Full Skirt or Ballerina dress

Perfect fit
If you have a slim-hipped figure and a full bust, the Full Skirt shape will balance top and bottom perfectly, giving you that "fairytale bride" look.  This style or Princess are generally thought of as the most romantic shapes.

What to avoid
Avoid the Full Skirt if you are not full busted, as it will make your bust look smaller.  If you are petite, avoid this option because you will disappear into the dress!  If you have wide hips, avoid the Full Skirt because it will over emphasize them.

Empire Line dress

Perfect fit
This is another fairytale look.  Starting the waistline beneath the bust works well for smaller busts, and the long line makes petite brides look taller.  For the ultimate romantic style, this one won't let you down.  The Empire line with an A-line skirt will also do a marvellous job at concealing wider hips.  An Empire Line with a column skirt adds height and balances a smaller bust.

What to avoid
The long line makes tall brides look taller.  If you have a marvellous figure and want to show it off, a figure-hugging dress might be preferable, but it is difficult to find too much wrong with the Princess style, which is probably why it is so popular.

A-Line or Princess Line dress

Perfect fit
This is a fitted bodice shape with an A-line skirt.  It hugs the waist, so it flatters slim waistlines while making the most of the bust.  If you have wider hips, the A-Line will cover them up effectively

What to avoid
If you have a fuller figure, you may choose not to have a dress which hugs the form quite so closely.  The tighter bodice will tend to draw attention to a smaller bust.

Bias Cut dress

Perfect fit
If you are slim and want to look very chic, the bias cut is for you.  This is the dress for the bride with the perfect figure.  The bias cut flatters tall girls, but is also complimentary for a petite figure.  The cloth of the bias cut is diagonal, giving a different fit to the Column, described below.

What to avoid
A bias-cut dress hugs the hips, so if you are fuller in the hip, avoid this style.  It will show off a perfect curvy figure, but if there are curves where you don't want them, they'll show too!

Two-Piece dress

Perfect fit
A Two-Piece dress, as in this picture, should normally be indistinguishable from a complete dress, i.e. the corset and skirt shouldn't part company at the waist.  A better fit can be achieved with separates, especially if you are not stock size.  If you would like to show a bare midriff, this will look better if it is well-toned.

Separates help break up lines if you use two different colours or patterns, which is ideal for tall brides who want to look shorter.  A corset works well at tapering the bodice in to the waist, and is effective if you want to emphasize your bust.

What to avoid
Separates tend to emphasize the hips because of the corseting, while a gap draws attention to the waistline, so if these are not your best features, separates may not be for you.

Asymmetric dress

Perfect fit
The asymmetric design is an unusual look which on the right figure can be particularly striking.  Beautiful shoulders and arms will look their best in this style, while the flaring skirt is good for hiding fuller hips.

What to avoid
Beautiful asymmetric strap designs will distract from square shoulders, but there is a danger that bringing the eye to the unusual diagonal look will emphasize the shoulders too.

Column dress

Perfect fit
Like the bias cut but with a straight weft and vertical seams, the Column dress hugs the figure and looks great on tall, willowy women. This is the one to give you that catwalk look!  The unbroken line will also work well for a more petite figure.

What to avoid
The Column shape sits quite close to the body, so if you have fuller hips, this will tend to emphasize them.

Long or Three-Quarter Sleeves

Perfect fit
Use long sleeves to draw attention to your upper body, for example if you have fuller hips.  Long sleeves will also conceal larger arms, and cover square shoulders.  A pretty design will distract the eye from any imperfections.  Long sleeves will also save you from getting goose bumps if you have a winter wedding.

What to avoid
If you have well-toned arms, flaunt them!  It would be a shame to cover them up with long sleeves, however pretty the material might be.  Don't use long sleeves if you have a petite figure, because they will make your arms look longer and out of scale with the rest of you.

Short  sleeves

Perfect fit
Use short sleeves to show off well-toned arms.  They will help balance small shoulders, too.  Short sleeves help break up the line, so if you are tall, short sleeves together with a suitable dress shape will make you look shorter.

What to avoid
Keep larger arms covered up by choosing long sleeves, preferably with a looser fit.  If you have broad shoulders, this style will emphasize them.

Spaghetti Straps

Perfect fit
Show off well-toned arms and beautiful shoulders and neck by choosing spaghetti straps.  These have a young and modern look and are very attractive on the right girl.

What to avoid
Use a strapless bra with spaghetti straps so that there are no distractions.  Keep angular shoulders or large arms covered up.  Spaghetti straps also emphasize the neck, so be sure it looks good if you choose them.  You can also use a necklace effectively to compliment the straps.

Strapless Neckline

Perfect fit
This is a particularly elegant look if you have a long neck, good shoulders and well-toned arms.  A strapless dress is a fine opportunity for beautiful jewellery.  Strapless looks good with a medium bust.

What to avoid
Don't leave everything uncovered unless it looks great - there are plenty of other styles to hide shorter necks, square shoulders or full arms.  If you have a very full bust, strapless is unlikely to be able to give you the support you will need throughout the day.

Halter Neckline

Perfect fit
Halterneck tops expose beautiful shoulders and well-toned arms, while the continuity of line makes you look taller if you are petite.  The halterneck top echoes the lower half of the dress, so if you have slim hips the halterneck will be an excellent counterpoint.  There are many different variations on the halterneck style; collar with straps, single strap wrapping round the back of the neck, covered or exposed V to the bust.  A halterneck style can also hide that little underarm "pouch" that we are sometimes prone to!

What to avoid
A halterneck top may over-emphasize your upper body if you have a larger bust, though it will provide good support.  It will also emphasize your hips in counterpoint - so if you have larger hips, avoid this style.

Boat or Bateau Neckline

Perfect fit
The wide-necked shape of the Boat or Bateau style follows the line of the collarbone, so if you have well-defined collarbones and a beautiful neck, the Boat design will show them off to best effect.  Boat is also good for narrow shoulders. This style was made popular by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

What to avoid
If your neck is not your best feature, the Boat may not show you in best light.  If your shoulders are broad, keep away from Boat as it will draw attention to them.  If your bust is large, the Boat neckline will make it look bigger.

V Neckline

Perfect fit
The V-Line style plunges to the bust and is particularly complimentary if you have a larger bust and would like a little cleavage.  The angle of the V-Line varies and may be on or off the shoulder, so expose beautiful shoulders but cover them up if they are angular.

What to avoid
Avoid the V-line if you are small busted, as it will tend to draw attention to this.

Sweetheart Neckline

Perfect fit
This is a pretty and romantic neckline, forming a natural heart shape and giving you a sweet and innocent look.  It also works with larger busts as a sexier style, showing a hint of cleavage.

What to avoid
The Sweetheart style exposes a central panel of neck, so if this is not your best feature, you may want to look at alternatives such as a halterneck.  Alternatively, a Sweetheart can lend you the romantic look you seek, with a pretty item of jewellery as an accessory to improve the look of your neck.