SUITING YOUR SHAPE

The Inverted Triangle

Those with an inverted triangle shape will possess slender hips and proportionately broader shoulders, often accompanied by a full bust. If you are friendly with excess weight, it is most likely to be carried on the upper body.

When it comes to famous folk who share your shape type with you, Jessica Simpson, ex-eastender Nadia Sawalha, and Hollywood superstar Demi Moore are just some of the culprits.

When it comes down to choosing a Wedding dress, the best bet is to go for something that adds balance to your shape - a close fitted bodice accompanied by an A-line or ball-gown skirt is a prime example. Going for a this kind of mix will emphasise the definition between your waist and your shoulders and create the illusion of bigger hips.

A dress featuring a princess line top will help to balance your upper body without overly emphasising the waist, and an empire line top will create a beautifully, elegant silhouette. A dress with a column profile will maximise your natural shape, but ones with a bias cut profile are probably not the best choice.

Some of our readers may well be struggling to attribute their shape to one of those detailed in this article. If you are one of these Brides, you may want to consider speaking to an image consultant who will be able to help ‘categorise’ you. The service is normally offered alongside colour therapy, so why not make a day of it and get some great advice for your day! 

Once you're sure what your main body shape is (it isn’t unusual to be torn between two!) you can of course choose to take our advice or to ignore it. Either way, we would always recommend getting some thoughts from a trusted friend or relative. Get them to be critical of each dress you try on, asking them what parts of your body are emphasised. Explain to them what image you are trying to create, and find out if the dresses you are tying on achieves the look you're after, or detracts from it.

Now that you know all about shapes and what works best, why not take a read of the articles entitled Suiting Your Size(available soon), and Matching Your Day before moving on to the really fun articles available under It's All About the Dress.