Most of us, at some time in our lives, have copied the style of a favourite celebrity. Unless our height, weight and shape are identical with the celebrity, we could be using the wrong role model.
Some designers urge their customers to strip down, once a year, and come to terms with their own body shape – top to bottom, front and back.
Designers know the tricks of the trade, and when they’re designing for celebrities, they know how to mask figure flaws. They can tape to lift a low bust, they can choose a flared skirt to hide bigger hips, they can emphasize a small bust with a slim style that would be a disaster on a big breasted woman.
The truth is that what we see on the runway is often not the body we would see if it didn’t have clever help from talented designers.
Rule of thumb
Check out all of the various basic style options: The style for your wedding gown should be figure flattering for your specific body type.
Standard shapes:
- A ballroom gown can be ideal for the woman with larger hips – the full skirt covers the hips and the figure-emphasis is on the top.
- A sheath and an empire style are good choices for the slim woman with smaller breasts. They gently follow the line of the body but in a forgiving way.
- A mermaid gown hugs the figure and flares from below the knee. This style needs a great body (and currently is the choice of many actresses when they walk the red carpet).
- A princess gown, with its gently flared skirt, has lines that flatter almost all body types.
Bottom line
Try on several basic styles and you will know immediately which flatters your figure.
Photography: Arline Malakian
