Wedding Dress Silhouettes
A Breakdown of the Most Common Wedding Dress Silhouettes
One of the first questions a stylist might ask you when you’re shopping for your wedding dress is what gown silhouette do you gravitate towards? If you’re new to the world of bridal, this could be a difficult question to answer! Today on the blog, we’re breaking down four of the most common gown silhouettes and sharing some of our favorite gowns from our Portland Oregon bridal shop for each silhouette.
Ballgown
A ballgown wedding dress has a fitted bodice to accentuate your waist and a full voluminous skirt to add some drama! The ballgown bodice can be cut at your natural waist, or lower, a dropped waist, to elongate your torso. A ball gown typically gives off a princess effect, but you can play with a lot of different design elements to create the feeling of your wedding day.
Ruffled skirts can add a playful touch, or some 3D lace elements can give off a boho vibe. A ballgown designed in a clean fabric like a satin or mikado can give off a more modern feeling, while the tulle fabric will lean into that princess look.
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Justin Alexander Signature "Mary"
Fit and flare
Fit and flare wedding dresses are structured designs that hug the body then gently flare out to accentuate (or help create) an hourglass figure. The fit and flare style can come in a few different levels. The trumpet style for example typically flares out a bit softer and higher on the leg, around the mid-thigh versus the mermaid style which begins its flare at the knee or lower typically with a more dramatic flare!
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Sheath
The sheath wedding dresses are typically lightweight designs with little structure that follows the natural curve of the body and hangs from there. Commonly, sheath designs have a more minimalist look with no details like a crepe design or they can be composed of layered lace for a bohemian aesthetic. Accessories are also a great way to jazz up a sheath design.
Left to Right:
Adore by Justin Alexander "Skylar"
A Line
A line wedding dresses are fitted bodices that flow into soft skirts at the natural waist. This creates an A shape, hence the name! A line wedding dresses are universally flattering and can be tailored to fit any bridal style. Often these dresses are comfortable, and offer a bride a lightweight alternative to a ball gown wedding dress. A line wedding dresses are a great option for any bride as different details can easily transform the silhouette into a different feeling to match your wedding day!
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There are many variations and varieties to wedding dresses, but these four silhouettes provide a good starting point for your wedding dress search! Now that you know a bit more about wedding dress silhouettes, you may be wondering which silhouette will be best for you. Download our FREE dress guide here to get the breakdown on which wedding dress silhouettes are best for each body type!
Ready to start your gown search and see these silhouettes in action? Visit our bridal collections page to view our designers and start building your dress wishlist! Already know which styles you love? Book your appointment and get ready to say yes to the dress!