You’ve set the date and booked your venue – now it’s time to find your perfect wedding dress! Whether you’ve dreamed of walking down the aisle in a taffeta-trimmed ball gown or a figure-hugging mermaid dress, your swoon-worthy wedding gown is out there waiting for you. To find that dream gown, start by figuring out which wedding dress silhouettes best suit your style.
Wedding Dress Silhouettes
A-line
A true classic, this universally flattering style is one of the most popular wedding dress silhouettes for a reason. With a narrow bust that hugs the rib cage and a smooth, flowing skirt that gently extends down the body in the shape of an A, this style of dress compliments any body shape. The subtle lines of the A-line silhouette allow this gown to flow seamlessly from an elegant affair to even the most casual outdoor wedding venue. With a feminine lace overlay, this bride’s beautiful blush-pink, A-line wedding gown fit flawlessly into her outdoor wedding.
Ball Gown
Known for its iconic, billowing, floor-length skirt, the ball gown offers a feminine silhouette that lends itself well to formal, indoor weddings. However, today’s brides are embracing the unconventional. It’s not at all uncommon to see a bride wearing a ball gown at a beach, in a barn, or even in a field. This timeless, princess silhouette is show stopping in any setting. Thanks to its cinched-in natural waist and fitted bodice, this full-skirted gown helps balance the proportions of busty brides and can create the illusion of hips for those with a narrower frame.
Empire Waist
For a longer and leaner look, slip into an empire-waist gown. As its name implies, empire-waist dresses features a high waist just below your bustline. While this silhouette will camouflage you midsection, it will highlight curvy hips and a buxom chest. This is a lovely, versatile style that can work well for a casual or elegant wedding. Thanks to its gently flowing skirt, the empire-waist silhouette offers plenty of mobility, so you can dance the night away unencumbered.
Mermaid
To highlight your hourglass shape or to give your small hips a little more va-va-voom, go for mermaid wedding dress silhouettes. With sleek lines that follow the curve of your hips, this style of gown is best known for the way it contours to the shape of your body before flaring out just below your knees. Because of its curve-hugging outline, this style of gown can be constricting, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a more casual affair or like to go crazy on the dance floor.
Trumpet
If you’re looking to showcase your figure but don’t want to sacrifice comfort during your wedding, try on a trumpet gown. Often mistaken for a mermaid fit, trumpet wedding dress silhouettes contour to your profile but are less restrictive than mermaid gowns because their skirts widen at a higher point on the leg. The form-fitting bodice of the trumpet gown gently flares out around mid-thigh to create a semi-full skirt.
Sheath
Sophisticated in its simplicity and timeless in style, the sheath gown tends to look best on brides with a proportional body shape. It features a sleek, form-fitting silhouette that highlights the shape and curves of the body. Although it can suit brides of all heights and weights, it won’t help you hide any areas of your body. So if you’re self-conscious about your hips or belly, for example, note that you won’t be able to hide these problem areas beneath a sheath gown.
Dropped Waist
To flaunt the top half of your body, try on a dropped-waist wedding gown. Similar to mermaid and trumpet silhouettes, the dropped-waist style hugs your waist and hips. But instead of flaring out at the knee, this gown’s waistline falls around your hips. For this reason, this style of gown is best to avoid if you have a boxy figure, since the dropped waist will make you appear less curvy than you actually are. A dropped-waist offers the best of both worlds for brides struggling between form-fitting styles and ball gowns; you can show off your curves but still wear a fun, full skirt. For a dose of inspiration, check out this 417-land bride whose dropped-waist wedding gown was the perfect choice for her sophisticated, fun-filled wedding.
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If finding the perfect silhouette for your wedding dress seems daunting, don’t fret. Normans Bridal is here to help. Not only will our bridal consultants assist you in finding your dream wedding gown, but they will also help you assemble your full bridal look from shoes to accessories. RSVP for a fitting at our downtown Springfield store by giving us a call at 417-720-2162 or contact us through our website.Â