The Signature Features of Couture Wedding Dresses

Whether you’ve set a date for your special day or you’ve just been day dreaming of your matrimonial future, it’s never too early to start planning your wedding. When it comes to big weddings, or even intimate yet elegant ceremonies, no fashion style of choice is more popular than the classic couture wedding dress. So even if it’s on the whim of a day dream, here’s a quick crash course on the signature features of couture wedding fashion.

Originally denoting custom-tailored garments made of only the finest and most extravagant fabrics, couture today has come to be synonymous with extremely well-made, expensive garments with decidedly elegant and classically fashionable design elements.

Searching for the right dress for you among the thousands and thousands of unique wedding dresses available can be a daunting task. When visiting a dress showroom or even simply browsing styles online, knowing the difference between fashion terms can make your life much easier. Following is a simple break down of the various criteria you may find helpful as you narrow down your choices.

Silhouettes

When dress makers and other fashion authorities speak of a dress’s silhouette, they are simply referring to the basic shape or outline of the dress as a whole. There are a wide variety of popular and classic silhouettes available for wedding dresses.

A-Line

A-line dresses got their names because their silhouettes resemble the actual shape of the letter A. These dresses are narrower at the top and gently flare out toward the bottom. They are excellent choices for most body types and are particularly helpful for flattering more bottom-heavy figures.

Ball Gown

The most classic and elegant of wedding dress silhouettes, ball gowns are fitted at the bodice, or upper portion, and have exaggerated full skirts. Because ball gowns visually cut the wearer in half, they are best suited for women of average or taller heights. However, ball gowns are very forgiving because they camouflage the entire lower half of the body.

Slim and Column

Column dresses are slim-fitting and feature a narrow shape. These dresses are best suited to thin bodies and are a sleeker, more modern looking alternative to traditionally “poofy” gowns.

Fit to Flare and Trumpet

Gowns with a trumpet or fit to flare silhouette, like ball gowns, are slim and fitted at the bodice, but gradually flare out toward the bottom. These dresses, however, tend to feature a much gentler, less dramatic flare than classic ball gowns and have a slimmer profile overall. Accordingly, they are a bit more modern and a bit less forgiving to bottom-heavy figures than their more formal counterparts.

Empire

Empire (pronounced om-peer) style dresses are characterized by a higher than normal waistline, which often begins just below the bust. This style of dress creates the illusion of length, and is most flattering on petite or small-topped figures. The empire dress also effectively obscures heavier-bottomed figures well.

Dropped Waist or Basque

The waistline on dropped waist gowns dips below the natural waistline of the figure, creating an elongated and slimming effect. These dresses are fairly forgiving and tend to flatter most body types.

Necklines

When considering wedding dresses, neckline simply refers to the upper most edge of the gown. A wide variety of necklines are available and have different flattering effects.

Off the Shoulder

Off the Shoulder style dresses usually feature a low neck line, passing below the shoulders and collar bone nearly horizontally, with a single strap or raised edge that usually passes over a shoulder on one side. These necklines accentuate the shoulders and neck, and so can draw attention from other areas.

Sweetheart

Sweetheart necklines feature a curved, concave bottom edge and are usually scalloped to resemble the top half of a heart. This style of neckline accentuates and can be used to exaggerate the chest.

Scoop

Scoop necklines are generally low-cut characterized by a curved, plunging U-shaped edge. In the case of wedding gowns, scoop necks usually do not have sleeves, but do pass higher under the arms than other necklines.

Halter

Halter necklines have higher necks than other dress styles and feature either deep armholes or two straps that begin at the bodice and meet at the back of the neck, forming dramatic diagonal lines that converge near the neck from a wider base. This convergence has the effect of making the shoulders appear smaller.

A bit of knowledge about dress types and fashion terminology can help make your search for the perfect wedding gown a little easier. This quick and simple explanation offers an easy reference when you consider descriptions of gowns, couture or otherwise. Come prepared and know just what you would like to discover on your next visit to a wedding gown gallery and make the process of finding the perfect gown quick and easy.

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