Strapless or Halter Neck?

I have large breasts and I always went with the halter style. In fact, that was the style of my wedding dress. I had to wear halter tops that entire summer and they all looked quite good. Go with the halter. :)

i have heard that halter works well for the full figured.
go somewhere and try on a few. the only thing with halters is that you cant wear a standard bra, which is probably also the case for spaghetti straps as well....
the only solution for this is a corset, which i love for these type of events :P

Hi H.:
A halter neckline will reduce the look of your bustline. It makes your bust look smaller. I would recommend a halter neckline with an empire waist in a soft flowing fabric. However you need to try on several looks to make sure it is the best look for you.

I would highly recommend the strapless - IF - you either have a good strapless bra or the seamstress can alter it such that it offers sufficient support. My sister is a full figured gal and got married in a strapless gown. She looked absolutely phenomenal until the top started to sag because the top wasn't fitted properly. I'm of the impression that the strapless creates an elongated neckline and is flattering to just about all body types, where depending on how the halter is cut it may appear to 'section' your top half and make you look larger? That being said, by all means do go with what makes you feel good - you'll look far better in something you feel good in than something that follows the 'rules'. Have a great time at the wedding!

I am a plus size girl with broad shoulders. My wedding was in July and it was hot. I thought I would have an off the shoulder dress to help minimize my broad shoulders and help give me angles. Boy was I off the mark. The salesperson at the dress shop convinced me to try a on the shoulder dress that gave the illision of being off shoulder. It was wonderful. The dress made my shoulders appear narrow while giving me an hourglass figure. My advice would be to keep an open mind and ask for assistance. Choosing a dress took me 3 hours because I was stuck on a certain look I thought would fit my figure. The sales assistant gave me the dress I ended up wearing after 10 minutes of speaking with me. I could have saved myself 2 1/2 hours of stress if I had just listened to her. They do it for a living so they actually know what they are talking about.

H., it's funny how everyone responded with halter for you because I would have expected the complete opposite. I think strapless looks good on every body type but I agree that it's not about the style it's all about how it fits your body. Nothing feels better that getting treated like a princess when you're trying on dresses so why not go to a couple of different places and spend some time trying on every style there is? Even if you think it is the last style you would ever wear...try it on. You may surprise yourself. Good luck!

Hi H. -- Well for one thing, I don't think you would want to be wearing a strapless dress if the bride was not. That would tend to make you look dressier than her. Do you know what she'll be wearing? I attended a wedding a couple of years ago where the bride, who is full figured, wore halter dresses to all her events and they were very becoming. No danger of fullness pudging over the top. Also, I always think that a dress that isn't strapless is just easier to wear - for dancing, hugging, picking up kids, etc. Maybe safer, too. If you're going to be IN the wedding, I assume the bride has some say in what you'll be wearing, too. Whatever you decide, just relax and have fun on the big day!

L.

I know that strapless is in style now, but for fuller figured women the straight across line across the upper chest isn't very flattering at it could be. If you must have strapless then please look for a dress that has a double rounded top - sort of like the top of a heart, and consider one that has a sash just below the bosom if that's the slimmest part of your body. The line just below the bosom with an a line skirt can elongate the body and make the best of your best features. The most important thing is that the dress helps you feel beautiful and confident on your big day. So, no matter what advice all of us give you, keep your feelings when you try on the different dresses in mind, too.

I've always heard that halter tops are more slimming/flattering for fuller figures. Strapless dresses tend to cut you off at the bust line, chopping you in two, and cause unwanted buldges. A halter top provides a continuous line that moves the eye upward and elongates the neck. Hope that helps! I'm sure you'll look great!

Another vote for halter top! Visually, the strapless is like wearing a horizontal stripe. The halter gives you several vertical/diagonal lines. Much more slimming! Find a color you love, put a smile and your face and you will be stunning!

I'm full figured as well and I've found that halter styles are much more flattering than strapless. (You don't have to worry about adjusting them as often either!)

Hi H.

I was in my sister's wedding last fall and as a full figured woman too we went with the halter. Be careful there is enough coverage if you're well endowed in the boobs--the halter style dresses don't always have quite enough material for us girls! You might go to a bridal store and try on both styles to see which is more flattering! Good luck!

H.,
I think you answered your own question. If you are having doubts go and try on a few dresses away from the mirror and once they are on then turn to the mirror. give yourself 30 seconds and you will know which one looks best.
Best of luck,
B.

Halter! Strapless hardly looks good on anyone.

I think a halter neck would look really nice.

Hi H.

I agree with the other mamas.

Halter would be more flattering because with a strapless more skin is exposed.

Whereas, a halter will take away fronm the skin.

I am a full figure mom and my mom explained this to me.

Hope this helps.

Hi H.,

As a photographer I can tell that the style of dress is less important than the fit.

That said I have seen full figured brides with both styles and usually the ones that are fit better are the halter style. There is just more support there and it doesn't have to be synched as tight to stay in place. Usually to my eye it is a more flattering neckline as well.

The place to look for fit is the sides by the arms at the top of the dress and across the top of the dress in back. More often than not a strapless dress on a full figured woman creates a pushup effect and not always to the best advantage.

The other thing I would recommend is when you try on your dress, think about what you are going to be doing in it. You will be dancing with your arms up, you will be hugging a lot of people, you will be doing toasts, etc... So when you try on a dress do a few of the 'actions' from the day. See how the dress stays in place and how comfortable you are in it.

Good luck.

S.

I think halter always looks more tasteful than strapless - women always end up tugging at the strapless ones, no matter how well they fit. For the halter, though, just make sure you get a big enough cup size so you aren't spilling out - stuff tends to get squished together more :) Have fun!

Out of those two choices, I would for sure say halter neck. I'm full-figured, too, and have found strapless dresses to be less than flattering. (In fact, I think rare is the woman that looks good in a strapless dress.)

But, do the dresses have to be strapless or halter--could they be a different style? Both the halter and the strapless are kind of tricky to size properly.

Halter is always the best in my opinion. Halter has always been more slimming in my opinion. It's important though to make sure it fits properly so that you don't have something extra hanging out near the armpits. Also, It's always been puzzling to me why women go with strapless and hike up their dress numerous times throughout the evening. However, if you are wanting the look of a strapless - many wedding shops can add tulle for over the shoulders or even invisible straps. My sister had requested this and she had snaps put in to add the tulle straps (if she needed them). It's nice to have an option especially if you're self-conscious and are worried about dancing out of your dress on the dance floor. It's important to have the dress fitted properly to your bust if you are going to go with the strapless. You don't want it too tight either - never fun to see extra back or bust overflowing. I think my sister's dress stayed up great b/c it was tight around the ribcage so that it naturally held up the bust. Try a few on of both and you'll see in a hurry which one you seem to be more partial too.

I am also full figured on top and I would feel more comfortable in something that had straps. There is a store on Grand Ave. in St. Paul called the The Wedding Shoppe where you could try on both styles and see for yourself. If that location doesn't work for you just find a large wedding store and they can probably accomodate you to try on different styles. Have fun at the wedding.

my vote is for halter neck.
S.