Some version of this reaches us most weeks: "I love boho dresses, but I am not sure the style will work for my body."
It almost always does, and the reason has less to do with the silhouette than with the fit. Boho gowns sit at the natural waist, skim instead of gripping, and move rather than holding a shape. That combination is forgiving on most bodies. But an off-the-rack version of it is still cut for an average nobody actually is, and that is where the trouble starts.
Here is what tends to work, by shape.
Hourglass
Balanced bust and hips with a defined waist. Boho works with that rather than against it: a fitted lace bodice following the waistline, then an A-line or tiered chiffon skirt below.
The waist emphasis with soft volume underneath is the shape that photographs best outdoors, because the skirt does something when you move.
- A-line gowns with a fitted lace bodice
- Fitted sheath styles under a lace overlay
- Open back gowns, which show the waist from behind
Pear
Narrower shoulders, fuller hips and thighs. The aim is balance, drawing the eye up while the lower half flows.
A detailed lace bodice with an off-shoulder or flutter sleeve widens the shoulder line visually, and a full skirt skims instead of clinging.
- Off-shoulder lace bodices
- Flutter or bell sleeves
- A-line gowns with a full skirt
- Tiered chiffon skirts
Petite
The usual worry is that a boho gown will swallow a smaller frame. It will, if the proportions are wrong, and off the rack they usually are, because the bodice length and the hem are both cut for someone taller.
With Custom Made, that stops being a problem. A bodice that does not add bulk, a skirt with flow but not weight, and a hem cut to your own hollow-to-hem, measured in whatever you will actually have on your feet.
- Simple sheath silhouettes
- A-line gowns with restrained skirt volume
- Column gowns with fine lace detail
Plus-size brides
Every gown can be Custom Made to your measurements, so there is no separate plus-size range with three options in it, and no upcharge for size. It is the same collection, cut for you.
What tends to work:
- A-line gowns flowing from the natural waist and skimming the hips
- Empire-waist styles that draw the eye up and let the skirt fall
- Sheath silhouettes with lace placed deliberately
- Lace bodices with a V-neckline
The whole range is in boho wedding dresses.
Why the fit does the work
Standard sizes are drafted for an average body. Yours is not average, because nobody's is, that is what an average means.
Cut to your measurements, the bodice fits your bust, the waist lands at your waist, and the hem falls where you want it. That gets you far closer than any sample can. See the Custom Made gowns, or the lace and chiffon collection for the styles above.
Questions
How do I measure accurately at home?
Bust, waist, hip, height and hollow-to-hem. Our guide shows where each goes, and Shany reads every set personally before any fabric is cut. You are not doing it alone.
Do you charge more for plus sizes?
No plus-size upcharge: every standard size from XS to XL is the same price. Custom Made costs about $100 more on most gowns, because the pattern is drafted for you, and that is the same for everyone regardless of size.
Can I combine styles?
Yes. A bodice from one gown with a skirt from another, necklines adjusted, sleeves added or removed. Message Shany before you order.
How long does it take?
Five to six weeks to make, then three to five business days by DHL or UPS Express. Duties and taxes are prepaid where they are shown at checkout.
