Nope. There are some dresses that you should definitely consider wearing a petticoat with to give it the shape / look that the designer intended - and there’s a practical reason to have one too.
ENHANCE YOUR STYLE
Lets look at style first. So A-line dresses are the most popular style out there as they flatter pretty much every body shape. This is because they are usually structured to enhance your waist and upper body whist skimming from the top of the hips downward to hid a multitude of sins in the tummy, hip and thigh area. But if the dress hangs straight down, you lose some of the benefit of the A shape. Putting an A-line petticoat underneath – even a slim one – can bring back all of those benefits.
The same goes for fit and flare or fishtail. Did you choose one because you love the way it enhances your curves? Then make sure you have the right petticoat to keep the flare at the bottom of the dress for maximum curve enhancement! And ballgown? You’ll want a petticoat to help hold the full shape created by the volume of fabric in the skirt.
PRETTY AND PRACTICAL
They are practical too. Imagine it’s a hot summers day. You’ve got layers of tulle, net and lining under your dress, sticking to your legs as your walk and trapping the warm air around you. But put the right petticoat underneath and it keeps the skirt away from your legs, allowing air more room to circulate and making it easier to move around. So much better than remembering your day for how hot and uncomfortable you were! And you are less likely to fall over the hem as the petticoat holds it away from you.
SHAPES THAT DON’T NEED OR CAN'T HAVE A PETTICOAT
When it comes to the more drapey, figure hugging shapes then you won’t want or need a petticoat, for example a sheath or column wedding dress. Then there are dresses which might benefit from one but it’s more difficult. If you’ve got cut-outs that are quite low down the back or hips, or a split in the skirt, a separate petticoat would be seen – although with dresses with cut-outs, it’s possible to ask your seamstress to attach a hoop to the lower part of the dress itself to give you the same effect.
DON’T SPEND A FORTUNE
But its going to bump up your spend right? You’ve seen shops charging as much for a petticoat as a bridesmaid dress? Look elsewhere – your petticoat won’t be seen and only has to last a few hours. There are loads of options on Amazon and eBay from as little as £10, or shops like mine sell sample or preloved ones pretty cheaply.
So at the very least think about what a petticoat can do for you. If you decide you’d prefer to go without, that’s fine, but many brides are really pleased with the benefits they get for such a small extra investment!