Trying on dress after dress can be a stressful process for many brides. To assist in the search, first figure out what style or silhouette you prefer.
Regardless of your approach, it is all about choosing a dress style that accentuates your best features.
Michele Pennisi, from Michele’s Bridal and Formal Wear in Shepparton, spoke to us about which body types are suited to particular dress styles.
Consider which clothing styles you usually wear (eg. an A-line or form-fitting style) and which features you prefer (eg. a full-sleeved, strapless or halter neckline) – and find a wedding dress that is similar.
Some brides find enough inspiration from looking at dress styles online, while others need to do a “research fitting” - trying on several dress styles to narrow it down
Ball gown
Also known as the princess dress or fairytale dress, a ball gown silhouette is tight in the bodice and flares out at the waist with a full skirt.
“Ball gowns always emphasise a waist, so it’s designed for pretty much every size. It’s the princess dress, they generally come with a lot of wow factor,” Mrs Pennisi said.
A-Line
Not so dramatic in style, the A-Line dress has a fitted bodice and flows out from the waist to the ground. This creates a shape resembling the letter A.
“The A-Line again emphasises the waist but on a smaller scale. It’s very similar to a ball gown, just a little more subtle” Mrs Pennisi said.
“The A-Line helps to mask bigger hips and works in reverse to create an hourglass figure.”
“It’s great for someone who has an hourglass figure, it shows off the body’s natural curves,” Mrs Pennisi said.
Modified A-Line
Slightly different to a traditional A-line, this style is fitted on both the bodice and waist and flows out from the hips to the ground.
Empire
An empire dress is fitted over the bust and flows out directly under the bust in either an A-line or sheath skirt.
“The empire dress is great for somebody who wants to hide everything from their bust down,” Mrs Pennisi said.
Sheath
A sheath dress follows the body’s natural contours and has a sleek, straight skirt.
“A sheath dress has no structure in it at all and is designed for your body to do all the shaping. Sheath dresses are generally lighter gowns,” Mrs Pennisi said.
Trumpet
A trumpet dress is fitted throughout the bodice, waist, hips and upper legs, then fans out at or just below the knees.
“A trumpet dress is designed to show off curves and enhance the waist and hips,” Mrs Pennisi said.
Mermaid
A mermaid dress is fitted from the bodice to the hips and fans out from the mid to lower thigh to create a mermaid tail look.
“The mermaid is a little softer (than the trumpet) and starts from a little higher in the thighs,” Mrs Pennisi said.
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