Bridesmaid dress on different body types?

Question

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_bycolor_detail.jsp?stid=2795&sid=15564&cfid=6

I need some help picking a bridesmaid dress for my wedding. My 50 year old mom is my matron of honor and very nervous about how she will look standing next to a bunch of "young 25 year olds." We found this dress that looks great on her but I need to know how it would look on the other girls because everyone is different.

Two maids are hour-glass shaped, NOT overweight but not petite.
One maid is a stick with long legs but kinda a bubble but.
One maid is thin with a square figure, no hips.

Here's my question, what is your body type (round, pear, square, hourglass, petite, big/small chest) and would this look good on you?
I think it would be universally flattering, but only my mom and I tried them on and we have the same body shape.

If this wouldn't be flattering, please let me know why/where it wouldn't be.

BTW, I don't want to just send them to the store for this. Two are very picky and would say it doesn't look good if they just didn't like the style. If I tell them this is the dress and to go try it on for size, then I avoid problems with picky maids.
Also, I'd rather not let them all go pick their own black dress because they have varying budgets and varying definitions of formal and will look very mismatched with expensive and cheaper dresses.

Answer 1

since its an empire waist it should be flattering on anyone becuase it hides lumps and bumps and most curves so that the curvy and the uncurvy will look basically the same. I would wear a dress like that and I'm I guess an hourglass shape. large in the chest and hips. I think you picked a great style to flatter the bridesmaids. and thats a pretty fair price too. I really like that dress.

edit: after reading some of these posts...I have to say I totally disagree with phantom...being very large chested myself (36DD) I could wear a dress like you picked no problem. as for the styles she showed, I would be very uncomfortable in something low cut like that. I think your best bet is to bring the girls shopping and have them try on that style and if it works for them then go for it. if they have a problem fitting then you can change to something else. its the best way to know for sure. I also dont agree with having your mom in a different dress. I think it looks best when all the girls are dressed the same. especially since you mom is quite older then the other girls, a different dress would make her stand out even more from the rest and that could make her feel uncomfortable.

Answer 2

I'm a short, fat, pear-shaped woman with no bust. The only thing about that dress that wouldn't work on me is the fact that it has very narrow straps and I have extremely narrow shoulders. They would have a tendency to fall off my shoulders.

On the other hand, there are few women who would look outright bad in that gown, though it would certainly be more flattering to some than to others. If you want matching bridesmaid's gowns, then something like this is probably your best bet when you have a really diverse set of body types.

If it makes your mother feel like she can hold her own against the younger bridesmaids, then that would be the trump card for me.

You can always have a second viewing where you take all the bridesmaids to try it on and see how they look. Honestly, though, bridesmaids have been wearing outright ugly, unflattering dresses for generations. This is simply one that may not be the most flattering thing one or two girls in your party have ever worn, and it makes your mom look and feel like a million bucks.

If I could forgive my sister-in-law for putting me in dusty rose (the one color on the entire planet I loathe) tafetta and a crinoline, I think your bridesmaids can survive a few hours in a dress that is actually quite nice and can be worn again if they find it flattering enough.

Answer 3

I'm kind of a flatter hourglass figure, and it would probably look pretty good on me.

Typically, the maids/matrons of honor wear a different dress than bridesmaids. Why not go shopping with your mom to pick out one only she will wear, and one for the bridesmaids? That's what I'll be doing.

No, I'm not crazy about the "everyone pick out your own dress" idea, either. My bridesmaids are between the ages of 18 and 21, and my MOH will be 48. Since she would be wearing a different dress than the other bridesmaids anyway, she's thrilled to be able to wear something different that she'll be comfortable in, since she's as old as all the bridesmaids' mothers (and 5 years older than my own!). Everyone's happy! :)

Answer 4

My suggestion to you would be for your Mother as MOH to have a different dress, but similar. . Take them all out together looking with your Mom included, and ask the salesperson to show you dresses that would suit your Mother's figure but not make her look like a teenager. Go to moncheribridals.com, then click on the Montage collection and there is one dress on the Special Occasion collection that is beautiful, and you will see it it is black You may be able to find a beautiful gown that will suit your Mother and then pick something in bridesmaids gowns on bridalchalet.com or netbride.com or another site that is similar. It is your wedding, and your mother should look her best.

Answer 5

I went in myself to Davids bridal. Tried on a bunch of bridesmaids dresses and narrowed it down to 4 I liked. Made sure they were all available in the same color and then told the girls they could choose whatever one they wanted of the four dresses that I had picked out. They were all the same color, same material and similar in style, so it went together fine. And ofcourse, none of them wanted to wear the same, so they all go togehter and decided wich one looked best on each of them. I got that idead from the pink wedding that Davids has out in their adds. Just my color is different. As for the dress that you have above, being a big girl (size 14). I could not comfortably pull off a empire waiste. I would feel like I was pregnant and that everyone was ready to ask me when I was due, ha ha ha! But hey whatever you decide, best of luck to you and congrats.

Answer 6

I do not think your mother (out of respect for her age and the fact that she is MOH) should have to wear the same gown. She is right that she would look as if she is trying to be 25. HOWEVER about this gown...

I disagree with most of the posts (but agree with bg). That dress would NOT look good on big busted. My sister was very hourglass and something like this would have made her look like she was going to a lingerie party at the Playboy mansion. That style makes big busts look bigger and doesn't have any room for alterations if they need a bit more room.

For the bubble butt, things that hang straight like that do camoflage better than satin dresses like this
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_detail.jsp?stid=2328&prodgroup=110
but it will emphasis her shape.

It does look nice on pear shaped individuals as it draws attention upwards and does look nice on stick figures b/c it gives them a shape (especially for your square figure), but it will not look good on the other 3 at all.

With hour glass figures (especially with larger chests) stay away from spaghetti straps. They can't wear a good support bra under it. My bridesmaids were just as diverse. I had 2 that are very curvy (both a little overweight and self-conscious about it) and one completely pear shaped. The other was tall and perfect figure.

Universally flattering shapes are loose at the hips like a-lines. If you have big hips, no one can tell. If you are shaped like a boy, it gives you hips.

Consider this one
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_detail.jsp?stid=2982&prodgroup=110
or this one if you like the empire and ruched bodice.
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_detail.jsp?stid=2984&prodgroup=110

Also this style looks great on all body types
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_detail.jsp?stid=2322&prodgroup=110

Answer 7

I think that they would need to try it on and you shouldn't stand for any lip from them about the style. If you like it they should respect that. Unless it deals with price....But I think that the top may be a little bad looking on a more busty girl so that's why I said try it on them. ALL of them.

I just went bm dress shopping and I had the same problem. Different shapes and sizes. But I just found one that flattered them all. Some of them were more busty and needed more of a top (the one you picked may be the one that the store clerk said is limited and will make their boobs spill out of them top of the dress).
But yea, just try it on them.

Answer 8

It's pretty just as long as it isn't black. Should work on most body types, as you described.
However, having your Mom as your MOH is extremely special, and I would think she should wear something different - both because of her age, and the position as Mom, let alone as MOH. NOT something dowdy, that's not what I mean, but something more classy and elegant, still in a similar colour or complementary, to the bridesmaids.

Answer 9

I think the empire waist style is used to camouflage a wide waist (I heard that somewhere!) But that style can also hide a lot of imperfections because it is so flowy and loose fitting. The only way you are going to know for sure how everyone looks is to just get them in the store to try it on. And, since you are the bride, you get to decide what your bridesmaids will wear, and really, they shouldn't argue with you. ;-) Personally, I like the dress, and I would wear it...with heels! (I'm only 5'3")

Answer 10

In my personal opinion that dress would work with many body shapes/sizes.
It is not very "form fitting", but still elegant and pretty.
I believe it will work with all of the body shapes, and that way you will avoid the "picky maids".

(Plus I happen to think that dress is beautiful!)

Congrats and good luck!