How to find the perfect wedding dress: Kim Kardashian went for the ‘mermaid’ and Meghan Markle opted for A-line – for the best results, always start with your body shape, say experts

Nov 26, 2020

A white wedding doesn’t need to be all convention and no fun. Photo: The Loft Bridal

Thanks to Covid-19, a lot of wedding dress shopping has gone online, so we asked the experts for their top tips on choosing the perfect fit, even when you can’t initially try the dress on

We’ve all poured over photos of Meghan Markle’s gorgeous Givenchy gown, and seen how beautiful Priyanka Chopra and Kim Kardashian looked in the shapely lace numbers they chose for their big day, but when it comes to making the big decision for ourselves, shopping for a bridal gown can be a minefield – especially since dress samples come in a rather limited number of sizes. While searching for the gown of your dreams should be a joyous rite of passage for every bride, it can also be a time consuming one, so a few tips from the professionals can help refine the process and give you a good idea about how to get started.

According to Jacqueline Au, founder and creative director of The Loft Bridal boutique in Hong Kong, most gowns fall into one of five shapes: ball gown, mermaid, A-line, trumpet and column. “Brides should always tackle the shape first and details later. The shape and fit of a gown is everything,” she says. “You will then find it a lot easier to focus and won’t be wasting time nitpicking over details in the beginning, such as lace, embroidery or the bow.” And while the bride’s body shape is important, what’s also important is the silhouette she wishes to have in the final look, as well as things she wants to accentuate.

A Vivienne Westwood ball gown. Photo: The Loft Bridal