For many brides, finding the perfect dress can be an amazing but nerve wracking experience. That’s why I wanted to do a little walk through of different fabrics and shapes to look for. So that when the time comes, you can go into a bridal studio knowing exactly what you’re leaning towards. That way you won’t leave in tears….or with fifty different dress styles. Let’s begin, shall we?

Fabrics

Once you have figured out your wedding style, season and the setting, you can start to know what to begin to look for in your dress. Each fabric will have its own drape and feel, which will create a different look on your body. Here are some common fabrics used in wedding dresses.

Brocade- Thick fabric with an all over raised pattern. This rich and heavy fabric is best to be worn in fall or winter.

Charmeuse- Extra lightweight silk or polyster. It has a softer, more slippery feel to it and has a little more luster and sheen.

Chiffon- Sheer, delicate and transparent, this light fabric is used the most in bridal designs.

Moirè- Usually polyester or silk with a watermark pattern woven into it.

Organza- Sheer like chiffon, with a slightly stiffer feel.

Peas De Soie- A heavy, satin like fabric that has less shine.

Satin- Usually man made this fabric is smooth with a lustrous sheen.

Silk- A luxurious natural fiber that comes in many different finishes ranging from soft luster to nubby raw textures.

Shantung- A silk or polyester with a hand woven, nubby feel.

Taffeta- A crisp, textured fabric with mid to low degree of sheen.

Tulle- A fine, open weave netting used for bridal gown underskirts and veils.

Velvet- Made of nylon, rayon or silk, velvet has a soft thick nap to it.

Silhouettes

This is the general shape of the gown and the silhouette that it gives your body.

A Line/ Princess- Slim fitting from the shoulder to the hem. This shape is universally flattering on every body type.

Ball Gown- This is the standard fairy tale wedding gown or “princess dress”. It has a fitted bodice and a full skirt flaring out from the natural waist. Beware, if you have a short torso, it can make you look very curvy.

Basque Waist- This is similar to the ball gown but the waist dips down past the naturL waist into a U or V shape. It downplays the hips and smooths and elongates the waist.

Empire- This has a tiny bodice that ends just below the bust line. Slightly A shaped skirt falls to the floor. This is great for women with thick waists, but if you’re busty it heavily accents that area.

Sheath- A sleek, form fitting silhouette that follows the lines of the body. Works well on slim and petite figures.

Mermaid- A very form fitting gown that hugs the body before flaring out at around the knees.

Sleeves

Balloon- Wide, elbow length sleeves.

Cap- Short, fitted sleeves that cover the shoulders.

Dolman- Wide sleeves at the armhole, then tapering at the wrist.

Fitted Point- Long and fitted, these sleeves end in a V point at the hand.

Juliet- Puffy at the shoulders, but fitted the rest of the way down the arm.

Three-Quarter Length- Straight sleeves that stop just before the elbows.

Leg-O-Mutton- Rounded pouf from the shoulder to the elbow, then tightly fitted from the elbow to the wrist.

Off The Shoulder- Yup, you guessed it. They sit off the shoulders.

Puff- Short sleeves gathered into puffs.

Spaghetti Straps- Thin, delicate straps.

Strapless- No straps. Leaving the shoulders bare.

Necklines

Bateau- A neckline that runs straight across the line of the collarbone.

Décolletage- A plunging, cleavage exposing neckline.

Halter- Two straps of material that start at the bodice and wrap around the back of the neck.

Jewel- Simple, slightly rounded neckline.

Off-The-Shoulder- This neckline sits just below the shoulders, leaving them bare.

Sabrina- Similar to the bateau, but running from shoulder to shoulder in a nearly straight line.

Sweetheart- This dips in the cleavage in a heart shape.

Scoop- A low, scooped, rounded neckline.

V-Neck- A neckline that ends in a sharp, pointed V.

Wedding Band Collar- A collar that sits high on the neck.

Shades Of White

Stark Or Blue White- This is the whitest of whites, usually with a touch of blue in it. It works well with a tanned or dark skin tone. Someone too pale wearing it might look washed out.

Soft, Diamond, Or Natural White- This is the most wearable of all whites. This is the lightest that most natural fibers come in. It’s flattering on most skin tones.

Cream, Eggshell, And Ivory- These are whites that aren’t quite white, but aren’t dark enough to be called ivory. They usually have a slightly yellow undertone creating more warmth. Remember that the more pink in your skin tone, the less yellow you’ll want in your white.

Ivory- This is a softer and creamier choice than pure white, it comes in many different shades and varies in the amount of yellow undertone.

Knowing what you’re looking for and what will look good with your skin tone or body type is half of the battle. The rest really comes down to personal taste. I didn’t want to lump everything into one write up because then important tips can be skimmed over and overlooked. When it comes to weddings, help is always a good thing. So the next dress write up I do will be about shopping tips. I hope you found this helpful. Plan on you busy brides. Plan on.

xo Stephanie