Rhiannon Hendricks
An hourglass figure is one of the most coveted body shapes in the bridal world, with its well-balanced proportions and defined waistline. The right wedding dress can accentuate your curves and create a timeless, elegant silhouette. To achieve this, it's important to understand your unique body shape and choose a dress that follows your natural contours. From trumpet and mermaid styles to A-line and slip dresses, there are many options to flatter your figure and make you feel your best on your special day. So, whether you want to highlight your curves or prefer a more modest look, read on to discover how to dress your hourglass shape for your wedding.
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What You'll Learn
Choose a dress that accentuates your waist
The key to choosing a wedding dress that accentuates your waist is to understand your body type and select a dress that highlights your natural curves and proportions. Here are some tips to help you choose a dress that accentuates your waist and creates a stunning hourglass silhouette:
Understand Your Body Type
First, it's important to understand the characteristics of an hourglass figure. An hourglass body type is defined by balanced proportions between the bust and hips, with a well-defined, narrower waist. The key is to find a dress that emphasises this natural waistline and showcases your curves gracefully.
Select a Dress that Accentuates Your Waist
When choosing a wedding dress to accentuate your waist, consider styles that draw attention to this area. A natural waistline that sits at the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button, is a classic choice. This waistline is common in wedding dresses as it creates a balanced, proportional silhouette.
You can also opt for a dropped waistline, which sits lower, often at the hip bone, adding a touch of vintage elegance. For a more dramatic effect, a trumpet or mermaid-style dress hugs your curves and accentuates your waist and hips, flaring out below the knee. Fit-and-flare styles offer a similar effect but with a less dramatic flare, providing a balanced look that highlights your waist.
Choose a Flattering Neckline
The neckline of your dress can also impact how your waist is accentuated. Deep V-neck dresses, for example, draw attention to the torso, highlighting your waist. Sweetheart necklines emphasise the upper body and accentuate your figure, while off-the-shoulder styles delicately frame your décolletage.
Consider Additional Details
Don't forget to consider other details such as sleeves and jackets. Unembellished, fitted sleeves can work well as they follow your natural curves without drawing attention to the arms. If you plan to wear a jacket, choose a shorter style that stops just above the waist to accentuate your waistline. Avoid bulky jackets as they can add volume to the upper body.
By following these tips and choosing a dress that emphasises your waist, you can create a stunning hourglass silhouette for your wedding day.
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Opt for a trumpet, mermaid or slip dress
Trumpet, mermaid, and slip dresses can be great options for a wedding dress that flatters an hourglass figure. Here are some things to consider when opting for these styles:
Trumpet Wedding Dresses
Trumpet wedding dresses are characterised by a skirt that flares out at mid-thigh or the knee, hugging the waist and hips snugly. This style has been popular for decades and can work for any wedding theme or location. Trumpet dresses accentuate the body's silhouette and natural curves, making them a great choice for showcasing an hourglass figure. When choosing a trumpet dress, consider the level of detail and the neckline. A simple, understated trumpet dress can subtly accentuate your figure without overwhelming it, allowing other aspects of your bridal look, like your hair and veil, to shine. Opt for a neckline that isn't overly wide or narrow, such as a rounded style, to maintain the balance of your hourglass proportions.
Mermaid Wedding Dresses
Mermaid wedding dresses are known for their curve-enhancing, form-fitting silhouette. The bodice is fitted, with the skirt flaring out at or below the knee, creating an hourglass figure. Mermaid dresses are often snug from the bust down to the hips, playing up the natural curves of the body. This style can be a great option if you want to accentuate your waist while adding drama with a flared skirt and, in some cases, a dramatic train. Mermaid dresses are often associated with vintage glamour and Old Hollywood vibes, making them a glamorous and charismatic choice for your wedding day.
Slip Dresses
Slip dresses can be a more challenging option for an hourglass figure as they typically lack structure and are not specifically shaped for curvier body types. However, with the right tailoring, a slip dress can be made to flatter your hourglass proportions. Consider sizing down to ensure the dress skims over your hips without being skin-tight. You can also pair a slip dress with a cropped jacket or cardigan to add structure and create a defined waist. For a more edgy look, try styling your slip dress with a leather jacket. When it comes to footwear, a pair of closed-toed pumps or open-toed lucite kitten pumps can complement the sleek shine of a slip dress.
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Pick a neckline that doesn't unbalance your figure
The key to dressing an hourglass figure is to emphasise the body's natural silhouette and balance. This means drawing attention to the waist and avoiding anything that might unbalance your figure by widening or adding volume.
When it comes to necklines, the same principle applies. Choose a neckline that doesn't unbalance your figure by either widening the shoulder line or adding volume to the upper body. For this reason, it's best to avoid high necklines, square necks, boat necks, and turtlenecks, as these will add volume to the upper body. Instead, opt for slimming necklines such as a V-neck or rounded styles like oval, deep oval, rounded, or jewel necklines. These styles are not extremely wide or narrow, so they won't draw attention away from the natural silhouette of your body.
If you want to show off your bust, you can go for lower and wider necklines like scoop or
In addition to the neckline, it's important to consider the sleeves. Similar to necklines, sleeves must not interfere with the natural proportions of the hourglass figure. Fitted sleeves tend to work well because they follow the natural curves of the body without drawing attention to the arms. Cap sleeves are also flattering, especially with a rounded armhole and hem. If you prefer sleeveless styles, just make sure the armholes don't scoop in too much towards the centre of your body.
Ultimately, the best neckline for an hourglass figure will depend on your unique proportions and style goals. Pay attention to the material and your body's unique measurements to ensure your chosen neckline accomplishes your desired look.
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Avoid hiding your curves
The hourglass figure is a popular starting point in the bridal world, with many designers and styles of dresses that fit well and comfortably, emphasising all the advantages of an hourglass figure. The key is to embrace your femininity and celebrate your curves.
When it comes to choosing a wedding dress, it's important to understand your body type and select a gown that complements your silhouette. For brides with an hourglass figure, the ideal dress will follow the body's natural silhouette, emphasising the waist. To achieve this, consider choosing a fitted dress with a defined waist, such as a trumpet or mermaid style gown, that hugs your natural curves. A well-defined torso on your bridal dress helps to enhance the hourglass shape, providing support and shaping the upper body.
When selecting a neckline, opt for a style that doesn't unbalance your figure by widening or adding volume. Rounded styles, sweetheart necklines, and deep V-neck dresses are great choices as they draw attention to the torso and highlight the waist. If you want to play up your curves, avoid high necklines and instead opt for a lower-cut neckline that accentuates your décolletage.
To further enhance your curves, consider the fabric and structure of your dress. Lightweight fabrics like silk charmeuse or jersey tend to cling to every curve, so opt for structured materials like satin, mikado, or taffeta that hold their shape and provide natural support, creating a sleek and controlled look. Details like ruching or strategic pleating can also help to smooth out curves and distract the eye, creating a flawless finish.
Remember, the most important thing is to feel confident and comfortable in your wedding dress. Choose a style that celebrates your body type and showcases your unique beauty.
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Select a dress that fits your comfort level
The wedding dress selection process is an important part of planning your special day. To select a dress that fits your comfort level, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, understand your body type and the most flattering silhouette for your figure. If you have an hourglass figure, your shoulders and hips are about the same width, with a smaller waist. This versatile body type can pull off a variety of dress styles, but the right choice will emphasise your natural silhouette.
When selecting a dress, it's essential to consider your comfort and whether you want to emphasise or downplay your curves. If you wish to showcase your curves, opt for a fitted dress that hugs your natural curves and emphasises your waistline. Dress styles such as trumpet, mermaid, bias cut, or fit and flare will beautifully accentuate your figure. To draw attention to your torso and waist, consider a deep V-neck or sweetheart neckline. If you prefer a relaxed fit, a sheath or A-line dress will highlight your upper torso while providing a contrasted effect with a skirt that flares outward.
If you want to downplay your curves, a ballgown or A-line skirt will create a more modest silhouette. You can also opt for a more modest neckline, such as a scoop neck, to draw less attention to your décolletage. Avoid straight, narrow cuts and column styles, as they can conceal your curves and make you appear boxy. Instead, choose dresses with vertical lines or details like vertical lace patterns or princess seams to elongate your figure.
The neckline and sleeves of your dress should also be carefully selected to maintain balance and proportion. Choose a neckline that is not overly wide or narrow, such as a rounded style. Sleeves should be fitted and unembellished to follow your natural curves without drawing attention to your arms. If you plan to wear a jacket, select a short, simple style that ends above the waist to accentuate your waistline without adding bulk to your upper body.
Remember, the most important factor is choosing a dress that makes you feel comfortable and confident. With a variety of styles and designers available, you can find a dream wedding gown that emphasises your hourglass figure and reflects your unique style.
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Frequently asked questions
An hourglass figure is characterised by shoulders and hips that are of similar width, and a waist that is noticeably smaller.
Wedding dresses that flatter an hourglass figure include:
- Trumpet/Mermaid: This style hugs the waist and hips and flares below the knees, creating a dramatic silhouette.
- Fit and Flare: These dresses emphasise the curves of the bust, waist and hips.
- A-line: A fitted bodice with a skirt that flares from the waist, creating a timeless look.
- Slip dresses: These follow the natural contours of the body, draping over curves.
- Ballgown: This style is ideal for those who want to downplay their curves.
A neckline that is neither too wide nor too narrow works well for an hourglass figure. Rounded styles and sweetheart necklines are great options. Deep V-necks also work well, drawing attention to the torso and highlighting the waist.
Unembellished, fitted sleeves that follow the natural curves of the body are a good choice for an hourglass figure. Avoid bulky sleeves that draw attention to the arms. If you're wearing a jacket, opt for a short, simple style that ends above the waist.
Emphasise your waist by choosing dresses with cinched waists, belts, sashes or corset-style bodices. Opt for clean, simple silhouettes that follow the body's natural curves. Avoid straight, narrow cuts that hide the waist and curves.
