It’s All About the Shape: Wedding Dress Silhouettes 101

You’re engaged!  You’ve made the announcement, stared at the new beauty on your finger multiple times a day, and can’t stop calling your significant other fiancé/fiancée at every given chance.  And the butterflies and fun don’t stop there!  After you’ve decided on some of the major details - date, location, time of day, formality - there’s no reason why the good times can’t keep rolling.  So, what comes next?  The dress.

It can be incredibly helpful to you and your consultant to brush up on a few wedding dress basics before literally diving into your first one. In this post we will focus on silhouettes.  Here’s a breakdown of wedding dress shapes and how to rock your look from the boutique all the way to the altar!  

A-Line

This shape is ideal for any body type!  An A-line dress is fitted through the waist and gently flows out resembling the outline of the letter 'A'.  

Mermaid

This style is best for an hourglass shape.  The mermaid dress hugs curves through the bust, waist, and hips before dramatically flaring below the knee.  Embrace your curves!

Empire

This style looks great on small busted or petite brides.  It features a high waistline that elongates the body and flows over natural curves.

Ball Gown

A great silhouette for average to tall brides and those looking to show off their waist. The ball gown nips at the narrowest part of the waist and flares into a full voluminous skirt.  

Trumpet

The trumpet compliments and balances a curvy figure. This shape is similar to the mermaid but flares at the mid-thigh instead of below the knee.

Sheath

This style is great for slim or toned brides as it often clings to the body and has less structure.  The sheath’s straight skirt provides an overall lean look.

Tea-Length

This style works for many body types.  The skirt falls between the knee to the ankle.  If you’re looking to rock an amazing pair of shoes then this may be your silhouette!

Starting your search with this information in mind will make dress shopping more relaxed and focused.  Keep in mind that most of us know what flatters our figures, but don’t be afraid to try on different silhouettes!  Your consultant will happily pull different shapes for you to try and point you in the right direction.  Now go out and embrace your shape and be confident that you will find the perfect dress!

*Looking for tips on how to prepare for dress shopping?  Check out our previous post about what to bring with you to your appointment and tips on making it one of the best shopping days of your life!

What do I bring to my appointment?

The Gift Of Glamour - Designer Spotlight: Charlie Brear

The exquisite lace, the decadent silk, the endless styling options - we’re falling, and I mean hard, for the designs of Charlie Brear.  As a former stylist, Brear found her passion for bridal when she was assigned to gather a variety of vintage wedding dresses for a commercial shoot.  The popularity of the dresses combined with an “ah ha” moment led Brear to found The Vintage Wedding Dress Company in 2005.  Her passion continued and her business excelled; in January of 2013 the company was re-branded as Charlie Brear.

If you have a spot in your heart for all-things-vintage, but also appreciate a contemporary look, then Brear is your girl!  Her dresses are designed for the modern bride with an old soul.  She designs made-to-order dresses and gives each bride the option to create her own perfect look.  You can create your dress to highlight your personal style with an assortment of additions like overskirts and underskirts, numerous sleeve styles, waist highlighting sashes, and lace and feather jackets.  And the fabric will make you swoon - think sandwashed silks, flowing silk chiffon, beaded and floral appliqued lace, and even ostrich feather trims!

Discovering new designers is always exciting, and when our brides fall in love with gowns from that designer as much as we have it is so satisfying.  We want our brides to feel totally comfortable, their most beautiful and most importantly, like themselves on their wedding day.  Charlie Brear’s designs encompass all of those in the most glamourous way possible.  And our consultants know exactly how to lead  brides down the path to find their dream dress.  We’ll be keeping our eyes open for unique designs and innovative designers for you ladies, as always.  Until then, we’ll continue to update you on our latest designs from Charlie Brear and her mission to spread the gift of glamour!

Brides - tell us what you think makes a gown glamorous!

XOXO,

Jessica