One way that wedding dress designs are categorized is by their silhouette, or general shape. Below are some brief descriptions of common silhouettes so that you can feel confident in describing your desired shape when you come in to consult with a designer:
- Ballgown: ballgown dresses are the fairy tale dresses, like Cinderella or Snow White. They are generally pretty fitted in the bodice before flaring at the waist into a full skirt. This is a very traditional dress silhouette and looks great one women who want to show off their décolletage and shoulders while hiding parts of the lower body that you may want hidden. These dresses are beautiful on full-figured women as they accentuate the waste and elongate the bodice. They may be overwhelming on a smaller bride.
- A-line: these have a very similar profile to the ballgown dress – a slim bodice that flows into a floor-length full skirt. The difference is really in the size – an a-line is like a subtler ballgown.
- Trumpet: a trumpet silhouette is slim in the bodice and down through the hips and it flares out at the mid-thigh region. This dress can accentuate the stomach and hips area so it’s a gorgeous choice for tall, slim women.
- Mermaid: slim bodice, flares at the knee. The trump and the mermaid both work great on tall, slim women because it doesn’t do any of the work to accentuate curves.
- Sheath: a sheath dress flows narrowly rom the top to the bottom, from the neckline to the hem is straight.
- Tea-length: this is the first silhouette we mention that doesn’t include a floor-length skirt, the tea length dress falls between the ankle and the knee. This is a great silhouette for more casual and/or court weddings, it also looks beautiful for the brunch the day after the wedding.
