If you’re a classic apple shape, you’ll probably have a tendency to carry weight around your middle.  On the up side, you’ll probably have fantastic boobs, and slim arms, legs and hips.  Head straight to ‘dress-that-shows-off-great-bosom-and-hips’, do not pass go!  The basic idea is to emphasise the illusion of waist, so a bodice with an A-line skirt is a great look for you, as are empire line dresses.

If you want to go strapless, avoid a bodice that cuts straight across – you’ll look much better in a dress with shaping to show off your cleavage.  The other great option is going with a v-neck gown as it will do all of the right things: lengthening your neck, and minimising the width across your boobs and shoulders.

For skirts, go for a softly fitting skirt that skims the hipline, but avoid any fussiness or detail at your waist as it will emphasise it.  If you’ve got slim legs, why not show them off in a tea-length gown with a fab pair of show-stopping shoes?

If you want a jacket with your gown, avoid box jackets – they’ll do you no favours. Instead opt for a gently fitted jacket.

Left to right:

Ian Stuart, Alan Hannah, Jesus Peiro

Body shape plays such an important part in what wedding gown you will suit. If you go to a decent wedding shop, they should be able to give you a look over and recommend a style, hopefully in a more tactful manner than Trinny and Susannah!

So what suits the hourglass figure? Well, as the bearer of an hourglass figure (yippee!), though sadly with short arms and legs and a long torso (curses!), I can start by telling you what hourglass figures DON’T suit, and that is anything that doesn’t go in at the waist, but rather hangs from the chest. It creates a rather unfortunate ‘shelf’ illusion, which will only make you look pregnant. So avoid empire line dresses (ala Jane Austen), and box jackets – they’ll do you no favours.

On the other hand, us hourglassers can embrace the fifties styles with relish – anything that pulls in at the waist and emphasises it is superb. Corset bodices will also make you look wonderful, and your groom’s eyes pop (just don’t do it up too tightly, or your eyes will pop too…!).

Fishtail skirts will make your legs look longer (big tick!), but avoid bias cut skirts – they’ll add a bit too much curve to your bottom half. Also avoid lots of pleating and ruffles, as they’ll make your bottom look bigger than your top half, turning you into a pear! A-line skirts are fab on hourglass women.

Left to right:

Augusta Jones, Benjamin Roberts, and Stephanie Allin (wow!!!)