How to Hide Back Fat in Wedding Dress

If you haven’t yet purchased your gown, remember two golden rules – correct sizing and no strapless.

Unfortunately, many brides only pay attention to how their dress looks from the front and side, neglecting the back view.

Even if you’ve already purchased a dress, there’s no need to change it. You can wear shapewear, shawl, cape, or add sleeves to conceal back fat.

Correct Sizing Is Vital

Wedding dress sizes tend to run small, so many women get too tight dresses fearing the higher number on the label. Being size 10 in casual clothing and size 12 or even 14 in wedding dresses is normal.

Therefore, forget about numbers when you’re choosing your wedding gown. An overly tight fit won’t hide your back fat like shapewear or corset would.

On the opposite, it will only squeeze your back and create folds you never knew you had.

Every figure is different, and many women have a larger size in the bust than in the waist. That’s typically considered a pro but may lead to difficulty choosing the right wedding dress size.

Taking in the seams is much easier than letting them out, so get a dress according to your largest measurements.

For instance, if you are a size 8 in the waist and size 10 in the bust, get a size 10 dress and alter it; never the opposite.

Shapewear

Some online guides will advise you to use body tape to hide fat in your wedding dress. Unfortunately, body tape isn’t a reliable option, but proper shapewear is.

Shapewear does wonders. Your wedding may be the perfect time to unlock its magic if you’ve never tried it before.

It’s like real-life Photoshop that can give you a figure of your dreams, but only if you choose the correct shapewear type.

The first rule is to stick with your size. Many women go a size smaller, striving for extra firmness. Unfortunately, this only causes discomfort and makes you look bigger.

Don’t neglect your comfort for the sake of looks. You should be able to walk, sit, and dance freely. Therefore, try different shapewear sizes to determine which works the best for you.

Choose medium construction to smooth the lines and robust construction to eliminate any signs of back fat. Typically, shapewear manufacturers state the performance level on the tag.

If it’s not there, check the label for nylon content – the higher, the more garment will alter your body.

Alternatively, feel the fabric. Lightweight fabric shapewear is designed to smooth the lines, whereas garments from dense materials can drastically change your shape.

Another note is that 100% synthetic shapewear will make you sweat. Look for shapewear with high cotton content to let the skin breathe.

Each shapewear piece alters specific body areas. Shaping shorts won’t do much if you want to hide upper back fat.

Choose shapewear with more extensive back coverage and sleeves, such as a cami top or T-shirt.

You may also get a full-body shaping suit if you want to look flawless in a tight-fitting gown, but ensure it isn’t too restrictive.

Corset

Depending on the sizing, a corset can be your best friend or worst enemy in the fight with back fat.

An overly tight corset will make you look even bigger, the same as tight shapewear or dress. Meanwhile, a correctly sized corset effectively hides mid and lower-back fat.

Opt for a classic under-bust corset that covers the entire back to underarms. If you don’t like corseted back dresses, you can choose a gown with an invisible inner corset or wear a shaping corset underneath.

If you want to wear a shaping corset, note that the indicated waist measurements refer to the size of the corset itself and not your waist.

Choose a corset that’s 4-6-inches smaller than your waist. For instance, if you have a 27-inch waist, get a 24-inch corset.

Relaxed Silhouette

Hiding back fat in a fitted wedding dress is tricky, even if you choose the right size and shapewear. Relaxed wedding dress silhouettes will effectively conceal your bumps and lumps and guarantee your confidence throughout the day.

Naturally, the dress should be relaxed at the top rather than the bottom to conceal back fat. It doesn’t have to be too loose, but avoid corsets and straps that dig in your shoulders and back.

“Relaxed silhouette” doesn’t mean that your selection is limited.

For instance, you may choose a modest sheath dress with a boat neck, a tea-length dress with flowy flutter sleeves, or a two-piece bridal attire with a long skirt and crop T-shirt.

Play with Accessories

Accessories are one of the easiest ways to hide back fat in a wedding dress. Even if your gown is too tight, correctly chosen accessories will conceal fit imperfections and add a stylish touch to your attire.

Shawls are the most apparent accessory to cover shoulders in a wedding dress.

Depending on the season and your wedding style, you may wear a lightweight chiffon shawl, extravagant feather boa, rustic woven capelet, or cozy faux-fur wrap.

Furthermore, a shawl is an excellent accessory for fall and winter weddings, keeping you warm throughout the day.

Consider a shawl from delicate lace or tulle if you’re concerned about being too hot at your summer wedding. Choose natural breathable fabrics like cotton and viscose instead of synthetics.

The shawl can be embroidered, ruffled, or embellished, serving as a statement accessory or minimalistic and semi-transparent to focus the attention on your dress.

Alternatively, consider wedding dresses with capes or get a removable cape. This bridal accessory instantly transforms a simple wedding dress into elegant bohemian attire, adding a dreamy, ethereal touch to your appearance.

Capes can be short, only covering the back and reaching hips, or long, serving as a train and extending for multiple feet behind you. It all depends on whether you want to achieve a dramatic or modest look.

Same as shawls, capes come in an array of fabrics and designs, from lightweight see-through tulle to opaque, heavy brocade.

The décor options are vast, including feathers, lace, embroidery, fringes, embellishments, and fabric patterns like Swiss dots.

Many capes are minimalistic but have rich embellishments on the shoulders or the neckline, giving off a royal vibe.

Jackets and boleros will also do the job. Boleros can be made from lace, satin, cotton, or mesh. It doesn’t necessarily have to be white – a contrasting navy or black accessory will add a modern twist to your look.

Alternatively, you may choose a bolero that fits your wedding color scheme. For instance, if your wedding color code is ivory and gold, choose a gold satin bolero.

Masculine suit jackets work the best with minimalist wedding gowns with a straight or fitted silhouette, such as slip and column gowns. If you’re proud of your narrow waist, consider cropped boxy jackets.

If you plan to have two wedding dresses and only need to hide back fat at the ceremony, a long veil will do just fine. Choose one from semi-opaque fabric or with lace covering the back.

Sleeve Style

If you’re dreaming of a strapless gown with a corset, you may want to reconsider if you’re worried about back fat in a wedding dress. The only way to hide back rolls in a backless dress is by losing weight.

The same applies to spaghetti straps that dig in your shoulders and upper back, enhancing the lumps and bumps. Instead, opt for sleeves that provide back and arm coverage.

Perhaps, the best wedding dress sleeve style to hide back fat is flutter sleeves. This flowy, dreamy style covers the shoulders and upper arm, falling in folds right above or below the elbow. It’s perfect for a whimsical or bohemian bride.

Another excellent wedding dress sleeve style for the fuller back is bell sleeves.

Bell sleeves can be fitted or loose at the top but always full, flaring at the bottom. They are typically long, sometimes extra-long, almost reaching the ground, with a dramatic opening.

However, the sleeves don’t necessarily have to be flowy and long. Romantic, seductive off-shoulder sleeves can help you cover back fat not worse than flutter sleeves. Choose fuller, wider sleeves in favor of thin straps that expose too much skin.

Modest cap or T-shirt style sleeves are great for brides who don’t want to draw all attention to the sleeves but look for some back and shoulder coverage.

Be careful with cap sleeves – if the size is too small, they may enhance underarm fat.

Illusion sleeves are a stylish option if you don’t have a lot of back fat. The semi-transparent mesh will smooth the lines, concealing folds, and lace will draw attention from problem areas to the arms or neckline.

When choosing your wedding dress sleeve style, also consider your style, location, and weather. For instance, flowy lace bell sleeves are ideal for bohemian weddings, while illusion sleeves demand a sophisticated dress and setting.