Having a smooth finish, this material is very crisp. It’s great in the fall, but it works year-round. Taffeta is never a good thing in excess, but some wedding gowns look great with a touch of it. Regardless, it’s lovely.
With its rough texture, this fabric has an organic, raw aesthetic. This silk is full-bodied and keeps its shape well, making it great for ballgowns and more voluminous dresses. You can wear it all year long.
You’re familiar with tulle. This is like a net of fabric you’re more likely to see under a ball gown skirt. Usually used for tutus, it’s not the most elegant fabric for a wedding. You can wear it under a dress to give it some body, and it’s very affordable. Because it’s light but can appear heavier than it is, you can wear it all year round.
The gauzy, crinkled texture of crepe is perfect for flowing silhouettes. You can wear it to accentuate curves or in stark, minimalist designs – even a bridal jumpsuit. Dresses with simple shapes, like mermaids or A-lines, are classics. You can wear this fabric all year long.
The weight and elegance of this fabric make it unsuitable for the summer heat. On a wedding dress, this fabric gives you a timeless and elegant look. This is usually used on drapes and furniture that are upscale.
Almost any fabric can be made with polyester, which is synthetic and affordable. It’s wrinkle-resistant and less delicate than silk, so it’s a popular alternative. It can be worn all year, but it’s not very breathable in summer so it can get uncomfortable. There’s a quality to the fabric, and it’s durable.
There’s a lot of interest in this fabric, and it’s beautiful. Sadly, it is easily damaged by warm weather. It’s less likely to happen in cooler months, so we recommend it more. There’s something strikingly elegant about this classic, original material.
Luxury wedding dress stores typically sell dresses made of silk. The smooth, soft fabric is often used for high-end garments. If you’re interested in a silk dress, be sure to shop in the cooler months and be mindful of how easily the fabric can be damaged.
The waffle-weave exterior makes this knit fabric stand out. Though it’s on the heavier side of the spectrum, its cutesy vibe translates well in spring and summer. It lends itself to a structured look and crisp styles.
Velvet is soft and thick with a felted face. Because of its heavy weight, it’s perfect for winter and fall celebrations. Natural royal aesthetics and a vintage feel come naturally from this exquisite material.
It’s OK to feel that this material has been around for many years, but don’t let that keep you away from using it. The right way to use it can make it one of the most sophisticated fabrics. Because it’s heavy, it’s not something you should wear during the summer. The fabric is tightly-woven, and you cannot see the diagonal lines without looking at it closely.
The best fabric for bridesmaid dresses. Light and flattering on most body types, it’s not clingy or unforgiving. Its popularity comes from how well it photographs. The weave pattern is subtle, but it’s got a silky feel.
With its sheer and light nature, organza is perfect for weddings in warm weather because of its structured silhouette. The fabric is usually silk and has a smooth finish. In veils, ballgowns and trains, it adds fullness without adding weight to the gown. Embrace the romance with this whimsical, frothy take on enchanted garden celebrations.
Finding the perfect dress is probably one of the most exciting events when it comes to planning your wedding. However, it can also become a real headache if you're not familiar with the styles, fabrics, colors, and necklines used in bridal wear. Now, don't fret over thinking that your seamstress or bridal salon will expect you to know the technical difference between a chapel veil and a mantilla veil off the top of your head--but they will find it much easier to design or help you choose your dream dress if you tell them you want an A-line. We've gathered up the most common wedding dress styles, necklines, and fabrics you'll come across when searching for your perfect dress. Armed with this information, you'll be able to make the wedding dress selection process much less overwhelming.
There are hundreds of wedding dress styles out there, and most of them keep changing and evolving with the current trends. However, if you filter through them, you can easily boil it down to just five classic full-skirt styles (not including modern mini or cocktail dresses.)
A-line dresses feature a snug top that accentuates the waist and the bust and a flared skirt that widens towards the bottom. It's probably the most used and the most versatile style, as it can work with pretty much any neckline, veil, and train. It looks great on pear-shaped bodies, distracting the attention from the hips and bottom to the waist, decollete, and neck. A-line dresses are also great for adding a bit of extra height, as you can easily sneak some high heels under those extra inches of fabric without it being too noticeable.
The ball gown is what you imagine when you think of a princess's wedding dress--a tight, probably strapless corsage, and a full, puffy skirt. Although this is a very popular silhouette and you can easily find pre-made ball gowns, they usually need quite a bit of adjustment to make them fit you like a glove. With a few fitting sessions, ball gowns can look amazing on any body shape, and will definitely make you feel like royalty on the big day.
The empire style, also known as Josephine, is a high-waist dress with a long, free-fitting skirt. This shape is perfect for brides who are a bit conscious about their waist or hips, as it brings all the attention towards the decollete and the neckline. Perfect for apple and rectangular body shapes, the empire is also not as restricting as a ball gown or an A-line, allowing more freedom of movement.
The mermaid, or trumpet, is a very dramatic dress that hugs around your curves and flares out from the knees down. Needless to say, this is a very dramatic silhouette that is best pulled off by hourglass figures.
Casino GamblingA sheath wedding dress (also known as a column wedding dress) has a slim and snug fit from the neckline to the hem. Some can have a bit of flare from the knees down, but not as much as a mermaid. It looks great on tall, slim bodies, and it can be very versatile when it comes to necklines and textures.
Now that we've covered the major wedding dress styles, let's talk about necklines. Wedding dress necklines are as varied as they are beautiful. Committing to one style can be difficult. However, there are several neckline styles that you'll see over and over again during your wedding shopping journey. You can pair any of the silhouettes above with any of the necklines listed below. Below we show how these popular necklines pair with certain wedding dress styles as well as various body shapes.
The square neckline is a staple choice for A-line dresses, but it also looks great with the high-waisted empire. Depending on where you draw the line (literally), it can show quite a bit of cleavage, so it's best worn by brides with a bigger bust.
You'd think a V-neck would be the best way to show some cleavage, but it's actually quite the opposite--V-shaped necklines help draw attention to your neck and collarbone as opposed to the bust.
One of the most popular styles in the past couple of years, a strapless neckline is pretty self-explanatory. The corsage fits tight around the upper body, so it doesn't require straps and draws a lot of attention to the collarbone and decollete area. This style is typically paired with ball gowns.
A variation of the strapless neckline, the sweetheart, creates a heart shape around the bust, adding a bit of dimension and plunge. The style also comes in a "semi-sweetheart" version which has less of a plunge.
The bateau is a high rounded neckline that resembles the shape of a boat (hence the name). It's usually paired with an open back, for those brides who are looking for a dramatic retro look.
The off-the-shoulder style is here to stay, so it deserves its place among these classic necklines. You can pair it up with pretty much anything, from A-lines to ball gowns and even sheath/column dresses. Great for brides with small, round shoulders.
Now we'll dive into wedding dress fabrics. Although "fabric" is a bit of a misnomer as the textures listed below aren't actually fabrics, but finishes. These finishes can be made up of a variety of fabrics--silk, polyester, or a combination of both. But for ease, we'll just stick with fabrics when describing them. Now there are other wedding dress fabrics outside of the five listed below, but these are some of the most common and knowledge of them we'll allow you to navigate your way around any bridal salon.
Organza is a sheer, light-weight fabric, but unlike chiffon, it is stiff and can hold a shape. It's is great for full skirts, but be careful because it can snag and wrinkle easily.
Charmeuse is a rich fabric with a lovely drape and gorgeous sheen to it. It usually made of silk, but can be made from synthetic fibers. Charmeuse is usually used in sheath/column dresses. The fabric is certainly sophisticated but beware as it can show every flaw.
Chiffon is incredibly airy and lightweight, making it great for destination weddings. Because of its lightweight nature it is often used in combination with another, heavier fabric. One must be careful with this fabric as it does fray and snag very easily.
Lace is an open-weave fabric that brings elegance and refinement to any wedding gown. It is usually used as an overlay or detail and comes in a variety of styles.
Satin is one of the most common and most luxurious wedding dress fabrics. Because of it's heavy nature, it pairs well with structured gowns. However, depending on how the gown is cut, it can be very unforgiving, so consider your body shape and any imperfections you want to hide when choosing a satin wedding dress.
As a bride-to-be, your proposal isn't the only occasion where you'll be asked to say yes to an important question. Since many little details come together to create the wedding of your dreams, there will be a plethora of questions and decisions you'll need to answer and make before you embark on your journey down the aisle. Chief among them? Saying yes to the dress.
Finding a wedding dress will be one of the most important decisions you make while planning for your big day. The sheer magnitude of options out there, however, can make the process extremely overwhelming. Luckily, there are ways to help mitigate the stress of finding your dream gown—and understanding the silhouettes that best complement your personality and body type will certainly make your choice easier. With that in mind, we thought it might be helpful to ask a few fashion and bridal experts for their top wedding dress shopping tips, as it pertains to selecting the perfect silhouette for your big day.