Weddingguide


	FULLER FIGURES
	by M Couture

	“For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is
	an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to
	receive it.” Ivan Panin 1855-1942

	So we may consider ourselves to be ‘non standard’ or not quite the size or
	shape that the world considers beautiful. How wrong could we be! Panin was
	right, all people have beauty. Through the years the standard of beauty has
	varied considerably and from culture to culture the differences are marked.

	In the 1800’s a full curvy figure was considered to be drop dead gorgeous and
	no painter would be without their shapely model draped on a chaise. Ask
	yourself, is the painting worth less today because the model isn’t a standard
	size US 6? Of course not!! Beauty is far more than body size, its all about
	shape. And so it must follow that if we had to rate beauty with a ten, then the
	remaining nine involves the way we dress. And the need becomes greater if
	we have been blessed with a full and curvy figure.

	It’s more about balance and style than it is about fashion. There is nothing
	wrong with fashion of course, but let’s face it, it isn’t always flattering, is it?
	Take the fashion of the 1920’s: hemlines moved north, leaving women’s
	ankles, and calves exposed. As the fashion gathered momentum, wedding
	dresses also followed suit, leading to over-‘exposed’ brides.

	Many found the fashion unsuitable for a religious occasion, not to say
	unsuitable for many brides. As a result of the 20’s, today we have mainstream
	fashion for normal day-to-day wear and an entirely different fashion for
	wedding dresses. Following fashion even in wedding-dress styles can be a risky
	pursuit though. The popular fashion of strapless gowns has proven to be the
	‘downfall’ of many brides in recent years. For a fuller figure the strapless
	choice is fraught with dangers.

	So how do we go about choosing a style of dress that will enhance our figure
	and emphasise the curvy shape that Mother Nature blessed us with? We would
	suggest looking at two areas: dress colour and body shape.





	As far as dress colour is concerned, an existing convention tells us that white is
	a bridal colour representing the purity and innocence of the bride. This hasn’t
	always been the case. In the 1890’s blue was a colour favoured by brides,
	drawing an association with the Virgin Mary and leaning towards a belief that
	it would promote fidelity and eternal love. This is why today, even if your dress
	isn’t blue you most likely will have ‘something blue’ attached to your wedding
	gown or person.

	It’s worth considering that white isn’t always a good colour for either our skin
	tone or shape. If we have a fuller figure, consider wearing a soft white instead.
	(After all, there are more than 70 shades of white). The effect is to soften the
	gown’s edges, allowing your dress to complement you rather than you trying to
	compliment your dress. White satin is harsh and in many cases, it can be
	overpowering.

	For many brides considering a soft lace overlay is also a wonderful style
	choice. The effect is very feminine and in many cases softens or downplays
	negative body areas such as tummies, but without compromising on style or
	beauty.

	At M Couture we believe there is no need for brides with a fuller figure to have
	less choice than any other girl. With one or two adjustments, the dress of your
	dreams can be attained.

	Your second, and maybe most important consideration, is your body shape.
	Consider whether you have broader shoulders and narrower hips. Are you
	fuller on your hips and narrow towards your shoulders? Seeking expert advice
	will help you decide which style dress will balance your figure and where to
	place detail on the dress to accentuate the positive. By example, a halter style
	or shoe-string straps have a wonderful effect on women with broader shoulders.
	Yet don’t forget, none of us have the wrong body shape! We all have a shape
	that we should celebrate.