Post # 1
Member
215 posts
Helper bee
Hi, I’ve just signed up to ask for some honest advice and opinions about my dress.
Getting married in 3 weeks (!) and the whole dress thing has been a bit of a stress from start to finish, with me making rushed choices, trying to stick to a small budget, then changing my mind twice (taking my mother in law to see the original dress was a bad idea as it made me doubt my choice) and finally getting the dress I am posting about – an all-lace number which i love in itself but fear does not flatter my figure as much as it should. (Long story, the sales assistants assured me they could change the shape to make it more A-line, so more flattering, but once I’d paid for it, they told me that was not possible 
)
Too late to change it now, but I want to know how I can make my tummy and hips look less “matronly”. I am having some very subtle sparkle added to the bodice (transparent sequins to catch the light), and will be wearing long-ish earrings to draw the eye upwards. But I’m wondering whether adding a narrow crystal belt or sash (possibly in grosgrain either in the same shade of ivory, or a pale pink) would help to make me look less wide. Generally I’m not a belt-wearer as they draw attention to my large stomach, but I will be wearing some heavy-duty spanx and the dress itself has boning to hold you in so it’s not so much my tummy as my lack of waist definition that bothers me.
The photos are from a while ago so it’s not the final fit, and the neckline will be in a slight sweetheart on the under layer but the lace overlayer will go straight across, like the original design. My veil will be long and very plain silky tulle. I’ve lost a little bit of weight since then too but nothing is going to make my tummy flat or shrink those hips…
So ladies, please tell me what you think and if there’s any way a sash could make me look a little more slender!
Thanks in advance!
Post # 2
Member
2156 posts
Buzzing bee
peonypanic: First off, you don’t have a “matronly shape”. You have a gorgeous, hourglass figure that a lot of women would kill to have!
As far as a sash or belt… I think the dress looks great without it. However, if you do decide to add a sash, I think you should do something a little thicker, like maybe 3 inches or so. With maybe just a little bling in the front. I think a skinny belt or sash would look odd.
Post # 3
Member
1197 posts
Bumble bee
I like it the way it is! Are you wearing a slip underneath? I have a thick waist and large hips, and the poufiness of a slip really helps balance that out (IMO).
Post # 4
Member
218 posts
Helper bee
I think you are having the same “woman” issue a lot of us have thinking our bodies look lik hell! You look great (honestly). You have waist definition and you are not poofy. The sweetheart is a good move–I don’t like it straight across but the change in the neckline really changes everything. I would leave it how it is. You look beautiful.
Post # 5
Hostess
2633 posts
Sugar bee
First off I think you look beautiful in that dress, I think you look very hour glass in the pictures, don’t be so hard on yourself. I love the dress alone…but now I think of it..I nice crystal belt would be ok….but you have to try it on…too much sparkle can actually make you look wider…since it catches the light and shines back….but the right one will definetly work…..
Post # 6
Member
215 posts
Helper bee
Ah, these comments are so reassuring, thank you so much! 
I live in a foreign country with none of my friends or my mum around, so it’s been really tough this whole dress thing. My future Mother-In-Law just stared at me without a smile or a positive comment when I took her with me, and later said I should get a cascading bouquet to hide the bulky parts. This made me feel pretty insecure of course.
@BaileyJosephine – by slip do you mean a stiff tulle underskirt? I wasn’t planning on wearing one as it made the skirt look a bit “bell” shaped and I prefer the softer look, but I haven’t ruled it out yet, precisely for the reasons you mentioned.
Post # 8
Member
151 posts
Blushing bee
Haha eeeveryone is in agreement. Classic hourglass. You look beautiful. The dress is perfect. Wouldn’t change it.
Post # 9
Member
23589 posts
Honey Beekeeper
You look gorgeous in this dress! Definitely hourglass. I think a sash would look beautiful with your dress!
Post # 10
Member
6294 posts
Bee Keeper
- Wedding: November 2009 - New York, NY
You look gorgeous in that dress as it is; don’t add a thing!
Post # 11
Member
6013 posts
Bee Keeper
- Wedding: October 2019 - City, State
peonypanic: The bulky parts? your Future Mother-In-Law needs to shush. There is nothing bulky about you. You look awesome in your dress. It’s very flaterring on you. I would add a thin belt\sash to break it up though. I would go with something thin and eye catching\blingy 😉
Post # 12
Member
3211 posts
Sugar bee
I think the “bulky parts” on you look kind of adorable. Your dress looks really nice on you.
Post # 13
Member
2843 posts
Sugar bee
I like the dress the way it is. It is beautiful and you look pretty in it!
Post # 14
Member
215 posts
Helper bee
Thanks for all the positive comments! Never thought of myself as anything like hourglass before…feel much more reassured now and can’t wait to go for the final fitting. I think I’ll be leaving it as it is without a belt as it might make me seem even more short-waisted (Yes, I know… we are our own worst enemies sometimes… 🙂
Post # 15
Member
1197 posts
Bumble bee
peonypanic: yup, like a fit and flare slip (here’s a link to one by David’s Bridal:
http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Fit-and-Flare-Slip-550). My wedding gown is mermaid style, and having a slip made it look a million times better for me! Totally my opinion though. You look gorgeous in that dress the way it is!