When you walk down that aisle, all eyes will be on you (sorry, groom). So you want to pick a wedding gown that will make your husband-to-be swoon and your guests “ooh” and “ahh” as they snap away with their wedding-themed disposable cameras. The key to finding a gorgeous wedding gown is to choose a dress that’s made for your body shape—one that flatters every curve and plays up your best assets.
Most people fall into one of five body shapes: Circle (also known as apple), hourglass, inverted triangle, ruler and triangle (also known as pear).
QUIZ: Find out your body shape with our Body Type Quiz
If you’ve got a full chest, narrow hips, a thick waist and slim thighs and legs, you’re a circle (or apple) shape. You’ll look best in dresses that have an attention-grabbing bodice with an open neckline, such as a wide v-neck or sweetheart. This draws the eyes up and accentuates the neck and collarbone. Or if it’s a less formal wedding, slip on a short wedding dresses that shows off your enviably slim legs.For the perfect example of an hourglass woman, look no further than sexy siren Christina Hendricks of “Mad Men” fame.
Hourglass figures have voluptuous breasts and hips and a notably narrow waist. Curvy girls can minimize their hips with a fuller A-line or ball gown skirt, which gradually flares out, while playing up their miniscule middle with a fitted waist.
Brides with broad shoulders and slim waists, hips and legs—think Catherine Zeta-Jones—are inverted triangle body types. Choosing a wedding dress with a beautiful voluminous skirt will bring your body frame back into balance.
If you have a slender or athletic build with minimal curves just like the fabulous Catherine Middleton, you’re a ruler type. You can pull off a fitted silhouette, such as a mermaid-style gown. To create the illusion of a cinched waist, pick a wedding dress with ruching in the bodice or try tying a sash in a color around your midsection.
Jennifer Lopez and Kelly Clarkson are not only amazing singers, but they’re also classic examples of a triangle (or pear) body shape. If you’re a triangle, you have curvy hips and thighs, along with a slim waistline, chest and shoulders. Wedding dresses with A-line or ball gown silhouettes will skim over your lower body curves, while gowns with embellishments at the waist will draw the eye to the smallest part of your body.
