Although fashion trends will change, the basic construction techniques of most garments (including such complex creations as wedding dresses) will not alter much. The following list identifies the shape and construction techniques of the most familiar and popular wedding dress styles. Some of them are found in other fashions as well, and they include:
A-line — this is a style that looks exactly as it sounds. The "A" shape begins with a somewhat fitted bodice that quickly opens out into a roomy skirt. This is a style that does not cling to the hips but which begins taking on its namesake shape as soon as it reaches the bust area. This is also a classic shape for many strapless dresses and flower girl dresses too
Ball gown — although there are many different styles and patterns used for a ball gown, the most recognizable style includes a fitted bodice (of a strapless, spaghetti strap, or even a long-sleeved style) that tapers to the waist and then flares out to a full skirt which extends all of the way to the floor
Empire — many brides favor this style because it allows for such ease of movement. It relies on a fitted bust to which the skirt is actually attached. There is no defined waist line region in any true Empire gown. The most common fabric used for this sort of dress is chiffon since it drapes and flows so freely
Fishtail — this is something that seems to come and go where wedding trends are concerned.
It looks as it sounds, with the gown fitting the wearer’s body quite closely until it reaches around the knee
area and then it transitions into an almost full skirt at that point. Often this transition comes with a change
of fabric or some sort of defining line;
Maternity — some women may balk at purchasing a maternity gown, but this is actually a fairly common requirement. There are plenty of fabrics that can accommodate the shape of the bride’s body during pregnancy, but there is one major word of caution with such gowns — do not buy them months in advance as you cannot possibly know what size you will require. Instead it is best to purchase a gown only a few weeks ahead of the event and seek out the minor alterations that might be necessary
Petite — someone who has a smaller frame may already know the advantages of purchasing a gown designed especially for their body size. Although the difference between women’s and petite garments usually mean only a matter of a few inches, it makes a huge amount of difference. If you are of small stature, have narrow shoulders and hips, or a shorter inseam you should try on a few petite dresses in order to see just how comfortable such a gown can be
Sheath — a long and somewhat shapeless gown, this is a wonderful style for women who are of tall stature or who want a distinctively casual air for their entire wedding day. These dresses can be found in loose and flowing materials, as well as some stiffer options too
Slip — these are gowns based on some lingerie designs. These are usually quite informal or casual and are best suited to someone with smaller proportions as they can reveal a great deal of skin
Strapless — just as they sound, these are gowns without sleeves, straps, or bands of any kind. They are not suited for every body type (particularly women with extremely large busts) but they are available in a huge number of options, colors, and designs
Two Piece — this is the style that heavier fabrics are used to create. For example, the brocade, silk Shantung or Duponi, and the velvet gowns are often the two piece types. These also tend to have more shaping and are also somewhat more of a fitted style too
Vintage — all of the shapes described above can usually be found in vintage styles. Any
garment more than 25 years old is considered vintage, and this means that almost all modern fabrics and shapes
are represented too.
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