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Wedding Gown necklines to flatter you
We’re all made uniquely – both inside and out!
So finding the perfect wedding gown to flatter your figure
takes skill and an honest self-evaluation!
Your aim, of course, is to “accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative”!
Your photos will look so much better if,
instead of opting for the latest wedding fashion trend,
you chose a gown for your body type.
Necklines are a key part of how a wedding dress will enhance your figure,
and different styles will suit different women.
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Straight Strapless These show off your neck, collarbones, shoulders, arms and upper back. They best suit a small bust as they’ll widen your upper body, making broad shoulders quite square. A mid-long veil can softly cover broad shoulders. |
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Sweetheart Strapless These also show off the neck, collarbones, shoulders, arms and upper back. The sweetheart shaping lengthens your neck, flatters your cleavage and accentuates an hour-glass shape. This neckline flatters most figures but it’s vital that it’s sized and fitted appropriately for larger cup sizes. When you allow enough room in the gown, a fuller bust will be securely and demurely supported. |
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Shoestring These straps soften the strapless look and enhance your bust-line. The straps frame and highlight your shoulders and upper arms. If your gown is fitted properly, there should be no ‘drag’ on the straps – they’ll just be there for the look and for your own peace of mind. If there is any weight on the straps, consider having a wider strap so that they don’t visibly dig into your shoulders. |
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Asymmetric This single shoulder strap is striking and adds interest to a dress. It also draws the eye to your shoulders and arms. It’s great for small to medium busts. |
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Halter-neck These can be high or plunging, wide or narrow strapped, and often come with a low backed gown. This neck line adds length to a dress (making you look taller). Very good for broad shoulders. Particularly suited to small-medium busts but be extremely feminine for a variety of body shapes. |
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Boat-neck Covers the chest, and can be cute and sassy! Can make shorter brides appear a little taller. Flatters a medium bust. |
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V-neck Works well with most body shapes although best for medium-large busts. It lengthens the neck, accentuates the cleavage, and gives you height, but it can widen the appearance of your shoulders. If possible, play with the positioning of the straps to find the best line for your body. You could have the straps sitting out on the edges of your shoulders, straight up and down, closer to your neck, almost like a halter neck, or crossed-over your back. |
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Off-the-Shoulder With added sleeves you can covers the upper arms. Flatters fuller busts. Likely to make the shoulders look broader. |
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Also consider ... ... where you’ll be getting married. Having your ceremony at the Cathedral will require a different style of dress to a beach wedding. ... what colour will best work with your skin-tone. Pure white actually suits very few people, and is very difficult to photograph. Ivory comes in a variety of shades, looks great on most brides, and generally photographs well. ... matching the style of your veil to your dress. |
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My best advice, is take the time to consult a professional wedding gown fitter.
You need someone who not only knows their own product well,
but who understands that women come in unique sizes and shapes!
I readily recommend Angel, The Wedding Whisperer.
If you take someone with you, make sure it’s a friend whose opinion you trust
and who’ll be brutally honest with you!
And when you’ve got your neckline figured out,
remember to turn and consider your back-line options too!
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