Moms and Maids

How do you find a dress that fits everyone?

I thought my guidelines for bridesmaid dresses were simple: straps (please!), elegant fabric, tea-length or longer (due to my ballgown). This has been a very difficult task. My bridesmaids have very different body shapes. One is over 6 ft. tall, the other is barely over 5 ft. One is very "blessed" and another has an athlete's shoulders. Finding a dress for all of them has been frustrating. Any suggestions?

P.S.- NO TAFFETA! K? Thanks!

Re: How do you find a dress that fits everyone?

  • edited December 2011
    Just let them all pick a dress that meets those requirements in the color you want. Or you could just let them wear a basic black dress that fits them and dress it up or add a splash of color with a sash or ribbon around the waste.

    We used DB for our BM's dresses and I had 6 girls that varied quite a bit as well. I told them the fabric, length and color. They chose the style. Each dress (we used 2 different colors) came in 3 or 4 different styles, so each girl was able to choose the one she like and fit her best. Then I just asked them all to wear silver shoes. Easy peasy.
  • edited December 2011
    Agreed with the PP, you can chose to have them not be in the exact same dress.  This isn't for everyone, so if you do want them to wear the same dress then I actually think knee or tea length A-line dresses are probably the most universally flattering.  Keep in mind an option with straps if you have any ladies with biggest chests, though.  That was the only thing that kept me from that.  

    I actually chose the dress below because I had bridesmaids of all shapes and sizes.  We have a seamstress friend so pricewise it's only going to be $80 a dress, which is obviously incredibly reasonable.  It will be the pink number only it will be in black chiffon: 

  • LisaLPharmDLisaLPharmD member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My wedding party is all over too.  Among them, I have one 6'1" girl whose chest is a 36F, one girl who is 5 foot and weighs about 11 pounds, and one who just gave birth.

    Anyway, we went to David's Bridal, and I told them floor length, the color, and material, and they could get whatever they wanted.  They had extra lengths for the tall one, and bigger sizes for those who needed them. Between the 7 girls, there are like 5 different dresses, but I'd rather have them look good and feel comfortable!
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  • edited December 2011
    Like PPs I gave my girls (5'1" to 6'1") a length and color and let them choose the dress they wanted.  They all went through DB so the color is exactly the same. 
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  • SSaltzman87SSaltzman87 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Just go with a specific color and length. There's no such thing as a dress that'll flatter EVERY single body type. Everyone will be happy that way.
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  • aerinpegadrakaerinpegadrak member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I just told my girls to wear any black dress, because they all have very different body types and I didn't want to hassle with trying to find one dress that looked good on everyone.

    If you do want them all in the same dress, I would take them all shopping individually (starting with the hardest ones to shop for, since they'll usually have fewer options than someone who looks good in everything), try to figure out 3-4 options that each girl likes, and see if there's any common ground.

    But that seems like far too much effort to me, letting them choose their own dresses is 800 billion times easier.  I think the matched bridesmaid look is dying out anyway.
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  • Ashes_3Ashes_3 member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Answer First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I just took all the girls together...they tried on dresses and the one that fit them best was the one we got!!
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