Why don't you like strapless?

Ghoti

I've seen a lot of posts about people hating Strapless Dresses, and how they want to trend to die, is there something specific about them or you just don't like how they fit on you?

kellya01

I have a few opinions, as well as things I've heard on the subject from my family: 

1) For a ceremony to be in some churches, there is a requirement of modesty and strapless dresses usually don't qualify. ("covered shoulders" or "covered arms")

2) personal preference / style

3) backs of strapless dresses are often too low to wear a traditional strapless bra, and some people aren't comfortable wearing long-line bras which are more corset-like. 

4) necklines of strapless dresses tend to be unforgiving to women with breasts higher than a C cup.  Remember, most designers are designing for "missy" sizes, and that is around a size 2 to 6, B cup at most. 

5) Women who aren't 100% physically fit tend to have extra weight in the chest area, above the breasts, in the upper arms, and in the upper back.  Strapless dresses leave ALL of that hanging out, and the Fit required of a strapless dress to keep it from falling down tend to SQUISH this extra flesh and is very unflattering.

6) Some people would refuse to wear a strapless shirt or strapless dress in real life.  Why would they suddenly make a drastic fashion preference change on their wedding dress.  Humph. 

These are just things I've heard, or my opinion.  I may end up getting a strapless dress, but we are planning to make an attached lace bolero if it's not modest enough, especially in the back.  

I'm sure others have opinions to share, and I could be wrong, but again, just my opinion!!! :-) 

aerinpegadrak

I just don't like how pervasive the trend is, and I think that when you take away the distinction of the neckline, the dresses all start to look the same.  Long white strapless is long white strapless, the details get lost.  I was so against strapless because I wanted something that looked more distinctive.

Beachy730

My only fear with a strapless was that I would be pulling it up all day, and didn't want to go through that.  But I ended up going with strapless and it was altered so perfectly I didn't have to pull it up once.  I also had a pretty simple dress that i could wear a regular strapless bra too. 

I also agree with the church issue.  We were married in a Catholic church, but it wasn't an issue.  A few of my BMs wore strapless too.  Some churches don't allow it, and some people for personal preferences don't want to wear it to church.

jeanna85

My wedding dress is strapless and I love it (but I'm also a B-cup so the sweetheart neckline looks great). I think women with bigger cup sizes sometimes (not always) spill out and show too much cleavage. I've seen it look really gross/trashy before.

I don't like strapless for most BM dresses. They typically dont have the boning and support that a wedding dress has, and consequently the BMs are yanking on the top of their dresses all night. I've seen plenty of wedding pictures of BMs dancing where their dresses look like theyre going to slip right down. I chose v-neck for my BMs and they were all relieved.

kedorsett

Well for me, I am a D and the strapless just doesn't support me like I need it to. I would always have to pull it up. Not something I want to be doing on my wedding day!

Ghoti

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_don-strapless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:e00af910-8e49-4f1c-83bb-4149815788a4Post:7ed305b6-384e-41d3-a251-748d1384a35a">Re: Why don't you like strapless?</a>:
[QUOTE]Well for me, I am a D and the strapless just doesn't support me like I need it to. I would always have to pull it up. Not something I want to be doing on my wedding day!
Posted by kedorsett[/QUOTE]
Have you tried on alot of strapless dresses?  Just curious, because I'm a D as well, and I found that I did have that problem with one dress(even got the little roll over thing even though it was a perfect fit) but in another one ("the one" in fact), it literally fit like a glove and I didn't have to pull or tug at all.  There was also a quality difference between the 2, the first was a Davids Bridal, and the second was an Oleg Cassini, so that might play into it as well?

Thanks for your imput ladies! I haven't had any of the issues mentioned; I just wasn't sure if it was because everyone thought they were ugly or if it was just technical difficulties.

trix1223

For me it's the necessity for the "thumb hook" pull all day.  Both my DIL and DD wore dresses with straps, and they didn't have to keep "adjusting" the top of the dress all night.

Also, look at strapless dresses from the back.  Unless someone is really, really toned, the view from the back can be less than lovely.  And that is the part that people are looking at during much of the ceremony.

tldh

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_don-strapless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:e00af910-8e49-4f1c-83bb-4149815788a4Post:c2670678-acd3-469a-a7c9-e4cd3c238efa">Re: Why don't you like strapless?</a>:
[QUOTE]I just don't like how pervasive the trend is, and I think that when you take away the distinction of the neckline, the dresses all start to look the same.  Long white strapless is long white strapless, the details get lost.  I was so against strapless because I wanted something that looked more distinctive.
Posted by aerinpegadrak[/QUOTE]

Same here.  Of the past dozen weddings I've been to, I remember only one dress.  It was the only one that wasn't a white strapless bedazzled ballgown.  I found my dress in five minutes because my criteria was no strapless.

denisentim0311

I tried on many many many strapless dresses.  As a matter of fact my first choice was a strapless, but I didn't like the way it looked on me at all.  I went for an off-the-shoulder dress.  I didn't want to be pulling it up all day either.  I'm a C cup, and I had a roll that didn't want to get sucked in.  LOL!!!!
I know that in a traditional Jewish ceremony the bride is supposed to have her shoulders covered, and they can't wear a strapless dress.  It's against their regulaitons as far as temple and religious weddings go.
I would think it's more of a personal preference for most brides, and because of religious beliefs.
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

Denise

LowerEastSiiide

I thought I hated strapless, but ended up buying one. I worried about looking like a football player (and I'm typically a size 4 or 6 and a 32C... I can't imagine how a size 12 girl would feel). But I think it depends a lot on the neckline. I have a sweat heart neck and love it... but if it were straight across it would be a different story. 

I think most girls are worried about how their shoulders would look and I was particularly worried about that extra skin under your arms near your chest... but the right cut  and fit won't give you that. 

futurepivko

i didnt know strapless dresses were a trend..........? i thought they were classy and elegant. things like the sheer bodice, and color shashes seem more of a trend to me.

KnaijaQueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_don-strapless?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:e00af910-8e49-4f1c-83bb-4149815788a4Post:c2f99ea4-e5bb-470a-bf9f-7f8718e1f3c8">Re: Why don't you like strapless?</a>:
[QUOTE]<span style="font-weight:bold;">i </span>didnt<span style="font-weight:bold;"> know </span>strapless<span style="font-weight:bold;"> dresses were a trend</span>..........? i thought they were classy and elegant. things like the sheer bodice, and color shashes seem more of a trend to me.
Posted by futurepivko[/QUOTE]

Strapless dresses are definitely a trend. Ten years ago, you wouldn't see so many strapless dresses from bridal designers. But nowadays, 75% of the dresses in the collection are strapless.

jdhouston

It's not that I HATE strapless dresses, I just don't prefer them for myself. 

1. EVERYONE seems to have one, and I want to stand out.

2. I always feel like I'm spilling out of a strapless bra and something that I can wear a standard bra with is WAY more comfortable. 

3. I don't want to tug/pull up a dress all night if it's not altered the right way. 

srkropf

I didn't like strapless before I tried one on because I though they would fall down. But my dress fits so snug that I know it wont fall down (I'm a C). As for the toned upper body, I'm going to try, but not cry. I will be happy with myself on one of the best days of my life.

bellaxanthe

HATE THEM
I have scarring on my back from Skin cancer testing. It was absolutely heartbreaking to have to "settle" for trying on strapless dress becasue that was literally 99% of what was in stores. I felt hideous in them. And I felt forced to try them on, because that is all they had. I finally found a second dress after buying a strapless one that I was going to have to buy a stupid bolero for. I wanted a complete dress. Found one while looking for the bridesmaids dresses and now have 2.

I also think that tons of people look "not their best" due to the spillage issue in the front and back. Sorry but I think it looks bad.

I also think they tend to all start looking the same.

TheCranberry

I don't like the way they look on me.  I have smaller breasts, and I think it actually minimizes them.  I also have flesh near my underarms that tend to spill over on the strapless dresses, and I HATE that.  When I was trying on wedding dresses, my mom and the sales ladies kept saying that everyone has that and it wasn't that noticeable, but I notice it.

I wish there was more variety in wedding dress styles, but I don't really care if the trend dies or not.

calindi

Am I the only one who hates close-ups of the bride's face when she's wearing a strapless?  It makes her look like she's naked if it cuts off above or just below her shoulders!

I don't like them.  I never did.  I don't care whether or not the trend goes away, but you better believe I won't be buying one.

linguo42

The only problem I've ever had with strapless tops/dresses is constantly having to tug them up, but my wedding dress is so structured and fitted that that's definitely not going to be an issue for me on the day.