The Ballet Dancer

Know Your Wedding Gown Styles

Understanding the Lingo – Bridal Shop Talk

As you begin your gown shopping experience, it’s good to have as much knowledge and information as possible on your side.  Learning a few of the terms and expressions used by those trained in the bridal industry, you will be better able to explain exactly what you envision as the gown of your dreams. 

While understanding both their lingo and terminology, you will further appreciate their experience in assisting you, even as you learn to speak earlier versions of their language called Bridalese!

In other words, there are descriptions presented in this article that your mother and grandmother will know and recognize, that quite possibly, a rather new consultant might not be familiar with!  Remember, outdated is only a description of personal taste and time.  The day will come when gowns once again have sleeves and necklines as a rule, rather than as a special order!

Wedding Gown Silhouettes and Styles

Ball Gown Styling features the popular off-the-shoulder bodice, with a snugly fitted natural waistline, flowing into a lavishly gathered, full skirt. This style is what most brides imagine when they think of a traditional bridal gown and what is most appropriate for a large formal wedding.  Think Cinderella!  This is a great choice because it is very forgiving of less than perfect body types and is quite elegant looking. It suits a taller bride very well, and is perfect for broader hips or thighs – however on a more petite bride, or a very thin person, it can appear to overwhelm her.

Empire Styling features a narrow bodice complimented with any neckline style, along with a raised waistline, fitted just beneath the bust and flowing to a slender and graceful skirt. This style works well with the popular halter top gown as well as other fashionable looks, including those with sleeves.  This is a great choice for the plus size bride.  The empire gown is very slimming and flattering to all shapes and figures and is proper attire from the informal to the ultra-formal.

Princess Styling (sometimes called an A-Line)features a slim fitting gown through the bodice, gently flaring out from the waist to the hemline in vertical seams, looking quite like the letter A. This is one of the most popular styles because it flatters nearly any type of body and is certainly forgiving for brides who have a bit more to love in the hip area.

Sheath Styling features a slim, body hugging gown without a waistline. The sheath style dress seems to flow downward from the shoulders and is very straight, hugging and enhancing every curve of the body.  This is a popular selection for well-proportioned brides. It is also fashionable for the mature bride or one who is marrying for the second time, as this style is generally less ornate and may be worn again. Often the sheath gown has a detachable train and is appropriate for a wedding of any formality.

Trumpet Skirt features a modified sheath gown, both slim and body hugging, that gently flairs out beginning mid-thigh.

Mermaid Styling features a slim, body hugging, modified sheath gown, with or without a waistline, flaring from the knees or slightly above.

Redingcoat Skirt Effect has the appearance of an open skirt (satin overskirt) covering the skirt of an A-line or full gown.

Keyhole Back features a gown with an opening in the back, (most popular as a long wide slit from the neckline to mid-back.)  May also be a circular or heart shaped opening.

Basque Waist styling features a natural waist dropping at the front into a deep V-shape , accompanied by a full skirt.

Box-Pleated Skirt features a natural waist, with deep pleats, rather than gathered at the waist line.

Diamond Organza Ruffles feature layers of ruffled organza, hemmed with a fine “fish line” along the edge of the ruffles, creating a full, rippling effect, often cascading into the train.

Wedding Gown Lengths

Mini Length features a mini-skirt gown that likely sports a removable overskirt.

Street Length styling features a hem just covering the knees and is a little shorter than the intermission length gown.

Intermission Length features a hem falling between the knees and mid-calf for the average height bride.  It may appear as more of a street length for the taller bride. This is sometimes also known as a Midi Length.

Tea Length features a gown that falls between the mid-calf and the ankle.  This is the second most popular gown length.  It is perfect for an informal or semi-formal beach, garden, or courthouse wedding.

Ballet Length features a gown softly flowing to the ankles.

Floor Length features a gown lightly touching the floor, while allowing just the tips of your shoes to show.  This is the most popular gown length when including the formality and train length of your choice.

Handkerchief Hem features a gown made of panels.  Each panel ends in a point at the hemline giving a jagged, layered look to the gown, with the longest points ending at mid-calf.

Hi-Lo Length features a gown of intermission length on front and floor length or longer in back.

Be sure to read accompanying articles Description of Wedding Gown Necklines, Antique and Retro Style Wedding Gown Sleeves, Description of Wedding Gown Train Lengths, Description of Bridal Headpieces and Tulle for additional bridal lingo and Bridalese!

About the Author

Fran Hansen is a renowned wedding expert and event planner with over 35 years experience in the wedding industry. Honored in 2000 as one of Oprah’s Angels for co-founding a national breast cancer organization, she was also a Modern Bride Trendsetter of the year in 2005.  Franchisor, author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker, Fran shares more ideas on how to plan the wedding of your dreams on her newest blog or in her latest 4 volume wedding planner. “Our Wedding Wish Book and Keepsake Planner,” the perfect wedding guide book for the 2010 bride!

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