Southern California Brides : Seek a Dress That Flatters--and Fits

With two decades of experience helping brides realize their dreams with custom and off-the-rack gowns, Liza Villarreal of Brides by Liza in Sherman Oaks has amassed quite a few tips. A little planning, she emphasizes, can prevent many tears before the wedding day. Here she sizes it up for real women.

* Don’t obsess over size. Each designer has a different size chart that has nothing to do with the sizing for everyday clothes.

* Don’t order a dress size based on weight you think you’re going to lose. Request a size that fits at the time of ordering. “Sure, they might lose weight, but it’s never where they wanted to lose it,” Villarreal notes.

* Focus on your best features. But beware of styles that overemphasize: Brides with larger bust lines should stay away from empire silhouettes.

* Full and A-line skirts hide a wide range of figure challenges, be the body pear-shaped or plus-sized. Avoid columns and other figure-hugging shapes.

* Sleeves can minimize--or emphasize--arms. Take care to choose a style and fabric that camouflages soft or thick areas. You’ll be happier when the wedding day photos arrive.

* Consider what undergarments you absolutely need, and design the dress around them.

* Always check the side view. A V-waist on a plus-size figure can distort and magnify.

* Petites should stand on the floor--not a platform--to get a true picture.

* Find a tailor who understands gown construction and is not prone to shortcuts that cause a dress to pull and bunch.