In the LAST EDITION we did start on the series wedding 101 and we mentioned that the first thing you do when looking for your wedding dress is to firstly, know your body shape.

In this article, we move on quickly to the second aspect which is getting to DRESS YOUR SHAPE. Knowing what sort of dress that would fit your body shape is very important. Once this aspect is sorted, you will be narrowing your search and wasting no time in finding your dream wedding dress.

Knowing your basic body shape and understanding the types of clothes that will accentuate your good features (and minimize your less than perfect bits!), means you'll be able to dress in a way that really suits you. Today there are so many wedding dress options to choose from so you'll always be able to find something that will complement your body shape, scale, proportions, coloring, personality and life style.

WHAT TO WEAR IF

YOU ARE AN INVERTED TRIANGLE

• Keep details, fuss, anything that creates volume to your lower half and keep your top half clean and uncluttered
• Straight clothing lines are a natural extension to your body line
• Create the illusion of a waist with waist details such as a wider belt

AVOID

• Necklines that make you broader on top e.g. boat or bardot, big straps, halterneck tops, big shawl collars
• Styles that extend or accentuate shoulders e.g. details, volume, fuss on your shoulders such as puff sleeves, shoulder pads
• Styles that hide your silhouette
• Patterns on top, scarves around your neck or shoulders
• Stiff fabrics on top and narrowing hemlines e.g. pencil skirts or skinny jeans

TRIANGLE OR PEARSHAPED

• Because you have a bigger bottom and a smaller top, you need to create visual balance by adding layering on your top half . This creates visual interest and draws the eye upwards. Wear volume, clutter, pattern, colour on your top half, so hips and thighs will seem narrower.
• Wear fitted styles around your waist and always accentuate your waistline e.g. empire line, wraps, fitted lines
• Make your shoulders look broader with e.g. shoulder pads, puffed sleeves, cap sleeve t-shirts, boleros

AVOID

• Dresses with details, patterns, pockets on your thigh and hip area and belts on your hips
• Flared or ruffled sleeve lines, straight skirts or pencil skirts
• Bags that sit on your hips
• Ankle straps, kitten heels, delicate footwear, round toe shoes, ankle boots with straps around your calf area, Uggs
• Dropped waistlines or dropped panels
• Sloping or narrow shoulder lines

HOURGLASS SHAPED

• Wear a good supporting bra that will lift your bust and give you a more defined waist
• Bring attention to your shoulder and neckline, wear designs that bring the eye to the centre by wearing wider and lower necklines
• Extend the shoulder past the thickest part of the arms

AVOID

• Straight shapes that hide your waist
• Fussy styles and details that create additional volume around your bust, tummy, thighs e.g. dropped sleeve lines, pleats, high-waisted styles, hip pockets
• High necklines that cover up your cleavage and décolleté e.g. turtle neck
• Boxy jackets, or double breasted styles, narrowing leg lines or wide/short sleeves which finish near your bust

RECTANGLE SHAPED :

You need to create the illusion of a waist

• Keep your silhouette uncluttered
• Unstructured jackets that gently shape the waist
• Hip and bottom details are good - as long they create gentle curves

AVOID

• Details at the waist such as noticeable waistband
• Straight lines from top to toe
• Fussy, busy or droopy style in your clothing
• Rectangle shaped bags or clutch bags

APPLE SHAPED

Follow your bodyline - avoid details around bust, tummy and hips. Keep detail in top and lower thirds.

• Keep the clothing line straight to slightly fitted, but fabric soft so you avoid unnecessary bulk around the bosom, waist and tummy
• Keep details above the bust line and below the hip line - for everything in between keep it plain and simple
• The shoulders need attention so you should balance them from the front and side views
• Keep your silhouette fitted under bust and as well below your arms and along your waist
• Splits at waist works wonder

AVOID

• Wearing belts whether big or small
• Sleeves which finish next to your bust
• Any details, fuss and volume near bust, tummy or hip area e.g. no lapels, double breasted coats or jackets, high-waisted trousers or waistbands
• Skirt above knee length
• Clothing that finishes at your fullest points e.g. jackets, cardigans
• Excessive fabric in the mid section
• Gathered or tiered skirts

After understanding the type of dress to look for and the ones to avoid, the next thing is to KNOWING THE SILHOUETTE of wedding dresses.

|Pics source; Munaluchi|