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Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses!

posted 1 year ago in Dress
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    1.
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    Yay, dress shopping tomorrow.  Shh - don't tell anyone I know how excited I am.  It would totally mess with their image of me as only caring about watching football and lifting weights! :P

    Partly because I am excited and want to look at dress pictures, but also because I have one of those body types that does not fit into the nice, easy categories for getting suggestions, I'd love to see pictures of buff/muscular/broad shouldered brides in their dresses. If you don't have a picture handy, what necklines looked good and why?  I've got pretty massive shoulders and arms and am not really looking to hide or disguise them (they're actually something I'm pretty proud of), but I don't want to look like a linebacker stuffed into lace!

     
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    Honey bee
    Prewitt    June 19, 2011   England

    I don't know but you may find a sweetheart neckline may look better as a usual strapless may accentuate your shoulders. On my frist shopping trip all the strapless gowns didn't suit me but I later found out I think this was because i'm quite broad shouldered, whereas the sweetheart breaks it up a bit. Just enjoy and try on every style you can ;)

     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    @Prewitt: Thanks for the suggestion!  It hadn't occured to me that a sweetheart would look significantly different than a flat strapless - but that's a great idea.

    I want to be able to keep it fairly low cut, since I have a long torso so I feel like lower necklines break that up better.

     
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    Honey bee
    Prewitt    June 19, 2011   England

    @Entangled:

    When I thought strapless didn't suit me I found an A-line dress with straps that looked nice and it had a v-neck which was flattering on one hand but not on the other - it made my boobs look smaller than normal! Plus the straps were slightly off the shoulder so from the back it emphasised 'any' bingo wings so I went off it. It's so hard as there's so many different things involved that effect how you look in a dress. I was pleased though as I got my dream strapless dress, which has a sweetheart neck.

     
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    Busy bee
    HardyPooleParty    August 27, 2011   NYC, Wedding in Waitsfield, VT

    This site is kind of funny, BUT it actually seems to address most necklines (sorry not anything strapless) but it might be worth a look:

    http://www.shiningknightjewelry.com/page2/howtowearjewelry/necklines/necklines.htm 

    Oh this looks pretty helpful too:

    http://wedding.theknot.com/bridal-fashion/wedding-dress-shopping/articles/wedding-gown-neckline-glossary.aspx?MsdVisit=1 

    No matter what though, its going to be trial and error and see what makes you get that 'IT' feeling.

    If I may throw my own personally opinion in, As you have a BUFF girl build, you may want a fully more couture geared dress.  It would seem your body could pull it off, instead of being swallowed whole by fabric.  Might work well, try a few on!

     
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    Busy bee
    irin997    June 18, 2011   Maryland

    I have broad shoulders and I didn't find a problem with strapless.  However I did find that because my body is more athletic and basically doesn't have much in the curve department, a ball gown at the natural waist (belly button) suited me much more.  Here are some pics (one of which is my dress!!).  Sorry they are so big. 

    This dress was my #1 favorite....until I tried on the dress below it...MY dress!!

    Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding IMG 3970Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding IMG 4208Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding 003Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding IMG 3968

     
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    Blushing bee
    sleepyrebel    March 25, 2011   Mesa, AZ

    I'm definitely not at my buffest at the moment, but I certainly have a similar build (my measurements for my shoulders versus my waist make me shudder). I'm incredibly broad in the shoulders and have a very long torso.

    I would definitely recommend a sweetheart neckline and perhaps even a drop-waist or A-line dress to accentuate your long torso. 

    Here's my dress

    Attachments

    1. Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding Img photo_(3).JPG (229.9 KB, 110 downloads) 1 year old
     
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    Sugar bee
    ellabee    July 3, 2011   Virginia

    Strapless worked for me, although I ended up liking some with straps, too.

    The one major thing about having a strong back and wearing a strapless is that you NEED the back to dip down. If it goes straight across it makes my shoulders look weirdly manly--not strong in an elegant way. When the back dips down it looks lovely.

     

    I don't know what you like already, and I'm sure you're buffer than I am, but I always feel like I have bigger than normal arms because of lifting.

     

    Can you post a photo of your silhouette so we have an idea?

     

    Sorry my photo program isn't working this morning and my pictures aren't loading to show you examples. :(

    Attachments

    1. Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding Img dressmashup-shoulders.jpg (73.6 KB, 83 downloads) 1 year old
     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    @HardyPooleParty: Those are very helpful.  Especially since I'm somewhat fashion-averse and there were a couple I didn't even know the names of.  Thanks.  :) 

    @irin997: Thank you!  Your dress is gorgeous.  I'm pretty sure big ballgowns are not for me, and too formal for our wedding, but they are really flattering.  All of those totally make it look like you have great curves. :)   I absolutely adore the third dress down with the blue sash - what dress is that?

     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    @sleepyrebel:  Ooo yay, I am liking this sweetheart neckline thing.  That one looks great on you.

     

    @ellabee: Thanks for the advice.  Though now I am feeling a lot of pressure to be suitibly buff. ;) I'm having trouble getting pictures uploaded... may have to ask for help and come back with one.
     

     
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    Busy bee
    HardyPooleParty    August 27, 2011   NYC, Wedding in Waitsfield, VT

    @Entangled: No pic, can you resend?

     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    @HardyPooleParty: I'm going to try updating my browser... I am thinking that might be why I can't upload.

     
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    Bumble
    Beekeeper
    mwitter80    December 11, 2010   Connecticut

    You may want to try a halter style.  It pulls in how wide the shoulders look, but would still allow you to show off your arms.

     
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    Bumble bee
    Donnica22    August 27, 2011   Marietta, GA

    These areall lovely dresses!!

     
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    Bee Keeper
    Lindsay12.31.2010    December 31, 2010   Missouri

    Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding Dress

     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    Okay, well I figured out that I can only upload images already on the internet.  So here's one off facebook where I am sporting the full NFL cornerback in pads look. ;)

    Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding 40372 728136765922 127313 40760015 7077367 N

     

    @Lindsay12.31.2010: I love the little strap-like details on that!

     
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    Busy bee
    irin997    June 18, 2011   Maryland

    @Entangled the 3rd dress I posted is an Alfred Angelo 2034.

    I suggest trying on everything....beacuse BEFORE I went shopping I was 100% sure that I would end up in a dress like #3 or #4 that I posted.  I tried them on and they did nothing for me.  Then I tried a slim ballgown and was hooked!  You may find that mermaid looks fabulous on you or maybe an A-line is more your style.  Be completely open.  The dress I ended up with is everything I thought i would never have on a dress.  Lace, beading, ivory, tulle...I didn't go looking for that! 

    Now someone PM'd me and asked for the designer and style of dress #4 and I found a GORGEOUS dress on their site.  Oh dress jealousy......not too much cause i do love my dress, but man, this is beautiful!  Right up my alley!Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding 8802F

     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    @irin997: The belt on that is fantastic, but I love the fabric on yours.

    Lol, well a big part of my issue with ballgowns is I need something where I don't need any bathroom assistance.  I am such a total klutz that that could be all sorts of disasters.  I have gone shopping twice before, once early last spring before I had a venue and was anywhere near ready to commit, and again over the summer when it was 100 degrees and the trip was so unproductive and unpleasantly hot that I was scared off dress shopping for *another* three months.  So maybe I will be more willing to try fuller skirts now.

    and the ballgowns do work well with the sashes to create curves...

     
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    Newbee
    txlawyerbee    July 16, 2011  

    I have broad shoulders for my frame, and found that a sweetheart neckline with a V-shaped back looked great. 

     

    Attachments

    1. Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding Img dress_back_with_veil.jpg (104 KB, 74 downloads) 1 year old
    2. Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding Img dresscropped.JPG (38.5 KB, 59 downloads) 1 year old
     
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    Bumble bee
    MissBoston    June 2011  

    I have broad shoulders for my frame too (although you can't tell from this pic - since I agree with others, strapless sweetheart looked the best!)

    Attachments

    1. Dress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding Img Aaah!.JPG (313.8 KB, 70 downloads) 1 year old
     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    @txlawyerbee:  The sweetheart neckline with the long bodice looks awesome on you!

     

    @MissBoston: Yeah I am quickly coming into agreement with you.  My previous experience with looking a little weird in strapless was not sweetheart and had a higher back.  The sweetheart necklines look great on everyone.  Your dress is fantastic, by the way!  I love the lace and wide sash at the waist.

     
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    Bumble bee
    MissBoston    June 2011  

    @Entangled: Thanks!! I still wonder if i made the right choice (I went with the less expensive option) so that makes me very happy to hear that :)

     
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    Sugar bee
    Entangled    September 17, 2011   Carmel, CA

    @MissBoston: I really love that style and it looks great on you.  And less expensive?  Bonus. :)

     
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    Newbee
    txlawyerbee    July 16, 2011  

    @Entangled:  Thanks!  The sample had some weird stuff going on around the hips, but I was assured that it would be smooth when mine comes in. :) 

    Have fun dress shopping!  It is SO much fun.

     
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    Bumble bee
    heatherrobyn    April 2, 2011  

    @ellabee: WHAT IS THAT DRESS ON THE TOP RIGHT? THe one with the layer(y) looking things! IT IS TO DIE FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     
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    Helper bee
    bug-in-a-rug    August 7, 2010   Calgary, wedding in Vancouver

    I don't know if you already found a dress, since I'm a little late to this thread.

    I have very square shoulders, and I thought that I wanted a sweetheart neckline to not accentuate the squareness.

    Well, the dress I ended up buying had a straight-across neckline, and it didn't accentuate my square shoulders because it had some diagonal detailing on the bodice.  Both my mom and I were surprised, but I guess the diagonal lines created enough non-horizontDress Shopping Tomorrow - buff brides, please show me your dresses! :  wedding Monclovaal angles to cancel out the broadening-effect of the straight neckline. (Sorry I don't have a picture.) 

    EDIT: I just noticed your other thread about the dresses you found!  You found some great dresses!  Never mind this post....

     

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