Wedding Dress Silhouette Primer

When picking a wedding gown, the first thing to consider is the silhouette that will fit you. A dress silhouette refers to the shape of the dress. It describes the waist, skirt, bodice, bust line and flares. There are five basic wedding dress silhouettes as described below. Other variations originate from these five. The images below will give you a vivid description of the dress silhouettes.

 

Ball gown	Empire	Sheath/Column
Trumpet/Mermaid	A-line/Princess

 

• BALL GOWN is what comes to mind when one thinks wedding gowns. It has a full waist, a full skirt and a fitted bodice reaching at least to the ankles. It usually comes with a basque waist; that’s waistline shaped in an elongated triangle that can sit at your waist or dropped to sit on your hips. A derivative of it is the ballerina with a full waist of short or tea length, which can be worn in a semi-formal ceremony. Ball gowns may have a built-in crinoline or a slip to support the shape.
• EMPIRE wedding dress has a small scooped bodice, a high waistline and a seam under the bust line with the skirt dropping below it. 
• SHEATH wedding dress hugs the bust, waist and hips. It has no defined waist, narrow and very close fitting, so to speak. Also known as COLUMN, it is cut to closely follow the curves; it usually fits the body curves.
• A-LINE or PRINCESS wedding dress has a fitted bodice and a widening skirt that forms the uppercase A. Its skirt is not as full as the ball gown; it’s preferable when you don’t want a full skirt.
• TRUMPET wedding dress or the fit-n-flare flares out at mid thigh just above the knees like the shape of a trumpet. Its variant is the Mermaid which flares out at the bottom, by the knees to form a mermaid tail.

As you go shopping, don’t be overwhelmed by the dress shapes there are. Do not be confused. It’s okay to know the shapes but the most important thing is wearing a dress that flatters your unique figure. Whether you have a full figure, small bust, full bust, thick waist or short waist, elements such as the waistline, bust, bodice, can be combined to give you that perfect look on your wedding day. Watch out for my blog on the silhouette will flatter your unique figure. I meant that, your unique figure.

Remember, you have a right to be happy on your wedding day! Cheers.