Dress SENSE
Practical tips to find your perfect wedding gown
Most women know what style of wedding dress they want. But have you considered the practicalities of finding your dream frock that have nothing to do with how it looks? Here are a few little things you might overlook when shopping for your dress.
WEAR THE RIGHT UNDERWEAR
You head into the changing room area with a pile of gorgeous dresses. You try on the first one and it is just so… ant-climatic. Why doesn’t it look like you imagined? Well, for one, you are wearing a bright blue thong that throws off the whole look. Wear the right underwear so the G-string doesn’t make a shadow on the dress or you stress about panties that cut into our bum. Fitting consultants won’t judge you on your granny panties or boy shorts! Wearing undies that match your skin tone and shape, and suck in where necessary help smooth out the silhouette so you can see exactly how the dress is meant to fit.
FACTOR IN WHERE YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED
Is the dress practical for your wedding? Consider the physical aspects of where you are getting married and how your dress will fit into that. For example, a heavy lave-trimmed train and weil will pick up any little twigs and dirt as you walk down the aisle of a forest wedding. Or a heavy duchess satin dress will be uncomfortable hot at a midday beach wedding. Choose a dress in the style you love, but that will still allow you to be as comfortable as possible.
THINK ABOUT THE GIRLS
Don’t overlook the importance of your boobs. Too much cleavage can distract your overall look; too covered up can look matronly, not to mention ensuring there’s no accidental spillage. Big busts always look great in a lower neckline. But not too low – just enough to open up the chest- and shoulder area. This can be a V-neck, off-the-shoulder or scooped neckline. But stay away from strapless.
For your flatter-chested sisters your choices are much wider, but if you want your bust to appear larger, raise the neckline of the dress. Whether it’s a halter neck, V-neck, boat or round neck, simply lift that line a few centimeters.
WALK, SIT, CROUCH, BEND, DANCE!
Standing in front of a mirror for 10 minutes isn’t going to give you the full effect of how a dress really wears. Does the top slip down? Do the straps fall off your shoulders? Does the bodice cut into your stomach when you sit? Do you strip on the hem? Get a feel for the dress by sitting, crouching, hugging your mom and busting out a move with your hands in the air. If at any point you have to readjust it, imagine doing that a couple of hundred times on the big day. If it can be fixed with alterations, get them done. If not, it’s probably best to move on.
ASB ABOUT FABRICS
Will it crease badly? Show sweat patches? Make you itch? Don’t assume all dresses are made equal. Every kind of fabric has its own characteristics, so a dress designer worth their salt will take the time to explain the different options and their pros and cons. Does the fabric feel good on your skin? Do you perspire easily when under stress or do you have sensitive skin? These are all things to take into consideration.
BUY FOR YOUR CURRENT SIZE, NOT YOUR IDEAL SIZE
Many brides go on a weight-loss mission before their wedding. If you’re one of them, it’s best to try lose the weight (or close enough) before you starts shopping around. You never know if you’re going to lose the weight in time, so don’t buy around what might happen. The last thing you want is an ill-fitting dress on your big day. It is much easier to take a dress in with alterations than to let it out (with much less risk of ruining the dress completely)