Best Dress Style for Full Figures?

So as many of you know I am trying to shed some pounds before I head to the stores to try on dresses. But I'm hitting up against needing to start serious dress shopping in the next month or so (to give enough time for it to be made/fitted etc.)

So on that note I thought it would be a great idea to take a poll and get some feedback on what the best styles are for a "full-figured" bride. I'm not exactly "full-figured" but I'm not very thin either so I'd really like to find something that's flattering and can create the illusion of a waist (which I don't have much of)

Now none of you actually ARE FF brides but perhaps yo've been to some weddings or seen some pics, etc. and could give me your honest opinion.

I keep reaching for empire waist but then people might htink I'm pregnant! I certainly don't want anyone asking me the due date at my wedding!

Thoughts, experiences, references, styles to stay away from?

Also a seperate queston about sleeve-length:

Ok, so I've read that ladies with big arms/shoulders should avoid dresses that reveal these areas... um has anyone ever even seen a dress that's not strapless, or sleeveless? And wouldn't a dress with long sleeves look ridicululous at a beach wedding in June in Mexico?!?

What do you think is most flattering Sleeve length:

• Strapless
• Halter
• Spagetti
• Cap Sleeves
• Full sleeves
• 3/4 sleeves
• Sleeveless
• 1-inch straps

What do you think is the best dress length?

• Floor length
• Tea length
• Just below knee-length
• Knee length

Kash,

back in college i worked in an upscale bridal salon. Things that work really well to make you (general) look smaller are:

gowns with a rouched waist

gowns with a dropped waist

gowns that have an X pattern at the waist.

I would not recommend:

natural waist

anything with too much detail around your mid-section

I do think that strapless is usually a good choice, even if you have large arms. Generally all that white fabric just makes you look bigger.

I would also look for an aline gown. Try to shy away from anything with pleats, and gathering around the waist.

If you want any help looking for gowns I would be happy to join you. I am in OC

by the way, there is NO freaking way that you are full-figured.

Yeah! It makes me sick to think that you are calling yourself "full-figured" that must mean I am a whale! Although I do appricate your post since it is something that I have been thinking about too. I am currently a comfortable size 14. I would love to be a 10 when I get married but need to keep working at it. I am just outside of LA and would love to get together to go dress shopping with a group of the girls on this board. I think it could be really fun! I haven't set foot inside a dress shop yet and don't want my first time to be with my family since I am not at all sure what I am looking for and I don't want to hear all their opions yet. Sometimes it is hard to be totally honnest with family since you don't want to hurt their feelings. I know I can trust the girls on this board and don't have to worry about walking a egg shells around eachother!

Thanks ladies - but really it's an illusion! I just happened to have picked a pick for my avatar where I look thin (which is why I picked it actually!).

And Sarah - you are certainly no whale (but maybe you're as crazy as one for thinking you are )

Seriously - have tried on some white/ivory dresses and I have to say there is nothing more unflattering on me! To be honest it's not that I'm huge - it's just that I have a thick waist (basically NO waist!) and it seems like every dress I try on seems to emphasize that fact (instead of reduce it)

I love the A-line.

Kash and Sarah, I'm still going to advocate starting with Brides by Liza - she TOTALLY knows how to fit to your body the best look. if she doesn't have it in the shop, she can draw it for you.

It's a good way to get started so you better understand what to look for. There's another (high end) bridal shop across the street, but I got a bad vibe there. Not sure why - maybe it's just because I had such a good experience with Liza.

Would love to meet you guys there! I'll buy you a drink at La Pergola after (just down the street).

So this is an issue for me too - I'm dreading going dress shopping and really want to lose some weight beforehand. I have major arm issues - I've lost a considerable amount of weight (still need to lose more, but I was a BIG girl before) - so the arms aren't so pretty. I've decided it's Mexico, it's my wedding day and I want to wear a dress that I like, not something to hide my flaws.

So on sleeves - halter or stapless would be my pick - cap seem to make arms just look bigger and any type of sleeve in Mexico just sounds too hot! I have a friend who is FF and she did a drop waist and it looked really pretty on her and very flattering. An a-line although generic is pretty flattering on everyone.

I'm sure you'll look beautiful no matter what you pick though!

Sarah M

Natasha - I'm defintiely going to go there! Yes, let's get a drink too

Was the bridal shop that gave you a bad feeling R U Mine or something like that (it's yellow inside)? I walked in their one day and they just were cold and sort of rude and I was like (to my friend), "Ok, not going back thre!"

ok, when i read this title and saw you posted it i did NOT think it would be about you...you are by NO MEANS full-figured. you are crazy!

I lost 100 about five years ago doing slimfast and exercising. I want to lose at least 40 more, but now I combine slimfast, a diet journal and exercise - I'm a little tired of slimfast!