One size fits all? No! Not when it comes to your body shape.
Women come in all shapes and sizes and it’s so important to know your body type and shape to dress accordingly and accentuate your best features. There are many different body shapes and types, and each one is unique. To avoid your dress shopping experience being a stressful one, it’s important to know and stick to what works for your body.
It’s also important to remember that very few women fall into only one category as we can have different features from various body types. Why? Because we’re beautifully unique!
In this upcoming series, we’ll be looking at all the different body shapes and some gorgeous weddings gowns that will accentuate YOU perfectly.
Next up, is the hourglass shape.
For many years, women have called upon the aid of a corset to create the enviable hourglass silhouette, and it’s safe to say that this gorgeous body shape might just be the easiest to dress as well. Hourglass body shapes have it all – from being well-proportioned to having curves in all the right places, along with a distinct waist.
The goal of this shape would be to choose a gown that flatters and embraces your curves. You want to define your waist, highlight your neckline and make the most of showing off your bust and naturally cinched-in waist. A woman with an hourglass figure normally has shoulders, bust and hips that are similar in measurement and a narrow waist with the smallest measurement. The shape is feminine yet structured so something fitted will be your first go-to. So if you’re looking to show off those natural curves, the golden rule is to follow your body line!
Opt for a formfitting silhouette, like the fit and flare or the mermaid style gown:
The mermaid dress is the iconic figure-hugging silhouette. It’s sleek, sexy and fitted from the bust through to the hips, then dramatically fans out from the lower part of your thigh or just below the knee.
The fit and flare, or trumpet style, is a variation of the mermaid style that is fitted through the body and flares out from a higher point on the thigh, which gives the skirt a bit more volume. Both these figure-flaunting styles are romantic, elegant, glamorous and will accentuate your curves perfectly.
As with all silhouettes, you have the option of many different necklines, but if you’re slightly smaller on top, you’ll want to choose something that will highlight your shoulders and bust to balance it out – the boat neck, V-neck, scoop neck or sweetheart neckline are all perfect options. However, stay away from high necklines if your bust is bigger as it has the ability to make your bust look disproportionally large – empire style dresses will disguise your nipped waist.
If you want to downplay your curves slightly, choose a ballgown or a gown with an A-line skirt. This will still emphasize your narrowest part – simply add ruching or a belt detail to create a cinched-in waistline.
Get your inspiration here:
The Mermaid
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Fit & Flare:
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By Amy-lee Steenkamp
Feature image: Unsplash
