Choosing the right types of wedding dresses is critical for every bride, but it is important for the rectangle shaped women because your body is known for going straight up and down. The right styles can create the illusion of curves and the wrong ones do exactly the opposite. In this detailed guide, we’ll first help you understand your body characteristics and then walk you through the most flattering wedding gowns for your big day.
Traits
- Similar width of shoulders, waist, and hips – This is what makes your rectangle body shape distinctive. There are very close measurements in these particular areas of your body, which is also why you don’t have many curves to begin with.
- Angular figure – You look straight up and down because of the evenness in your measurements.
- You tend to have an athletic build – This is one of the most common characteristics most rectangle shapes have. You tend to look slimmer and when you work out, you have the ability to gain strong muscle mass.
- No distinct waist curve – Because of the similarity in width between your waist and hips, the supposed curved transition line that connects them is barely noticeable.
- Flat buttocks – Most rectangle shapes don’t have much volume and structure in their rear.
- The excess weight you gain is evenly distributed – You don’t carry your extra weight on a specific area but instead, have it evenly all throughout the body. This is also the reason why you tend to look more slender.
- Your chest measurement may differ – Being rectangle-shaped doesn’t always mean that your bust is small. In fact, rectangle-shaped women can have a bust size that ranges from small to full.
Flowy Chiffon Empire Wedding Dresses
Whether it’s a beach wedding, a garden ceremony, or a formal church event, you’ll find the charm and versatility of an Empire Wedding Dress to be suitable for your wedding motif. Not only is this style very adaptable, but it’s also a great design to flatter your rectangle body shape.
An empire waist dress features a waist seam that sits just below the bust, which helps create the illusion of a higher waist and gives the appearance of curves. These visual benefits are particularly helpful for your straight up-and-down figure with little waist definition
In addition to this, the flowy chiffon fabric that it’s made of drapes elegantly from the point where the elevated waistline is, adding a soft, feminine touch to your bridal look. The empire waistline effectively points the attention to the narrowest part of your body, which can help balance the proportions between the bust and hips and create a more curvaceous silhouette.
Charmeuse V-Neck Bridal Dresses
Charmeuse is a lightweight and lustrous satin-like material known for its smooth texture and subtle sheen – attributes that make it a very good choice for a wedding dress! Have this fabric tailored in a V-neck design and you’ll create a very flattering wedding dress for your rectangle body shape.
The V-neckline design elongates the neck and this effect creates an elegant and graceful look that’s also a particularly flattering choice for brides with an angular shoulder line. This subtly draws the eye downward and adds a vertical element to your silhouette, which also balances out your proportions in a way that leads the gaze to the center of the chest.
Meanwhile, the Charmeuse fabric has a luxurious and flowing quality that drapes beautifully and this can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your overall bridal look. It’s also quite lightweight so it allows for comfortable movement throughout the day without any movement restrictions.
Puff Sleeve Wedding Dresses
Rectangle shapes tend to lean towards the masculine side because of their straight, athletic figure that significantly lacks the presence of curves. This is where the touch of femininity and whimsy brought by puff sleeves can absolutely amp up the aura of your bridal dress.
Aside from the fact that puff sleeve wedding dresses give a stunningly romantic look, they can also be very beneficial in the way that puff sleeves draw attention to the shoulders and upper arms and make the waist appear narrower by comparison. This particular visual effect gives the illusion of a more defined waistline, which is something that commonly lacking among rectangle-shaped beauties.
Also, depending on the style of the puff sleeve, it can provide more structure to the upper body to give you a more sculpted and shapely appearance.
Queen Anne Tulle Bridal Gowns
This wedding dress style is a classic and elegant bridal gown design that features a high neckline that dips down into a sweetheart-shaped cut, often framed by a delicate lace or tulle overlay. The Queen Anne neckline draws attention to the upper body and acts as a frame for the face, creating a focal point to give your bridal makeup look and hairstyle more of the spotlight.
This neckline is typically accompanied by cap sleeves or straps that create a regal and sophisticated look. Additionally, one of the key features of this gown is the fitted bodice, which perfectly cinches at the waist to give you a better waist definition and create the illusion of curves for a more voluptuously feminine shape.
To add to the flattering visual effect it gives your upper body, most wedding dresses of this design also feature an A-line or ball gown skirt which balances out the proportions of your rectangle body shape by adding volume and drama to the lower half. This creates a harmonious silhouette that gently complements your body’s natural lines.
Sweetheart Neck Ball Gowns
The goal is to incorporate curves in your angular and straight rectangle silhouette so going for a wedding dress that features a curvy neckline and a voluminous skirt silhouette can really help visually balance your frame out. The sweetheart neckline naturally accentuates and flatters your bust area, which is especially important for rectangle-shaped brides who may have more subtle natural curves- especially on the bust line.
Moreover, the waist of a sweetheart ball gown is typically cinched or fitted so this helps define the waistline and gives the appearance of a narrower midsection. Because you have straighter lines and fewer natural curves in your figure, the gentle, curving lines of the sweetheart neckline can relevantly add a soft, romantic touch to complement and soften your bridal look.
On the other hand, the full ball gown skirt of this specific wedding dress style creates volume and drama in the lower half. This effect will balance out the proportions of your rectangle frame and give you a more hourglass-like silhouette.
Silk Mermaid Bridal Dresses
Mermaid dresses definitely possess their own special charm and for rectangle-shaped brides, this wedding dress silhouette can work wonders in reshaping your figure to look curvier and more voluptuous. In essence, the snug fit of the silk mermaid dress effectively defines your waistline because of how its fitted bodice cinches at the waist.
The Mermaid silhouette creates a visual contrast between your bust, waist, and hips, providing the appearance of an hourglass shape while also breaking the monotony in your angular/straight figure. Meanwhile, the flared skirt that starts at or below the knee further enhances this body contouring effect by adding volume and drama, drawing attention to the curves that are naturally present or subtly created through this strategic dress design.
In terms of fabric choice, silk can be a really good option for your Mermaid wedding dress because it drapes beautifully and has a luxurious sheen that adds an element of elegance to your wedding look. It complements the sleek and curvy lines of the mermaid silhouette, which results in a seamless and visually appealing overall bridal look.
Velvet Trumpet Wedding Dresses
A trumpet dress pretty much shares the same visual effect as Mermaid dresses because of how they have a fitted bodice that flares out to the bottom. The only difference is their flare point, wherein mermaid dresses flare at or right below the knee, and trumpet dresses flare at mid-thigh level.
The trumpet silhouette has a distinctive shape wherein its flared skirt starts from the mid-thigh to considerably inject volume and movement to the lower half of your body. This effectively creates a visually striking contrast between the snug upper bodice and the flowing trumpet skirt so this particular design element can help promote a curvier figure by providing the appearance of a more defined waist and curvier hips.
The choice of velvet fabric is another key advantage for rectangle-shaped brides opting for a trumpet dress and I suggest that you go for a luxurious fabric option such as velvet. Velvet is overflowing with opulence and sophistication, which can give your bridal look a timeless and regal quality while its plush texture adds depth and dimension to your gown to work around the angularity of your frame.
One-Shoulder Wedding Dresses
Asymmetrical details can be one of your rectangle body shape’s best friends because of how they visually distract the vision into solely seeing straight and angular lines. The one-shoulder neckline design introduces an asymmetrical element to your wedding dress as it draws the eye diagonally across your body.
This effectively produces additional visual interest while also breaking up the harsh straight lines in your rectangle-shaped figure. The diagonal line of the neckline will also nicely soften your overall wedding look by adding a touch of elegance and femininity.
Structured X-Line Wedding Dresses
If you’re looking for a more shapely wedding dress that can hold the contours of your shape, structured X-Line wedding dresses are definitely worth the try. The structured X-line dress cinches at the natural waist and this effectively creates a distinct separation between your upper and lower body.
Moreover, the gradual flare of the skirt from the waist down adds volume and movement to your frame for added depth. This design element is particularly advantageous for rectangle-shaped brides, as it enhances their natural silhouette by adding feminine contours minus the heavy details.
Avoid Bodycon Wedding Dresses
Rectangle body shapes may want to avoid wearing a bodycon dress on their wedding day because this particular silhouette may not effectively enhance your natural assets and create your desired visual impact. Bodycon dresses are designed to closely follow the natural contours of the body so for you who lack curves, wearing a bodycon wedding dress will not give the necessary emphasis on your curves.
Wearing a bodycon will only result in a straighter, less defined silhouette. Moreover, they also often have a streamlined and minimalist design, leaving less room for customization so if you’re seeking to add unique embellishments, intricate detailing, or personalized elements to your chosen wedding dress, a bodycon style may not be the most accommodating choice.
Avoid Shift Style Wedding Dresses
Shift dresses are undeniably simple and classy – all without exerting too much effort in styling and detailing! However, rectangle-shaped brides that struggle with too much evenness in measurements and absence of curves will only struggle even more with the shift style wedding dress’ lack of shape.
The straight, boxy cut of a classic shift wedding dress does not naturally highlight or enhance the curves of your body. As a result, this can only lead to a less shapely appearance, which may not be the desired effect for brides looking to emphasize their figure on their wedding day.
