designs, the mermaid dress takes the shape of your body by providing a full-fitting design up to your mid-thighs. As a result, the dress clings onto your body, making the form of each feature. As it narrows down to your thighs, the dress widens to a flowy tail, giving the effect of a fishtail or mermaid look.
The mermaid design often incorporates lace or sequin material since it is very forgiving and adjustable at the same time. This way, you can worry less about highlighting body dimples or folds because the material emphasizes your curves without the effect of a skintight material.
We recommend the fishtail style to brides with hourglass figures, meaning that your bust size and hip size are proportional, with a significantly smaller waist. However, this does not imply that brides with a petite, apple or pear-shaped body cannot use the design, because it accommodates all body types well.
4. The Basque Style
The elegance of the basque design lies in the highly detailed bodice piece that serves as the top part of the dress, covering your bust and chest area to the wait. Designers often get creative by including laced tops with beaded embroidery. Alternatively, you can settle for a bedazzled top, if you are looking to make a bright, yet elegant fashion statement with your bodice top.
Since the basque style of fitting includes a lot of detail at the top, the bottom skirt flows will minimal details to avoid overdoing the entire look. Therefore, you can choose this style to reduce your hips’ attention, thanks to the flowy bottom design. A bride with a slender body shape will appreciate the Basque design for the beautiful form it provides by highlighting your waistline.
5. The Empire Design
The Empire style provides an ideal pick for brides looking to highlight the bust area to shift attention from the waist and hip area. Choosing an empire styled wedding dress will also give you the option of a taller appearance, because of the unique design that places the waistline directly underneath the bust. This way, you get to accentuate the bust while reducing the emphasis on your waistline and hips. Simultaneously, the long flowy design from the bust down is what gives the effect of an elongated body, if you would prefer it.
For shorter brides with a small bust, the Empire style will give you a full transformation by flattering your features to produce a natural fit. Moreover, we find that the style attracts people with more athletic body shapes because of the double threat advantage.
6. The Short Length
Some brides would instead do away with the long trains on wedding dresses because of the bulky material that may weigh you down by the end of the day. If you are looking for a more playful design that still offers an elegant look, consider the short length style. The wedding dress often takes the shape of a minimalist A-line or Ball gown fit, offering a body-hugging top up to the waistline where it opens up into a flowy skirt. However, instead of the loose, long material, most short length wedding dresses have the hemline touch the sheens slightly above the ankles.
A short length wedding dress design works perfectly for any body type, but brides with a slender or petite body shape will get the most out of the simplistic design that presents flattering designs to your body shape. On top of this, a short length design will come in handy if you plan on having a destination wedding, especially at the beach where a long train dress can drag you down.
7. Long-Sleeved Wedding Dresses
On top of the different styles used to create different looks for various body types, wedding dress designs vary based on the kind of fitting you get for your sleeves. Some brides prefer full-sleeved dresses, for a more conservative, Victorian look. The best feature of a long-sleeved dress is that it adds to the elegance of the overall look by including beautifully crafted lace material. Also, the sleeves work on almost all wedding dress styles, and only add detail to the pick. Therefore, you can include it in a mermaid design, a short length style, or even on an A-line style. There are numerous options available for your discovery, all crafted to bring out the best look.
Similarly, some brides prefer strapless dresses, which also adds up to a style. Such a design works incredibly well with a Ballgown and Basque-style, adding onto the elegance of a formal wedding fit. Nevertheless, you can mix it up with any other style you like for the ideal wedding dress.
Find a Wedding Dress Boutique Near Me
Nothing beats the happiness of a bride who finally finds the perfect dress for the wedding, mainly because it is one of the significant hallmarks of the day. At the Beautiful Day Wedding, we go out of our way to customize all your preferences and help you choose a wedding dress, specifically for you. Call us today to schedule a dress-fitting appointment at 213-386-1900.
