Whether you’re getting married for the first time or celebrating your second start, you don’t want to do it in a style made for a bride fifteen years younger than you. As a sophisticated, confident woman who knows what looks good on your body type, you should choose a dress that highlights your assets and makes you feel confident. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to what’s in style, just that you should choose a dress that flatters you regardless of the latest royal wedding influences.
Keep your wedding dress current by incorporating some of the biggest trends from this year’s Fashion Week by adding subtle color accents, dramatically low-cut necklines, extreme sleeves, bare shoulders, and cut-out sides. Find a dress style that accentuates the positive and helps mask any features you find less than desirable. The most important thing is for you to feel elegant on your special day.
A-line silhouette
If you have great arms and shoulders from yoga or Pilates, show them off in a sleeveless bodice that is fitted to the waist and flows outward from there. This design is named for its resemblance to an uppercase A and generally flatters all body types. Customize this style with a few small details to make it work for you.
Well-placed sheer side cutouts will give the illusion of a smaller waistline. Oblique-baring panels layered with lace provide the illusion of sheer without baring too much skin. If your tummy is not as tight as it used to be, draw attention to your cleavage instead with the deep, deep V-neck trending in wedding dresses this year.
Sheath
A plunging back that shows off your curves and falls straight from the neckline to the hem is the perfect antidote to small breasts. Dresses made in this elegant silhouette suit lean frames of any height. The narrow, streamlined cut doesn’t flatter pear shapes because it tends to accentuate wider hips without balancing the eye with a smaller bodice. The sheath lends itself perfectly to a subtle pastel color or extreme sleeves.
Ball Gown
Though this may be the hardest style for older brides to pull off, it can be done with the right attention to detail. Ball gowns require a clean design and a perfect fit for a mature bride. Limit the use of lace, patterns, sequins, or other embellishments. Custom-tailor the sleeve length to fall at the bottom of your deltoid and have it altered to fit your waistline exactly.
Avoid sweetheart necklines and strapless styles. Nothing ruins the line of a sleeveless dress more than cup overflow near the underarm. Off-the-shoulder dresses provide a wider line that will make your waistline look smaller and can cover up the dreaded cup overflow.
Tea Length
Look for a grown-up, fitted dress that ends just above the ankles with a subtle, repeating pattern. Incorporate this season’s trends by rendering a sophisticated dress in a light shade of lavender or another pastel color. Pair a fitted bodice and bateau neck with sheer, fitted ¾ length sleeves that will elevate your look to pure sophistication.
Customize any silhouette to flatter
You’re aware of your body type, and you know what you consider your best assets. Keep your dress current by adding a pastel color, baring your shoulders, or adding a cutout panel to draw attention away from problem areas. Aim for a sophisticated, elegant look which makes you feel beautiful without falling into the trap of trying to look too young.