Say Yes To The Dress For Your Body Type

If you are like me, you have dreamt of your wedding day since the age of five. You have watched Say Yes to the Dress and spent hours on Kleinfeld looking for your perfect dress. However, one of the biggest mistakes a bride can make is choosing the wrong silhouette for her body type.

Body Types
Women come in all different shapes and sizes. Most of us are aware of the four basic figures: banana (or box), apple, pear and hourglass.

Banana -  you are about the same dimension from bust to hip. There is little definition of your waist line. You also don't have a lot of shape in the bust, butt or hips.

Apple - you have a larger upper body than lower body. Apple figures tend to be large chested or have a wide torso and broad shoulders.

Pear - the most common body type for women. Your hips are wider/larger than the top of your body.

Hourglass - your bust and hips are much larger than your waist, creating a defined and narrow waist.

Silhouettes

Depending on your body type, there are certain silhouettes that will flatter you and others that will not.

Princess - the A-line dress is fitted at the top and gradually flares out at the waist. This silhouette is great for all body types. It is specifically great for pear shapes to hide the hips.

Empire - high waist that starts just below the bust and slightly flares out. This silhouette is great for pear shapes because it accentuates the bust and hides the hips, drawing the eye upward. It is not recommended for curvy brides.

Mermaid - slim throughout the body and flares out below the knee. The modified mermaid (called the Trumpet) flares out at about thigh level (like in the picture below). A mermaid dress is flattering for a banana shape to add some curves to a shapeless body. It is also good for hourglass figures since it accentuates the waist and natural curves. Brides with pear shapes want to avoid this style.

Ball Gown - a fitted bodice with a full skirt, much fuller than an A-line. This silhouette is flattering for most figures, although petite brides should be cautious to not be drowned by a huge skirt.

Sheath/Column - a straight silhouette that tends to lie close to the body. Like in the picture, the material is often thin and clings to curves. It is best worn by either hourglass or banana shapes.

For the hottest wedding dresses straight off the the runway, check out Brides Magazine!

Thank you to Grinvilla for providing these beautiful photos!