One of the first questions that you’ll probably be asked when starting the journey of wedding dress shopping is, “what types of wedding dress silhouettes are you leaning toward?” or at least something similar! But, how can you answer that question when you aren’t even aware of all of the different silhouettes out there?
WEDDING DRESS SILHOUETTES: 5 OF THE MOST POPULAR SILHOUETTES
We are creating this blog post to help explain the differences between some of the most popular wedding dress silhouettes. While we highly recommend trying on as many different silhouettes as you possibly can to figure out what works for you, this guide can at least help you narrow it down to a few of your initial favorites!
A-Line wedding dresses
Pictured: Main Street Bridal Willow Rose A-line dresses are known as one of the most universally-flattering wedding dress silhouettes! These are basically the halfway point between a ballgown dress and a sheath dress. The skirt on an A-line dress creates an “A” shape on the body, hence the name. It flares out on the waist more than a sheath dress does, but it isn’t as dramatic as a ballgown. No matter what your wedding style is beachy, traditional, boho, rustic, or anything in between an A-line dress can be very fitting! A-line dresses are typically found in a variety of fabrics, such as Mikado, tulle, lace, or organza.
Ballgown wedding dresses
Pictured: Main Street Bridal Ballgown Have you always pictured yourself looking like a princess on your wedding day? Then a ballgown dress will most likely be the wedding dress of your dreams! A ballgown style is perfect for the classic bride who is dreaming of her fairytale moment. A ballgown typically has a fitted bodice with a full, wide skirt. The full skirt is usually made of tulle or crinoline! A ballgown is also perfect for brides who are looking to cinch in their waist!
Sheath wedding dresses (or column dresses)
Pictured: Maggie Sottero Claudia Dawn Column and sheath wedding dresses are technically two different silhouettes, but are incredibly similar! Sheath wedding dresses fit close to your body and fall straight to the floor in other words, they have very minimal flare. A column dress is very similar to this, but the opening at the bottom is slightly more narrow. If you’re looking for a more effortless, simple gown, then a sheath or column dress may be for you! They require less fabric so they are very easy to move around in. These are also excellent options for brides who are petite or slim, and don’t want a dress that overpowers them!
Mermaid wedding dresses
Pictured: Sophia Tolli Y12021 If you’re looking for a sexy wedding dress, then a mermaid style might be perfect for you! It is extremely fitted throughout the bodice, waist, and hips, then flares out near the bottom. If you’re looking to accentuate your curves or give your body an illusion hourglass shape, then this is the dress for you!
Fit-and-flare wedding dresses
Pictured: Lillian West 66075 Are you intrigued by a mermaid style dress, but don’t want to show off your figure that dramatically? You might want to look into a fit-and-flare! Fit-and-flare wedding silhouettes are basically a toned-down version of mermaid dresses. They will still hug your body in the chest and waist, but are more forgiving throughout the rest of the body. The skirt also flares out at the knee, so you’ll have plenty of room to move around!
HOW TO KNOW WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU
Our biggest piece of advice for figuring out which of the wedding dress silhouettes is best for you? Try on each one! Even if you have your heart set on one specific silhouette… you’ll never know how each one will look on you unless you try them on! If you have any questions about wedding dress silhouettes, or have an interest in making an appointment with us, you can contact us here! We’d love to help you out in any way that we can! You can also take our style quiz here.