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Choosing Your Gown
 here  Body Types

Petite
Short, slender

Silhouettes to look for: A-line and sheath usually work best - Also look for certain mermaid and empire silhouettes, which elongates a shorter bride

Silhouettes to avoid: Ball gowns as they may make the bride appear smaller

Extra Advice:
• Try to keep it simple. Heavy beading and embellishments may overpower a petite bride
• Strapless and off the shoulder necklines are suitable for petite brides

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Pear Shaped
Heavier on the bottom and narrow on top

Silhouettes to Look For: Ball gown, A-Line
Silhouettes to Avoid: Sheath, Mermaid, Empire – these may accentuate the wrong places

Extra Advice:
• Avoid V necks as it might draw attention downwards
• Off the shoulder neckline will make your top look more in proportion to your bottom

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Full figured
Large chest, large hips and an undefined waistline.

Silhouettes to look For: A-line, Ball gowns
Silhouettes to Avoid: Sheaths

Extra Advice:
• Avoid thin straps
• Scoop necks or a V-necks are flattering on full figured brides. Gowns with wrapping will look great.
• Avoid thick and bulky fabrics

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Tall & Slender
Thin with little or no curves

Silhouettes to look for: Just about any silhouette looks good on you

Extra Advice
• Sheaths & Mermaids will show off your figure

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Hourglass
Curves in the right places

Silhouettes to look for: Sheaths, Mermaid, A-line, fitted ball gown
Silhouettes to Avoid: Empire (will hide your figure), Very FULL Ball gown

Extra Advice:
• Try V necks, off the shoulder or scoop necklines, which will balance out your shape

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Broad Shoulders
Silhouettes to Look For: scoop neck, asymetrical neckline, one shoulder designs.
Silhouettes to Avoid:

Halters
Off the shoulder
Narrow bodice
Avoid trying to cover up
Avoid off the shoulder

Large Bust; keyhole, v neck, illusion yoke

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Full Hips
A line, ball gown, flared skirt or cinched waist
Off the shoulder, portrait, bateau, Sabrina balance silhouette

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Small Bust

Hourglass; v neck, off the shoulder, scoop neck

Extra Advice: Try empire with some bodice detail/wrapping, halter, structured & tight corseted bodices. Avoid ballgown as it will make you look very bottom heavy, the key is to create the illusion of balanced proportions.

  Silhouettes


A-Line
This silhouette has fitted vertical seams running from the shoulders to a flared skirt. It is generally shaped like the letter A (gradually widens from the waistline to the floor), hence the name “A-line.”

Recommended for: Almost everyone. It makes the petite bride look taller and hides big hips.

Celebrity Brides who wore this silhouette: Sandra Bullock, Jessica Simpson, Pink, Kate Hudson

 

Ball gown
This silhouette has a full bodice with a natural waistline and a full skirt usually with layered tulle.

Recommended for: Brides with slim waistlines, brides with full hips as it is good at hiding them.

Celebrity Brides who wore this silhouette: Grace Kelly, Princess Diana, Catherine Zeta-Jones


Empire
This silhouette has a high waistline that is directly under the bust with a skirt that starts right below.

Recommended for: Small busted brides and petite brides

Celebrity Brides who wore this silhouette: Jennifer Garner, Heidi Klum


 

 Mermaid
This silhouette features a narrow fitted style that shows off a bride’s curves and a skirt that flares at or just below the knee.

Recommended for: Tall and slim brides and gives petite brides more height

Celebrity Brides who wore this silhouette: Britney Spears, Star Jones, Adrianne Curry


Sheath
This silhouette is a narrow form-fitting style with an undefined waistline. It has a slim, curve hugging skirt that follows all of the body’s curves.

Recommended for: Tall and slim brides, petite brides who want to appear taller

Celebrity Brides who wore this silhouette: Demi Moore


 


 Dress Lengths

Ballet
The hemline falls slightly above the ankles.

 

Floor
The hemline fully skims the floor

 

Intermission
The hemline falls below the knee in the front and to the floor in the back of the dress.

 

Street
The hemline just covers the knees.

 

Tea length
The hemline falls several inches above ankles. Tea length is great for informal occasions and cocktail parties. 
      

 

Necklines

Bateau
This neckline is characterized by a wide neckline that extends
straight from shoulder to shoulder and covers the collarbone.

Recommended for: Small busted women. Bustier women should avoid this neckline.

 

Décolletage
This neckline is characterized by a deep or plunging V neckline.

Recommended for: Medium busted women


Halter
This neckline is characterized by a V-collar that hooks or ties around the back of the neck, leaving the shoulders and back bare.

Recommended for: broad shouldered women as well as full figured women.


Illusion
This neckline is characterized by any sheer fabric that covers the neckline and shoulders to the bust


Jewel
This neckline is characterized by a high neckline that is rounded at the base of your neck.

Recommended for: Small busted women as, it will make them look bustier. Larger busted women should
stay away from this neckline.


Off the shoulder
This neckline is characterized by a broad sweep and straps or sleeves that hang right under the shoulder.

Recommended for: Medium to Larger busted women


Portrait
This neckline is characterized by a wide subtle scoop from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other.

Recommended for: Brides with fuller arms and prominent collarbones

 

Queen Anne
This neckline is a sweetheart neckline in front with a high neckline in the back.

 

Scoop
This neckline is characterized by a U shaped curve that is usually cut deep in the front, back or both.

Recommended for: All body types - It is extremely flattering for full- figured women


Square
This neckline resembles half of a square.


Strapless
This neckline is self explanatory. It has no straps and is usually paired with a straight or shaped neckline.

Recommended for: Women with broad shoulders.


Sweetheart
The neckline forms a heart shape at the bust in the front and has a high back.

Recommended for: Bustier women