Wedding dress styles for every body shape

If you've read our previous post on Choosing the right wedding dress for your figure, then you will already know what body shape you have, and why that's important when choosing a wedding dress.

In this guide, we will show you exactly what style of gown is best for each body shape.


The Ballgown

Left: Style 1612 from Mori Lee Bridal, Right: Style 4601 from Mori Lee 'Blu'

Think of fairytales like Cinderella and Belle's Victorian, 'Southern Belle', styled yellow gown in Beauty and the Beast.
Features: Bodice, clinched mid to low waist, full skirt.
Height: Average to tall
For body shapes:

• Apple / Triangle.
• Banana / Tube / Rectangle.
• Slim Pear / Bell.
• Slim hourglass.

Not recommended for:

• Petites
• Short people
• Pear and hourglass shapes with prominent hips and waist areas.

Summary
The main focus of this gown is to accentuate the waist, bustline, shoulders and neck with the 'sweetheart' neckline of the dress. To maintain this illusion, the hips and waist areas must remain hidden under the bodice and skirt, so that the eye is drawn upwards.

Unfortunately because of the sheer width of the gown, it can also draw the eye across the body horizontally, so it can also draw attention to your height if you're a little bit shorter.


The Princess or A-Line

Style 2105 from Mori Lee Bridal

Think of movie weddings like Rachel McAdams in 'The Time Traveler's Wife', and Katherine Hiegl's bridal gown in '27 Dresses'.

Features: High to low waist (not fitted or tight against the lower waist), flared skirt.
Height: Any
For body shapes: 
Apple / Triangle, Banana / Tube / Rectangle, Slim Pear / Bell.
Not recommended for: 
Prominent hips and waist areas, Hourglass shapes.

Above: Style 4804 from Mori Lee 'Blu'

Summary
The A-Line or Princess style of gown is the most versatile out of all wedding dress styles. It suits almost all body shapes and can enhance both petite and fuller sizes.

This style of gown is similar to the ballgown, but draws the eye from the bustline down towards the mid waist area. The skirt then flares slightly outwards to distract the eye, and this takes attention away from the hips, thighs and rear while still showing a hint of definition in that area.

The fullness of the skirt can also be adjusted, depending on the type of hoop skirt that you wear underneath.






The Empire

Mori Lee 'Voyage' Style 6505

Mori Lee Style 4611

Think Grecian, Roman and...J-Lo? This is a dress style made for the goddesses. Think Helen of Troy and J-Lo's peach gown in 'Maid in Manhattan'.

Features: High waist (not fitted or tight against the lower waist), draped skirt.
Height: Short to average
For body shapes: Banana / Tube / Rectangle shapes, Hourglass shapes, Pear / Bell shapes.
Not recommended for: Tall people and slim Apple shapes.

Summary
The Empire style of gown draws the eye towards the high waist and sides of the body.

This style creates a tapering hourglass silhouette by drawing attention to your hips, while taking attention away from the tummy and bust area.

The skirt gives the illusion of additonal height as it drapes from the high waist downwards, and because it flares only slightly outwards, it mainly draws the eye vertically across the body. So to maintain this illusion, the hips must be more prominent than any other area of the body (e.g. the bust or waist).

This style of gown is suitable for both petites and those with fuller figures.


The Mermaid

Mori Lee 'Blu' Style 4815

Mori Lee 'Bridal' Style 1602

Go the fish tail. Think Anne Hathaway's dress in 'The Bride Wars', and Christina's wedding dress in 'Grey's Anatomy'.

Features: Body hugging fit, flared skirt.

Height: Any

For body shapes:

• Hourglass shapes.
• Banana / Tube / Rectangle.
• Slim Pear / Bell shapes.

Not recommended for:

• Prominent waist areas.
• Apple / Triangle shapes.
• Fuller figured pear shapes.

Summary

The main focus of the Mermaid style of gown is the torso. It is a body hugging style that draws the eye towards the hips and highlights your womanly curves.

Generally this dress is not usually recommended to pear shaped women, but we've seen it done before by the likes of Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. So if you're a slim pear shaped figure and have 'junk in your trunk' that you want to show off, the Mermaid style of dress will help you to accentuate that.

However, the Mermaid is not recommended for pear shapes with fuller figures, as it can attract attention to the waist area rather than your silhouette.


The Sheath

Mori Lee Bridal Style 2181

Think of the classics like the style of Audrey Hepburn's little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Features: Body hugging

Height: Average to tall

For body shapes:
Slim Banana / Tube / Rectangle.
Slim Hourglass.
Slim Apple.

Not recommended for:
Pear shapes.
Prominent waists and fuller figures.
Short people.

Mori Lee 'Blu' Style 4613

Summary

The sheath or column style of dress is a classic and understated style.

It is designed to show off your body's natural silhoutte, and can be very flattering for petites and slim figures.

This style of gown will draw the eye towards the mid section of your body and around to the rest of your curves, and is not recommended for fuller figures.


*Please Note: All of the Mori Lee gowns in this article are available from Jovita's Bridal Boutique. For more information please visit http://www.jovitasbridal.com