blue and white wedding dress Light Lace Appliques Sweetheart Bridal Gown Sweep Train princess wedding dresses a line Luxury Pale Blue Princess Cathedral

Have the bands on both skirt and waist an inch or two larger than for your dress-up dresses (American Homemaker Magazine, 1909)

The most iconic 1940s formal dress styles were cut in these flattering shapes, and included Grecian Gowns, Evening Skirts & Tops, Victorian / Princess Ballgowns, Ruched, Shirred, & Pintuck Dresses, and Fitted Dresses: Always dress like youre going somewhere better. Andrew Wiggins That (in a word) sums up how the 1940s did formal dress styles

3D lace appliques on the bodice

I did some research and found out that bridal stores are typically a good place to start

Crop tops highlight the waist and strike a balance between cute and confident