Your wedding is a pivotal day in your life – but there are so many important events that lead up to it. One of those big days is your bridal shower. As the center of attention, you’ll surely want to make sure you feel confident and comfortable. That’s why choosing your bridal shower dress is so important!
Today, we’re sharing exactly how to choose the perfect bridal shower dress for the bride – that’s you! Let’s dig in.
Know your budget
There’s nothing worse than getting your hopes set on a dress that is beyond your budget – especially since budgeting is so important in planning a wedding. Before you begin looking, set a budget and only allow yourself to look at dresses that are within that range. This way, you’ll avoid any FOMO.
Know your shape
You’ve probably heard of the various body shapes women are assigned – pear, apple, hourglass, etc. While we don’t think you should live your life based on it, there is some reason to it all. Knowing your shape will help you understand what features you should emphasize.
To find your shape, you’ll take four measurements: shoulders, hips, waist, and bust. Pear-shaped ladies have hips that are the widest part of their body. Hourglass women have balanced bust and hip measurements, with a defined waist. Apple-shaped ladies have a more generous bust and hips, with a less defined waist. Inverted triangles have wider shoulders than any other body part. Rectangle body shapes are more uniformly built.
For example, if you’re pear-shaped, pick a dress that draws attention to your dainty waist and accentuates your booty. If you’re an inverted triangle shape, you’ll want to draw the eye away from the shoulders to balance out the look. For more style advice based on body shape, check out Nordstrom’s blog here.
Choose your cut
Once you know your body shape, you’ll choose a dress cut. There are no official rules, so if you love a certain cut that isn’t traditionally the best for your body shape – don’t let that hold you back! If you’re not sure what you want, do some research ahead of time to decide what cut style you’re looking for. Here are a few examples:
- Wrap dress – These dresses are often flattering on most and give a feminine look, as they tie at the waist and accentuate the bust and hips.
- A-line – A-line dresses tend to fit along the bust, then flare out at the hip – giving the wearer the shape of an A from the waist down.
- Empire – Empire dresses are fitting along the bust, then flow out immediately from beneath there.
- Drop Waist – These dresses move the seam of the waist a bit lower than the natural waistline. Drop waist dresses look amazing on rectangle-shaped women.
- Bodycon – Bodycon or bandage-style dresses are tight all over. Just because they’re tight doesn’t mean they can’t be classy! They come in all colors, materials, and levels of coverage.
- Shift – Shift dresses are usually flowy and don’t hug the body at all. Occasionally, they will have tighter arms, but the trunk of the body is untouched.
- Maxi – Maxi dresses are floor length garments. They sometimes incorporate other dress cuts, like the A-line or empire shapes.
Consider your vibe
When you choose your bridal shower dress, you will likely already know the theme and color scheme of your shower. While you should consider this as you pick your dress, don’t let it be the determining factor. You should also take into account your own personal style – do you prefer to dress more modern, traditional, retro, boho, or clean cut? Choosing a style that you feel comfortable in will be key in making sure you feel confident on the day of the shower.
How to choose the color
There are three things to consider when choosing the color of your dress – that is your hair color, skin tone, and eye color. Skin tone is the biggest factor to consider here.
Cool-skinned folks have undertones of pink, red, or blue. These people usually have blue eyes and pale skin and sunburn easily. Cool skin tones look best in cooler tones, so as not to pick up on their pink undertones. Think emerald green, light blue, cobalt, and cool purple.
Warm skin-toned people tend to tan easily and have darker hair and eyes. They have peachy or golden undertones in the skin. For these folks, choose warmer colors like rusty orange, camel, red, and cream.
Neutral skin-toned people are somewhere in the middle. If the description of cool and warm-toned people both resonate with you, you’re probably neutral-skinned! As the name implies, your neutral tone means most colors look good on you.
Think about the time and venue
A daytime and a nighttime shower will also affect how you dress. Morning and daytime showers are typically more casual, whereas nighttime showers tend to be more formal. You’ll also want to consider the venue – is it indoors or outdoors? At someone’s home or at a nice restaurant? This will also tell you how warm you should dress!
Accessorize like there’s no tomorrow
Choosing the dress is just the first step – next, you must find the right jewelry, shoes, and handbag to go with. Depending on the neckline, you might go with a necklace or you might not. If your hair is up, choose a statement earring. Add a bangle or two. It’s your day, so you really can’t wear too many accessories!
Have comfy clothes for afterwards
When it’s all said and done, you’ll want something comfortable to change into after the party! Our Got the Ring tee is perfect to throw on with a pair of jeans for when the party’s over.
The important thing with choosing your bridal shower dress is giving yourself time to find the right one. Don’t wait til the last minute and make a rushed decision. Instead, get your game plan together with your must-haves and take your time browsing. When to see the right dress, you’ll know it! Most importantly – enjoy your big day! Do you know what dress you’re searching for? Leave a comment below and let us know!
If you’ve enjoyed this blog, please subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest
About Us
THE VUTE is your go-to for premium, customizable t-shirts and hoodies. We believe in celebrating life’s milestones with sustainable apparel that’s made to last. From birthdays to weddings, design your perfect piece or choose from our already created designs and make memories that matter.