what type of wedding dress should i get?

Question

i am 5'7 190lbs. i am over weight but not really. Nost of my weight is in mu upperbody. I used to be a swimmer so all my shoulder and back muscles turned to .... fat. My waist is a 14 But my upper body says 18... i know very un proportuned. ANYWAY i am looking to purchase a wedding dress but getting discouraged beacause nothing looks right on. I look like a lineman for a football team.
So what type of a dress should i get?
i look and feel so uncomfartable in all styles so i am open for opinions.

i have tried on dresses and family and friends have all said that the dresses with sleves make my shoulders look more broad, and they all "Love" strapless on me....

Answer 1

You need to keep trying on dresses and find the CUT that looks best on you. Then use that to find a dress you love.

Perhaps try an empire waist? It will even out the uneven top and bottom.

Answer 2

Your family and friends are crazy if they think strapless looks good. A strapless gown will always make shoulders look broader. You should also stay away from haltar neck styles. Something with narrow straps or a small cap sleeve would probably work well. The bodice of the dress should be fitted to the waist (not below), then full from the waist down. This will help your hips seem more in balance with your upper body and give you more of that "hour glass" figure, rather than the more straight shape that it sounds like you have. Below are samples of the types of necklines that I think would work well for you. (The second one is not a good bodice shape, the neckline and straps would work well. I think the 3rd one and the 5th one would work especially well.)

Best wishes!!

Edit:
Lydia's suggestions are also fantastic (that's the neckline/straps I originally had in mind but couldn't find a good example of) and the second one especially is great.

Answer 3

I think that a dress that emphasizes the narrowness of your waist would be best. An empire is going to thicken you in the middle section while a sheath or mermaid will tend to emphasize the fact that like myself, we border on the edge of fat and overweight. I too use to be a swimmer I wore a strapless ball gown style dress that was 2 pieces, a corset type top and full skirt, it looked great. I agree that the sleeves will make your shoulders look thicker. I would advise that if you are extra thick on the arms, shoulders, and back that a strapless may cause you to have an unattractive bulge above the top of the dress in the back.
A dress with a high halter style like this one will cause the eye to focus on the detail that tapers into your neck, making the shoulders seem more narrow:
http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?attrib29=264&keywordType=any&page=0&pageSize=8&style=A3123&moreOptions=1
some more
This one has a nice back detail to disguise any flaws you may deem your back has:
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2980&prodgroup=10

Answer 4

May i suggest, since you are - less than enthusastic about the characteristics of your back and shoulders... instead of shopping for a wedding dress (which have a tendency to be backless, sleeveless, spagetti strap, halters tops) perhaps you should look for Quience Dress (traditional spanish/latin dress for a girls 15th birthday outting.) They usually look like wedding dresses but often have full backs and sleeves. (sometimes they are actually a little less expensive too). Since you're upper body is larger than you're lower, i'd go with a drop waist or natural waist dress. Just remember, when ordering a dress... go by the size chart of the manufacturer. If your largest measurement says you're an 18, even if the rest say you're a 6, ORDER THE 18! Its easier to take something in, than it is to let something out.

Answer 5

I agree that you need to find the cut of dress that looks best on you, especially when it comes to the neckline. Take a look at this website: http://www.torontobrides.com/wedding_necklines.php
It tells which necklines are most flattering for which body types. I was thinking that perhaps a square neckline might work for you. Make sure you go to a bridal shop that has a variety of gown styles. Most gowns now seem to be made with strapless or sweetheart necklines. (These actually look good on many heavier brides, although it sounds like you didn't feel comfortable in them.)

As far as skirt styles go, I would recommend getting a rather full A-line. It will be wide enough to make you feel evenly proportioned top to bottom. A ball gown style, however, tends to visually cut one in half top to bottom and make one look shorter. Fuller-figured women tend to look best if most emphasis is given to their height.

Answer 6

A halter style is a good choice because it pulls the eye up and makes the shoulders look narrower. Or try a strapless dress, which de-emphasizes the broadness of the back. Avoid off-the-shoulder necklines, which make shoulders look bigger

Answer 7

If you're self-conscious about your upper body, you should probably avoid strapless gowns, backless gowns, or gowns with spaghetti straps. You could look at dresses that have sleeves - cap sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, or long bell-shaped sleeves. Shawls and bolero jackets are good options too. You should probably go for an A-line, or slightly full, skirt. A-line skirts look nice on almost all body types, and the fuller skirt could balance out your lower body with your upper body. But, you'll never know until you start trying on dresses.

good luck!

Answer 8

Whatever you do, don't wear a halter! They make your shoulders look broader.

I suggest a strapless dress with a lace jacket with a train. Many designers have these, but here is one from David's: http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2311&prodgroup=159

Or, go strapless with a very big skirt. This will help balance you out.

Answer 9

I'm kind of broad shouldered and did a halter-style dress. Look about halfway down this page and here is another example of that style: http://community.livejournal.com/weddingplans/9705781.html

Strapless tends to smoosh the breasts and make the arms look fat. Another alternative is something with a cap sleeve, or something renaissance-styled with butterfly sleeves.

Answer 10

I'd do an empire waisted, a-line skirt with really thin, nearly off the shoulder sleeves. The lines there draw attention to your face and away from your arms, but you still get the effect of the strapless dress in the neckline and simplicity of the top.

example: this one, by Badgley Mischka.
http://www.angelosbridal.com/usclassifieds/details.asp?cat=23&sub=153&id=10114