Your wedding day. Some brides start to
plan when they are five, some five weeks in advance. In either
case, other than the days your children are born, all agree your
wedding is the most important day of your life. Have you ever
cared more about how you will look? Don't worry. Every bride is
beautiful. Truly. To enhance that beauty, just remember to hide
your flaws and accentuate your assets. I went to an expert for
helpful hints.
"Each bride is exquisite," stated Nancy
Aucone of The Wedding Salon of Manhasset, on Long Island in
suburban New York. "In today's world, there is no reason not to
be. Even if a bride has a flaw or two, I know every trick in the
book."
Like your entire wedding, your gown makes a statement,
reflecting your personality, your personal expression. Are you
chic? Sophisticated? Classic? Sexy? Traditional? Avant garde? If
you have never fallen in love with a dress before, now is the
time to start.
"The first dictum is ask for help," Aucone
instructed. "True, it is your day and your dress. However, a
good professional can lead you to the right gown, eliminating
hassles, headaches, and hours, helping you achieve the ideal
result. They are trained to find what works. Use them. If ever
there was a day to rely on an expert, this is it. A good
professional has seen it all. You benefit from that experience.
Let them try to make your dreams come true."
Speaking of
dreams, it is wonderful to walk into a bridal salon with ideas,
as well as pictures you've gathered from magazines and the
Internet. Photos you like give professionals a feel for your
taste, in addition to a level of dressiness. A morning wedding
in the country may call for a different dress than a black tie
dinner-dance in a hotel ballroom.
It starts with proportion.
The dress may be gorgeous, but you will never look right, if the
lines are wrong. Think of your silhouette. Begin with your best
features, then ease into the ones that are less than perfect. Do
you have a tiny waist? Great cleavage? Wonderful shoulders? A
lovely swan neck? Show them off!
"The neckline comes
first--frame your face," advised Aucone. "Do you prefer a high
neck or strapless? Sweetheart necks are still very popular, and
honestly flatter everyone. Do you want to wear a special
necklace? Certain earrings? Think about the neckline of a dress
you feel great in. Keep all of that in mind."
A good rule of
thumb is try on no less than three gowns. You may be surprised.
A dress may look like nothing on a hanger, transform your figure
when it's on. Again, a good consultant can look at you, and lead
you to the right style, the right designer. Certain
manufacturers cut larger or smaller, some work better for
petites, some for fuller figures. Don't ask for disaster, ask
for help.
There is no petite bridal line. Designers just
reduce proportions. Something with a natural waist will give you
a longer line. "What can you carry?" asked Aucone. "A tiny girl
should never be limited. Just use common sense."
If you have
large hips, Aucone recommends two solutions. An A-line gown
gives height, reduces width. Another option calls for a hollow
waist, beginning an inch and a half below your natural waist,
camouflaging your heaviest part.
Thick waist? "A princess
waist works best. If done properly, the skirt can be full--just
make sure the fullness starts below your thick part," Nancy
explained. Box pleats, beginning below the hip, offer another
stunning option.
Heavy thighs are easily hidden beneath a
full skirt. Just stay away from anything too straight or narrow.
Same rule if you have a full derriere. Remember: Draw attention
away from your flaws. Concentrate on a beautiful neckline
instead.
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