How to Design Your Own Bridal Gown & Cocktail Dress for Plus Size
The modern bride often selects more than one dress for her wedding day. A beautiful gown for the ceremony and a sleek cocktail dress serve as her complete wedding attire. For the plus-size bride with a distinct style, designing the perfect wedding and reception wardrobe is a top priority. Using magazines and your curvy shape as inspiration, you can design a memorable and special bridal gown or cocktail dress. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Fashion magazines
- Sketchpad
- Colored pencils and markers
- Fabric swatches
Instructions
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Find your inspiration. Tear out pages from bridal and fashion magazines. Try on dresses at bridal salons to determine the best colors for your skin tone and the best shapes for your body. Use this information to help form your design sketches.
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Include your color palette in the design. If you are a traditional bride, your wedding gown may be eggshell, beige, ivory, white or winter white. To add color to the wedding reception, choose a cocktail dress that complements your wedding colors and bridesmaid dresses.
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Choose a neckline, sleeve style and bodice. The plus-size woman looks best in empire-bodices or sweetheart, strapless, V-neck and off-the-shoulder necklines. Using colored pencils or markers, draw various sleeve styles for your dresses, such as raglan, cap or 3/4-length. Include vertical draping and seaming in the bodice to help elongate your body.
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Draw a figure-flattering skirt. For formal weddings, sketch a trumpet or A-line skirt for your bridal gown. Draw a sheath, goddess or A-line skirt for your cocktail attire.
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Celebrate your shape with the right fabric. For the most flattering dresses, choose a fabric that skims the body and moves gracefully with you. Choose bridal gowns and cocktail dresses made with rayon, crepe, viscose, chiffon and silk. Pick three or four fabric swatches to help shape your final design.
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Hire a designer to sew your creations. Bring your sketches, inspiration photos and fabric swatches to your seamstress. Talk about the important details of your wedding, such as your vision for the ceremony, style preferences and wedding colors.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose semifitted long or short dresses that feature your waistline and drape over your curves.
Avoid stiff fabrics with shine and sparkle around your curvy areas. Fabrics or materials that include embellishments can make you appear larger.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wedding gown. image by Olena Talberg from Fotolia.com
