A Savvy Guide to Wedding Dresses

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Most of us never wear long white dresses and so, when it comes to buying a wedding dress, have no idea about the styles and cuts that suit us. Savvy Brides has put together this easy to use guide to wedding gowns.

Fabrics

The fabric of your wedding dress is important. You are in the wedding dress for a number of hours, so you want a fabric that flatters your figure, is beautiful AND comfortable.

Charmeuse - is lightweight and soft. It feels similar to satin

Chiffon – is sheer, delicate and flows beautifully. Because it is so sheer it is often layered with other fabric of more chiffon

Crepe – is a lightweight fabric that is soft and thin with a ‘crinkled’ surface

Duchesse Satin – is a lightweight fabric that is a hybrid of silk or polyester and rayon woven and has a a satin finish

Dupioni - has a slight sheen and has a finish similar to shantung, except with thicker, coarser fibers

Georgette – this fabric is very sheer and lightweight with a crepe surface

Mikado – is a brand of blended fibers and is usually heavier than 100-percent silk

Organza – is a very common fabric used in wedding gowns, it is sheer like chiffon but has a stiffer texture similar (but not as firm) to tulle

Satin – is a heavy fabric that is smooth and has a high sheen

Shantung – is similar to a raw silk, it has a rough texture

Taffeta – is a crisp and smooth fabric with a slight rib

Tulle – is like netting and is often used to add bulk underneath a wedding dress

Silhouettes

A-line - is fitted at the bodice and (usually from the waist or hips) flows out to the ground in an ‘A’ shape

Ballgown - is fitted at the bodice and has a waistline that leads to a large full skirt (the Cinderella-style dress)

Mermaid - is fitted closely to the body from the chest to the knee or mid-calf and then flares out to the hem

Sheath – is a slimline gown that fits closely to the contours of the body. It has a straight skirt and does not cinch at the waist

Trumpet - is fitted closely to the body until the midhip and then it widens gradually to the hem (ie: trumpet shape)

Necklines

Square - has a straight horizontal bodice that meets with straps at a 90 degree angle

Scoop - has a‘U’ shaped neckline

V-neck - has a ‘V’ shape neckline

Sweetheart - is generally strapless (but can have straps) and the neckline is shaped like the top half of a heart

One Shoulder – literally means there is one shoulder, this can be straight or on an angle

Off the Shoulder - sits below the shoulders

Halter – wraps around the neck in a thin or thick strap

Bateau - is a boatneck shape that follows the curve of the collarbone to the shoulders

Strapless - is literally withour straps. It can be straight across, on an angle, or sweetheart

Waistlines

Basque Waist - is a waistline with a low ‘U’ or ’V’ shape

Dropped Waist - has a waist line that is below the natural waist line, usually around the mid hip area

Empire - has a high waistline that sits below the bust. The rest of dress flows to the down to the hem

Natural Waist - has a waistline that sits at the naturally waist

Princess - has an ‘A’-line silhouette with vertical seams down the front

See the full range of different styles and designs that Savvy Brides has in store here.


	Savvy Brides - Designer dresses without the price tag Search Home About Us About Savvy Brides In the Press Testimonals Our Boutique Savvy Buyers Savvy Sellers Our Dresses Size 6 Size 8 Size 10 Size 12 Size 14 Size 16 Accessories Sold Register Contact Us A Savvy Guide to Wedding Dresses Tweet Do you like this? Most of us never wear long white dresses and so, when it comes to buying a wedding dress, have no idea about the styles and cuts that suit us. Savvy Brides has put together this easy to use guide to wedding gowns. Fabrics The fabric of your wedding dress is important. You are in the wedding dress for a number of hours, so you want a fabric that flatters your figure, is beautiful AND comfortable. Charmeuse - is lightweight and soft. It feels similar to satin Chiffon – is sheer, delicate and flows beautifully. Because it is so sheer it is often layered with other fabric of more chiffon Crepe – is a lightweight fabric that is soft and thin with a ‘crinkled’ surface Duchesse Satin – is a lightweight fabric that is a hybrid of silk or polyester and rayon woven and has a a satin finish Dupioni - has a slight sheen and has a finish similar to shantung, except with thicker, coarser fibers Georgette – this fabric is very sheer and lightweight with a crepe surface Mikado – is a brand of blended fibers and is usually heavier than 100-percent silk Organza – is a very common fabric used in wedding gowns, it is sheer like chiffon but has a stiffer texture similar (but not as firm) to tulle Satin – is a heavy fabric that is smooth and has a high sheen Shantung – is similar to a raw silk, it has a rough texture Taffeta – is a crisp and smooth fabric with a slight rib Tulle – is like netting and is often used to add bulk underneath a wedding dress Silhouettes A-line - is fitted at the bodice and (usually from the waist or hips) flows out to the ground in an ‘A’ shape Ballgown - is fitted at the bodice and has a waistline that leads to a large full skirt (the Cinderella-style dress) Mermaid - is fitted closely to the body from the chest to the knee or mid-calf and then flares out to the hem Sheath – is a slimline gown that fits closely to the contours of the body. It has a straight skirt and does not cinch at the waist Trumpet - is fitted closely to the body until the midhip and then it widens gradually to the hem (ie: trumpet shape) Necklines Square - has a straight horizontal bodice that meets with straps at a 90 degree angle Scoop - has a‘U’ shaped neckline V-neck - has a ‘V’ shape neckline Sweetheart - is generally strapless (but can have straps) and the neckline is shaped like the top half of a heart One Shoulder – literally means there is one shoulder, this can be straight or on an angle Off the Shoulder - sits below the shoulders Halter – wraps around the neck in a thin or thick strap Bateau - is a boatneck shape that follows the curve of the collarbone to the shoulders Strapless - is literally withour straps. It can be straight across, on an angle, or sweetheart Waistlines Basque Waist - is a waistline with a low ‘U’ or ’V’ shape Dropped Waist - has a waist line that is below the natural waist line, usually around the mid hip area Empire - has a high waistline that sits below the bust. The rest of dress flows to the down to the hem Natural Waist - has a waistline that sits at the naturally waist Princess - has an ‘A’-line silhouette with vertical seams down the front See the full range of different styles and designs that Savvy Brides has in store here.

Savvy Brides - Designer dresses without the price tag