Advice for your BIG Day

Dress – the different shapes

Wedding dress skirt shapes
Cinderella or straight up – what's the best shape for you?

Choice of shape strongly influences the overall style and look of the bridal gown. Some skirt shapes such as the ball gown have a classical feel whilst shapes such as the column have a modern sexier appeal. Your decision on what skirt shape to have should not only depend on what you like or what the latest fashion is, but what looks good on you.

The following illustrations are a guideline to some of the main bridal gown skirt shapes and the body shapes they best suit – and don't suit so well. You may decide to reject all these styles and go for something totally off the wall. Remember it's not just about the dress – you also have your personality, an aura, vitality, your face, hair... a whole package to work with. If you're happy about what you're doing, nothing could look more stunning and beautiful than that.

Ballgown/ full skirt

This is the ultimate "Cinderella shall go to the ball!" dress. Ballgowns are the most traditional style of skirt for the bride who is after a classic elegant look. The skirt's appearance can vary depending on the fabric used and range from structured and heavy looking to soft and light. This style of skirt is often combined with a fitted bodice and natural or dropped waistline, suiting a wide range of figures especially those with curves. These dresses are usually worn with a hooked underskirt, which may have to be bought separately, to keep the skirts out and full.

Empire line

The empire line dress is for brides who don't want a figure-hugging gown. The skirt starts just below the bust and is not as full as the ball gown or has an A-line shape. This style of dress suits a small-busted, slim figure, but can also be a good choice for pregnant brides, as the lack of waist means there's no constriction.

 

Neckline shapes for wedding dresses

Strapless, halter or scoop – which one's right for you?

After the general profile of the dress, your next concern is usually the neckline. Most brides find themselves firmly one side or the other of the straps/strapless divide, but there are many variations beyond those simple choices.

The neckline is important because it draws attention to the upper part of the body, especially the face, collarbone and décolletage (cleavage) areas. For these reasons, getting a neckline exactly right for you is very important. Necklines also add to the overall style of the gown, and will affect what accessories you could (or couldn't) wear with the dress.

Scoop/Round neckline

The scoop is a U-shaped neckline, which is often cut quite low and is similar on the back of the dress. This is a style that suits any bride

Halterneck

The halterneck features straps which join at the back of the neck or a high neck with wide armholes. This design usually has a very low cut back, so it is best worn without a bra. This style especially suits brides with great shoulders.

Queen Anne

As the name suggests, this neckline is reminiscent of the style worn during the reign of Queen Anne in 18th-century England. The design features a heart-shaped neckline in the front and a high back, which is often joined to the front by sleeves which cover the shoulders or are full-length. This style is for brides who wish to display their cleavage – tastefully.

Sweetheart

The sweetheart has a low neckline, similar in shape but slightly less accentuated than the Queen Anne. The back is usually cut at a similar height to the front but without the curvy heart shape.

Off the shoulder

The broad sweeping off-shoulder neckline style has small sleeves or straps, which sit just below the shoulder on the upper arm, showing off the shoulders and collar bone. Good for curves and medium to full-chested brides, but not ideal for those with wide shoulders.

Strapless

The strapless bodice is usually figure-hugging, with a straight or shaped neckline. This style is good for those with broad shoulders.

V-neck square

The V-neck dips down to a v-shape at the front, which de-emphasizes the bust line The back may be similarly cut or be higher and straighter. This style suits brides with medium sized breasts.

Square

The square neckline is cut straight across angled corners where the straps or sleeves meet. This is a style for almost any bride.

Jewel/ T-shirt

The jewel neckline is round and high cut, sitting near the base of the throat. This style is good for small busted brides and anyone wishing to cover up their upper chest/ collar-bone area.

Bateau

The wide neck shape of the bateau follows the collar bone almost to the edge of the shoulders. The front and back panels are either joined at the tip or separated by a thin strap.

Asymmetrical

The neckline is different on the left and right of the bodice. The dramatic example here is the one-shoulder design. This style is good for the bride who doesn't need to wear a bra.

Shoelace/ spaghetti strap

The neckline is usually straight or slightly shaped, and supported by thin, delicate straps, which are sometimes detachable. This style is good for small to medium-chested brides.

 

Sleeve styles

Choose the sleeve to suit your bridal gown.

Whether or not you have sleeves on your wedding dress used to be dictated by seasonal fashion, but is now more related to personal taste. What type of sleeve you have is usually a matter of the overall style of the dress and how you feel about your upper arms.

Sleeves don't have to be in the same fabric as the rest of the dress – they can be made of lighter, more translucent material, which is particularly good for brides not wanting to bare their arms on a warm day.

Cap sleeve

This is a very short sleeve just covering the shoulder. It's a style best suited to brides with slender or well-toned upper arms.

Short/ T-shirt sleeve

In this style, the short sleeve is longer than the cap and extends to the middle of the upper arm. It's perfect for brides who want to cover their upper arms. If you're worried about displaying your arms, but have fallen in love with a short sleeved style, try a bolero jacket or a wrap for a stylish cover-up.

Elbow-length sleeves

As the name implies, this is a longer version of the short sleeve/ T-shirt extending to the elbow.

Three-quarter length sleeves

The three-quarter length sleeve reaches the midpoint between elbow and wrist. A style which is currently in vogue, three-quarter length sleeves can help make short arms seem longer. It also allows you to wear a bracelet or even a very delicate watch..confetti.co.uk/article/view/6045-7604-1.do

Sleeve styles

Choose the sleeve to suit your bridal gown

Long

The long sleeve is slender and runs from shoulder to wrist. A popular choice of fabric for long sleeve dresses is a translucent sheer fabric.

Bell-shaped sleeve

The bell-shaped sleeve style is slender from shoulder to elbow or mid-forearm then flares out to the wrist. Sleeve length is typically long and sometimes has tails that extend to beyond the fingers. This style can be good for hiding chubby arms as long as the sleeve isn't tight.

Juliet sleeve

The Juliet sleeve is very Shakespearean with its long fitted sleeve and puff shoulder.

Balloon sleeve

The balloon sleeve is full over the upper arm down to the elbow, then slender from the elbow to wrist.

 

Choosing a bridal train
Which type of train is the right one to complement your wedding dress?

A train – the elongated portion of material at the back of the bridal gown – can go with any dress shape or style. Trains vary in length from very short to very long, but most brides (royalty excluded) opt for a train no longer than eight feet.

Many brides prefer not to have a train at all, but it is possible to have the best of both worlds by having a detachable train which is usually attached to the dress at the waist via hooks or buttons.

If your train isn't detachable then it should have hooks that you can use to loop it up to the waist (bustle style) or the shoulder. Some dresses use an old-fashioned but elegant style where the loop is held over the fingers.

Another type of less common train is a watteau – one that falls from the back near the shoulders to the floor. These are usually detachable, and more popular Stateside than in the UK.

Here we take you through the most common types of train.

Duster/ sweep

The duster is the shortest train available, extending no more than about a foot from where dress hits the floor.

Medium/ chapel

A medium length train is a popular and manageable length, extending from 3½ to 4½ feet from the waist.

Cathedral

This is a long formal train extending 6½ to 7½ feet from the waist. You may need the help of your bridesmaids and/or page boys to hold the train at certain points during the day to avoid damage. (A train any longer than this is generally called a monarch train.)

 

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