The Art of the Dress
As we all know, the pièce de résistance to any wedding is the bride’s gown. The au courant style leans toward the layered ruffled skirt, with a few of the more outré brides being bold enough to don a white pants suit, albeit one more embellished than anything you’ll find at a sales meeting. Off the shoulder styles with fig shaped sleeves or no sleeves at all are both all the rage. With so many styles to choose from, it can be a perplexing task to find the one to wear on your big day!
The most important thing to remember is that it’s the bride who wears the dress, not the other way around. Find a dress that suits your shape best. If you have a pear-shaped body you want to amplify your upper body by emphasizing your narrow waist with an A line skirt and a V neck or spaghetti straps. Go for a ruffle on top if it suits you. Skip the ruffle if you’re busty and go for a scoop neck or a sweetheart with some extra width on the skirt for balance. If you don’t have curves, create some with a ruched bodice and a sheath gown cut on the bias with a curving side seam. If you have an apple-shaped body you can elongate the torso while emphasizing your legs by pairing a V neck with either a knee or tea length skirt or something with a slit trimmed with cha-cha frills. The A line also works for the hourglass shaped girl, but consider a wrap dress or an empire waist. If you’re tall, go with just one large embellishment if any. If you’re petite, dainty floral appliqué may work for you.
Once you have the basic shape down, consider the fabric type. Anything shiny like organza, satin or silk will add volume, so only use it if that’s what you’re going for. Eyelet lace and raw silk shantung are casual, yet romantic. Lightweight, gossamer fabrics flow lightly and soften a silhouette. While layers of frothy ruffles may be de rigueur, a petite girl may feel lost in them and may do better with a sleek trumpet style. If you got the legs for it, go for a gauzy tea length skirt to show off a snazzy pair of stilettos. Do keep location in mind! What’s fine for an elaborate ball room won’t fit for a beachfront wedding. Trailing sleeves may create a visionary image but are impractical if you intend on having candles at your venue.
Most importantly, this has to be the dress you love. The gown must not only fit your form, it must fit your dreams and ideals. Just as you had to keep looking to find the right groom, don’t be afraid to keep looking until you find the right dress! It’s out there! Go get it!