Bridesmaid dress to flatter an apple body shape?

Question

One of my dearest friends is very concerned about looking good at my wedding now that she's my bridesmaid. She's expressed concern about her body type & finding the right dress. She says shes very thick waisted and anything drawing attention to that area is not flattering to her. I've chosen black & white as the dress colors but have no CLUE what type of dress fits that body shape. She was thinking a basic strapless tea length with a sheer (chiffon) halter overlay on the dress. She says she looks best in a halter style or "V" neckline. I want to send her ideas but I don't want to frustrate her either. Can someone give me some advice on a dress that will flatter her and make her feel beautiful? Here is one she voted down & another I may suggest:

http://www.bridesofcalifornia.com/Alexia-Designs/Bridesmaid/2416.asp (voted down)

http://www.houseofbrides.com/product.php?productid=483 (suggestion?)

Pictures or links would be great! THANK You!!

Answer 1

I think shes right about the v-neckline for her shape. it draws attention down and makes the waist seem more narrow because of the v. i think a strapless dress like the first one would make her seem really like boxy & shapeless.
http://store.tjformal.com/Bridesmaid_Dresses/Jordan_Fashions/Jordan_Bridesmaid_Dress_980/
that one is cute & you can choose the color combo you like.
http://store.tjformal.com/asp/product.asp?categoryid=&catalogid=6333
or that one is cute too. hope that helps a bit. =]

Answer 2

I agree with most of what was said. I am getting married July 2007 and with all the stress, I would dare someone to bother me about the dresses. In the same token, I have chosen dresses that would compliment the women chosen for my bridal party. It is easy to say that it is my day and what they wear doesn't matter, but I don't want to be the bride that hates her pictures because my buddy has a too tight dress on and her stomach sticks out. People, including myself, would be shocked to see the party so poorly dressed and I would be more concerned with that. That makes everyone look bad. My MOH is small chested and thin and her dress complements her beautifully. My two bridesmaids, their dresses were chosen to fit my theme, colors, and idea of style while keeping in mind that my wedding isn't a torture session!!! They need the dresses to look good--not better than me, but to complement me. As a friend, you are being great to be concerned. And, if she is your friend, she will be very active in finding something that works for the both of you.

One bride to another, Good luck!

By the way, those two dresses were stunning!


EDIT/ADD-ON: To completely answer your question, for apple shapes--like myself--if you go with separates, then the best would be a long top to come down past the tummy and to the hips. If it's a dress, try something that doesn't have a defined waist line and isn't too fitted. A dress like that would look tight even if it fits and would make her look awkward because you obviously can see where her real waist is. She is correct about the sheer overlay of some sort. This will make her looking like she is flowing and make it hard to tell where her bulges are.

Answer 3

Hey, I'm a wedding planner and I deal with dilema all the time... I like the first gown you suggested. I hate to say it or be rude, but sometimes with this job you have to. The second dress is something I would suggest to a groom whose bestfriend/best man is a women, as that dress would enable her to look glam and still be in a "suit" structure fitting in with the rest of the males. If you want a full length skirt on her, be careful that the cut of her bottom is not the same as yours.
If you wanted splash out and try perhaps a cocktail length brides maid gown (just above the knee) there are some really cute "stepford housewife"/1950s style dresses which are super cute, they are tight just under the bust and then kinda poof out like a housewife dress from the 50s which may be perhaps an option that you hadnt considered.
If you do so happen to pick a gown which isnt all that flattering on her, there are many ways to remedy this, things like adding a flower to draw the attention away from it, or simply by the bunch of flowers she is holding.
It all depends on what you want, if you want uniformity with you brides maids then you need to pick a style they will all look lovely in. But do remember, i know it is hard to sometimes, but your wedding is about you and your love for your fiancee, i understand you want your friend to feel comfortable with the way she is looking, but the attention should be on you as the bride anyway.
Okay reading this it seems kinda rude and I appologise for that, but its just a professional opinion

Answer 4

First of all congratulations on getting married.
Second, I am a designer and I have to say you have two very powerful colors here so you might as well use them to the best. The style of the dress doesn't matter as much as how you use the colors with it. Use the basics. Vertical lines make you look bigger and horizontal lines make you look thinner. You have black and white as your colors. Create positive and negative spaces. By putting black on the sides and white in the middle, create the illusion of having a thinner waist very easily.

http://www.dresses.com/order/9048.html

This dress can give you an idea of what I mean. Replace the blue with black and the black with white. The more the black part is the thinner she will look.
I hope this helped. If you need a sketch I will be more than happy to make one for you. Just send me a message.

Answer 5

I saw the link and that dress is gorgeous. I would kill for that gown. You could actually wear it again! That's rare in a bride maid gown. Bridesmaids have to understand that this is your day and you are the star of the show so they can't look better then you anyway. If you could only see the lilac monstrosity I had to wear this summer with Miss Piggy gloves, it would make you weep. Did I ***** about the gown.....Of course that's a bridesmaids right, but I wore it and made it work, shoulder length satin gloves and all. You and your friend need to realize that no one dress can make everyone happy and the only one who needs to be pleased is you.

Answer 6

The old standby A-line dress works well. Ball gown flatters this shape as well. When considering the neckline, you also have to consider the size of your bust. If it's large, you don't want to accentuate it. Other than a V neck, also consider the sweetheart neckline, too. This tends to look real well on full figured women.

Answer 7

Not to worry! Here's what you do.... (my wedding last year was black and white formal evening, millions of candles and pink and red flowers)

First, your "friend" needs to realize you have MANY other items on your to-do list than worry about her needs individually. She also needs someone (not you, but your mom or another friend) to politely mention to her that when she is the bride...she can pick any dress for you to wear. Remember this: you are not obligated to worry about what works for her shape. You pick something you want for the type of wedding that works for the style of day you are designing.

Secondly, if you really don't want to hear another word about it what about suggesting to her bridesmaid seperates? Trust me, I had five bridesmaids and they all looked beautiful in the mermaid bottoms with a little train and the strapless bodice with the curved waist. It covered everyone's "pooches" and it was perfect for each of them. They were easy to alter and were not expensive for the ladies to buy.

Thirdly, you could...just to get any or all girls off your back, suggest they pick the top. You select the color and the skirt and they can wear whatever top of Alfred Angelo that works for their shape. The only fall back to this one is that you might not like pictures without uniformity (I am compulsed with balance) but if it doesn't bother you, then the ladies can pick their own top.

Whatever you chose, she is going to have to learn to voice her opinions AT LOT less. Your freetime is going to be reduced and she is primarily there to just blot your sweat, hold your flowers, and keep you sane in the most wonderful day of your life. Have fun and even if she isn't happy she should be a good enough friend to understand your wedding isn't designed around her.

All the best,
BV