Big and Beautiful Brides
The search for a wedding dress differs for every bride. For some, it may take visiting every boutique in their area (and the surrounding areas) before finding a dress, for others, it is the first dress they try on. Antoinette Douglas was one of the latter. “It was the first dress I tried on,” she says, “and I didn’t want to try on anymore.”
For women on the more voluptuous side, finding a dress that makes them feel sexy is often a challenge. But this does not mean it is impossible. Thanks to wedding boutiques like Elegant Weddings, there are now options for these brides. It was back in February when Douglas (at size 30W) came to the salon aware of the range of dresses available in the bigger sizes. Following her usual 3-dress policy, Ross-Clunie presented Douglas with three dresses, but Douglas was hooked after the first one. “It was obviously my lucky day,” she says.
Tip number one for any bride preparing to buy a wedding dress: know your body shape. Also familiarise yourself with the basic wedding dress shapes (see box at right). Once you know your body type, you can choose the right style dress to flatter your shape.
Fuller body shapes include:
*Full Figure: Full breasts, a bit of a tummy, round hips and butt. Do: A ball gown will hide quite a bit, and an A-line silhouette looks great on everyone. Don’t: A sheath will make you look heavier than you are; avoid spaghetti straps.
*Hourglass: Think Marilyn Monroe. You have a big chest, big hips and a thin waist (that is, curves in all the right places). Do: An A-line dress or a gown with a dropped waist will show off your figure; pair it with a sweetheart neckline to highlight your chest.
Don’t: A ball gown or empire waist silhouette may make you look disproportioned.
*Pear Shaped: You’re small on top and heavy on the bottom. Do: A basque waist or strapless ball gown will cover your bottom half and focus on your better half; an off-the-shoulder neckline will show your top more in proportion to your bottom. Don’t: A sheath, frankly, will be unflattering, and a V-neck will draw the eyes down.
Tip number two (also for any bride) make sure you have the proper undergarments. However, this is especially important for full-figured brides. The proper brassiere or stockings can completely alter the look and flow of a dress. Ross-Clunie explains that the perfect bra on Douglas adds definition to the waist and lifts the breast area significantly. “You want to look sexy,” Ross-Clunie says, “but you don’t want to fall out!”
