The Right Evening Wear for Your Body Shape on Your Wedding Day
So many exciting evening activities are on the horizon from now until the end of the calendar year, and many of these may require you to purchase evening wear. From homecoming dances to sorority and fraternity formals and holiday events, choosing the perfect formal dresses for evenings means taking a look at your overall body shape and determining which styles suit your contours the best. But at no point is this truer than when you are planning the ultimate evening — your wedding day.
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Whether you have an athletic build or you are curvier than most, the best decision for choosing the perfect evening gown is to select dresses that enhance your natural assets and focus your shopping on those dresses that magnify your shape and complexion and highlight those strong points.
Dress experts combine generally indicate that there are four categories of female body composition. Determining where you fit will make it easier for you to hone in on those dresses which will be most flattering for you.
The straight body. This classification is also often referred to as the rectangle or the banana shape, and it is shared by a vast majority of women. Over 45 percent of women have a straight body type, and dresses for this shape will generally be those that add curves on the top and create the appearance of a well-defined waist. Because women with the shape are generally balanced between the hips and bust, so the behind is usually small and flat, and the actual waistline can be lost or difficult to see.
Dresses with clearly indicated or cinched and pinched waistlines are flattering, and adding a form-fitting bottom half of the dress will help generate the illusion of a curvy shape. Women with this body type often have shapely legs, so shorter dresses that expose this asset are a plus. Cinched, wrapped, and ruched middles are exceptional choices, especially if they include a close fitting skirt.
Another option is to draw attention upward, so dresses that have bodice embellishments, including lace, rhinestones, and unique sleeves are also a good choice. Princess or puff sleeves, boat neck tops, and one-shouldered gowns can be very flattering for this body top and show a nod to one of the newest trends in fashion.
The hourglass body. If the straight body is the majority shape, the hourglass is the minority shape. Less than 8 percent of women are lucky enough to have this shape, which is frequently presented as the “ideal” feminine look. The hourglass image describes a woman with hip and bust measurements nearly equal in size, with a narrower, even tiny, waist measurement.
This body shape requires little accentuation, as curves are a natural outcome for this type. However, it is still important to choose a dress that flares and hugs in all the right places so that your shape does not get lost underneath miles of fabric that leave you looking frumpy. Both trumpet and mermaid dresses are a perfect choice, as are ball gown style dresses that have a full skirt that can draw attention to your center. A slim bodice and simple neckline will help you draw attention to all of the assets you’ve been given naturally and highlight your streamlined silhouette.
The spoon body. This pear-shaped body type has also been referred to as the bell shape or the triangle upwards. Approximately 20 percent of women have hip measurements that exceed their bust measurements, making the waistline more clearly indicated. Accentuating your natural waistline, along with your elegant neckline and slender arms is as easy as choosing a gown that adds volume to your upper half. Find dresses that have lots of interesting details on the bodice, a unique neckline, or a dual-colored dress that balances the top and bottom. A-line dresses, cinched waists, and flowing knee-length dresses are good choices for you.
The apple body. Also called the inverted triangle, the apple body describes a woman whose shoulders are broader than her hips. To dress well in evening wear for this shape, the trick is to balance your broader shoulders with the narrow lower body. Attaining the illusion of the hourglass silhouette means choosing evening wear that volumizes enhance your lower body. Fit and flare dresses are a good choice, along with flowing skirts that emerge from an A-line form. Because some apple shapes wear a different size on the top than they do on the bottom, two-piece evening or formal wear is a good choice.
What body shape best describes you and what type of dress do you think flatters your shape? Please feel free to share here.
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