Bridesmaid dress troubles

skatechick2290

I'm a tomboy myself and I don't know very much about the different styles and silhouettes. My bridesmaids are all different sizes. Two are average hieght and weight, one with an average sized bust and one with a large bust. Another one is very tall and skinny with a smaller bust. And my last girl is a larger girl with a small bust. I really have no idea where to start with picking out dresses for them. Is it possible for one style to look good on all of their body types, or will I have to pick all different dresses for all of them? And what styles specifically, would work. Any help on this subject is completely welcome. Thank you in advance. 

 

-Katie

aerinpegadrak

...Why not ask them what sorts of dresses they would prefer?  The process isn't supposed to be just you dictating a style in a vacuum.  They have to pay for and wear the dress, they should have at least some say.

I'm usually an advocate of giving them some basic guidelines and letting them pick their own dresses.  Everyone ends up happier that way.

ambermorley

I have a variety of body shapes in my party as well. You can either ask them what styles they like best and maybe everyone will have the same vote! Probably not though. I am going with having them choose their own dress on a color theme. Many places, like Aria dresses, let you mix and match tops and bottom shapes as well, with everyone in the same color and fabric. I

ekilzer1

If you really want them all wearing the same thing- wrap v-veck dresses tend to be flattering on everyone. 

marinabreeze

You may be served better asking the BMs themselves for input on what they feel comfortable wearing and then from that feedback, giving them a choice in dresses, or alternately, like aerin mentioned, giving them some simple guidelines (color and length) and having them choose themselves. 

If you feel like you want them all in one style, I personally think that considering your diversity in shapes, an empire waist dress may be more universally flattering than a wrap dress (wrap dresses tend to be better for people with small waists...if you have a not-so-toned stomach or are top-heavy this may not be the best style IMO).  But you may get different answers for "universally" flattering dress styles depending on who you talk to and their experiences.  So it may be best to give your BMs input on the dresses and go from there.

ETA:  Strike what I said about the wrap dresses...sorry.  I was thinking about a somewhat different style.  As long as it's not a skintight wrap, it should be flattering to your BMs.

aerinpegadrak

I'm not sure why empire waist gets tossed around as a "universally flattering style".  (Not picking on you, marina, I genuinely don't get it.)  I always thought it makes everyone look pregnant.

Beachy730

I think your best bet here would be to let them pick their own dresses.  You have a very wide range of sizes and body types, and it would probably be very difficult to find one that is flattering on all of them and they all are like.  For BIL's wedding next year we were told to pick any long dress in Sangria from David's Bridal.  I think thats great she did that because she has 7 BMs, and the only other one I know has a completely different body type than me.  I picked a few dresses from DB that were the same length and matiral, in black, and let my girls each choose thiers. 

If you are dead set on having them in identical dresses, you're going to need them to go shopping with you and try some on, then get ideas of what everyone likes and is comfortable in.  Hopefully you can find one they all agree on. 

SSaltzman87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bridesmaid-dress-troubles?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:1eae06f5-aa61-4921-8ee5-e73f242817b6Post:fee4cecb-0d57-4c66-87b0-5c5c25995b89">Re: Bridesmaid dress troubles</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm not sure why empire waist gets tossed around as a "universally flattering style".  (Not picking on you, marina, I genuinely don't get it.)  I always thought it makes everyone look pregnant.
Posted by aerinpegadrak[/QUOTE]

I have to second empire waist dresses not being universally flattering. They always make me look about 6-7 months pregnant and many of my friends avoid them for that reason.

balasj

I lucked out that of my five BMs who are all different body types that they all liked one dress the most!  It is an a-line dress with some rusching (spelling?) across the tummy that gathers at one side.  They all agreed the rusching kept the tummy looking nice and flat and the hips looking good with the a-line floating away from the widest part of the body.  I think they are all lovely but of course someone always has a part of them they prefer to hide and this silhouette worked well.

janicejab

I have the same issue- several different body types, some may be pregnant, one hasn't worn a dress in 25 years, etc. I just decided to let them all pick a black dress that they will feel comfortable and beautiful in that's around knee length. I don't want to have to try to find a dress that is universally flattering or make people spend more money than they can afford. Plus they can wear it again if they want without looking like they're wearing a BM dress.

artbyallie

Ditto pps. Pick a length and color (and a shoe color) and let them buy whatever they like. My girls are in different shades of blue, knee-length, and are wearing whatever black shoes they like, since they're likely to already have a pair.