From the ones with the poufy sleeves, enormous butt bows, or those which are chosen without any consideration of the bridesmaids’ figures, there are many ways to get a bridesmaid dress all wrong. Spare your attendants the agony of a dreadful dress by picking one of these five flattering bridesmaid dress styles.
Halter. The halter neckline is almost universally flattering. It suits busty women, flat chested women, tall women, and short women. Halters can come in many fabrics, from a wintery satin to a breezy chiffon. Some halter necklines will even accommodate a convertible bra, which can be a huge relief for bridesmaids who can’t stand wearing a strapless one. Dramatic earrings and stacked bracelets are the best bridesmaid jewelry for a halter neck gown, since it does not always pair well with a necklace.
A-line. There is not woman in the world who does not look good in an A-line skirt. This forgiving cut hides a multitude of sins that a tighter skirt would reveal. The A-line also suits slim women who could use more shape, as well as busty gals who need a skirt that can balance out their top half. Tall or short, thin or heavy, it does not matter – every figure loves an A-line skirt. Choose a bridesmaid dress in a fabric which has a crisp enough hand to hold the A shape of the skirt. Good choices include taffeta, organza, satin, and faille.
Gathered Chiffon. While a single layer of chiffon (or even worse, a bias cut chiffon dress!) is very revealing, when the fabric is lightly gathered over a more substantial lining, it is very flattering. The fabric gently skims the body, but when it is gathered, does not cling. A wrapped chiffon bodice is also a great way to wear a fitted top that does not reveal every lump and bump. Floaty and feminine, a gathered chiffon dress will make your bridesmaids look like goddesses.
Separates. In many bridal parties, each bridesmaid has a different figure, which makes it very hard to pick one dress that suits everyone. A great solution to this age old dilemma is to allow your bridesmaids to select separates. Many bridesmaid dress designers now offer tops and bottoms which can be mixed and matched in the same fabric and color. This lets each attendant select the top and skirt in which she feels most comfortable. If you want to ensure a relatively unified look for the whole group, you can give them each the same set of bridesmaid jewelry. Between their coordinating accessories and wearing the same color and material, your bridesmaids will look harmonious, while allowing each woman to feel her prettiest.
Twist Wraps. A great new trend in bridesmaid attire are twist wrap dresses. Made of matte jersey, these convertible dresses are designed so that the fabric can be wrapped in many different ways. From one basic style, you can create dresses with short sleeves, strapless, one shoulder, and more. What a great solution when your bridesmaids cannot agree on one neckline! The really neat thing about the twist wrap dresses is that they can be worn a new way each time, meaning that your bridesmaids will have a very versatile dress to wear again many times after the wedding.
