If you're not a perfectly proportioned size 4 or 6, it can be frustrating to find something that looks good on you and is appropriate for your special occasion. The basic trick to looking stylish — and not frumpy — is to know your body type and build from there.

Regardless of your shape, you can wear any style that fits properly. But you'll look and feel better in styles that work best for your body type. The silhouettes in the accompanying slide show are classic and timeless, drawn from what I've learned about making women (moms in particular) happy in their wedding clothes.

— Long dresses always look best. The only time I advise going short is when the bride, her bridesmaids and the mothers all have great legs and are willing to wear similar fabulous shoes. The same applies for tea-length.

— I love strapless dresses, bare necklines and bare shoulders, but if you want to look great uncovered you'd better have a great body. That said, if you're comfortable with an imperfect body, bare your shoulders and legs!

— The arms are covered in all of my sketches. That's because I sketched with moms in mind and I've never created a dress for a mom of the bride or groom who wasn't concerned about A.) Her arms showing and B.) Being cold or hot.

— The wrong undergarments can ruin a beautiful dress. The right bra is very important. A body shaper can do wonders for a figure, too.

-- Accessories should relate in proportion to the design of the ensemble. It's a big mistake to wear keepsake jewelry or your most expensive piece if it doesn't work with your dress. If you have something specific that you want to show off, wear it shopping to see how it looks with whatever you try on.

-- If you're older and have fair skin, avoid black. Chocolate brown and navy are better choices, according to Stacy London of TLC's “What Not to Wear.” Can't give up black? Opt for a bit of black as an accent with deep plum.

-- If you're large busted, a stole is a good choice because it elongates the figure. A short jacket adds width across the top; a longer jacket looks boxy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mary Anne Vaccaro is a fashion and product designer and image consultant based in Omaha. She has designed countless wedding gowns and dresses for mothers, attendants and flower girls, as well as gowns for the Ak-Sar-Ben Court and Omaha debutantes. “I've created dresses and separates for bodies of all shapes and sizes,” says Vaccaro. See a slide show of her designs at www.maryannevaccaro.com

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