need some advice on plus sized bridesmaid dresses

My girls are all size 14 or larger. What I am doing for them is telling them a designer, length, and color, and then they can pick the dress themselves. They may all be plus sized, but they have very different body shapes (apple, pear, hourglass, top heavy), and I want them to feel good in what they wear.

I know that for me, I'm around a size 18/20 right now, and empire waist dresses of any length tend to make me look I'm due to give birth any day now.

As a plus size girl, I HATE empire waists. I have a small natural waist but a bit of a belly so they ALWAYS make me look preggo. They are NOT as flattering as some people think.

I have girls ranging from a size 2 to a size 22, and I found a set of dresses I liked, that all came in the same fabric and color, and am letting them choose from those.

Ooh, on a side note, the first two are NO WAY, but the last one I love! Though it would probably still make me look preggo.

If you do empire waist, you want a skirt that goes away from the body. And a heavier fabric. Chiffon and organza show all the lumps and bumps.

Rouching or however its spelled (my spell check keeps trying to make it roaching lol) helps flatter plus size, my girls have picked a tea length gown pictured below.

Not sure if you are a floor length is a MUST or if you are flexible on that, not all floor length gowns look awesome on us plus sized gals. Im a curvy one and some times they just fit too tight and make me look like a sausage lol.

I would say take them shopping have them pick out styles they think would flatter them and then pick some you think might be nice and try to come to a happy medium. and if you cant get them all to go shopping send them online to gather ideas as well

I find that plus size girls (and most women in general) but mostly thicker girls look great in vintage style clothes. Look at the cuts in 50's pin up dresses ect.. And you'll find the cut you need. Above all else V neck's help and so do flowing dresses. So do shaws, wraps, and lace jackets for girls who hate their arms.

I usually find that, especially for those with larger chests, they prefer something with sturdy straps. I agree with Shannah - most flowy fabrics tend to make me look pregnant. A-line dresses really work for me, especially with a v-neck and beading around the neckline to draw interest up away from the mid-section.

Take your BMs out and just try on some styles to see what looks best on them. Every person's body is different, so who knows - maybe what I said above won't work for them.

Can you do their dresses in the dark blue instead of the corn flower blue? My girls range from size 2 - 14 but I found the darker colours to be more flattering on the girls that were not size 2, the only way to really decide is to go and get them to try on some dresses and see how they feel in them

I agree with the empire waist aswell, it does nothing to actually hide a belly, rather it accentuates it, try finding something with ruching

I am a plus size girl. I definitely agree with empire waist being not the best choice. Also anything else that has a design or something around the bust has always been difficult for me personally as I have a large chest as well. The lines/designs rarely go where they are supposed too. Even in the correct size, large busted women often face this. I personally like sweetheart necklines for larger busted women. I also agree rouching is helpful. I personally like to when it is on the side. Here is the dress my MOH is going to wear.

I'm not plus sized, but I am big chested... and I HATE it when I can't wear a normal bra.

Not sure what other's feelings are on the situation.

I would just say NO strapless! And make sure that the bridesmaids feel comfortable, in the dress, that's the most important!

I have no plus size girls, and they are all picking out their own dresses, but one girl is a size 10, and I know she really didn't want strapless dresses, another is more of a muscular build and she really looked good in a one-shoulder design.

Good luck!

I agree with the previous POPs who recommended taking the girls and trying on different styles. Two of my girls were plus-size (one being a size 26). They found a dress that looked really great on them .... rouching that was around the waist area but was angled down towards one side asemetrically. They both also chose to go with the strapless style as they felt the straps made their shoulders look even broader.

My sister and I both tried on the three empire waisted floor length dresses that come in malibu from Davids, and they all looked, good, but she tried one that crisscrosses in front and has flowers on the shoulder and it was SUPER flattering. that crisscrossing really looked good.

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGG the amazon one is GORG

I personally don't think empire waist looks good on plus sized ladies. I am plus sized (size 16ish) and shirts or dresses never look right on me with empire waists. Like others have said, they tend to make you look like you are expecting. If any of your girls are expecting, that would be good but no one wants to look pregnant if they aren't!

My sister was my MOH and the only person I had standing up next to me so since she was paying for her dress, I let her have the choice, as long as it wasn't a wedding gown and it matched the wedding colors, I didn't really care what she chose. She went through Deb, I don't know if you have one of those near you. She ended up going with a prom dress mark down. She only paid $20 for her gown and it fit her like a glove!

As both a bride who is a size 14, as well as a young woman who has worked in a bridal shop for over a year I find that chiffon and empire at times are not the best choices although they are tempting. Everybody has a different body time and comfort level and it may be best if you let the girls each pick their own styles. Find a designer and fabric that you like and go with it. Take as many as you can shopping and get them together for a try on party. Let them see colors and the fabric you have chosen and let them go from there. Most designers have a variety of styles available in a fabric so everyone finding something shouldnt be hard. As for girls in another city allow them to do the same on their own provided they stay with the color and designer. I recommend checking out bridesmaids dresses at www.frenchnovelty.com , yes I have worked here but I've also found that the online inventory has a huge variety so you can put ideas together plus the prices are better than a lot of sites.