Wedding Gowns 101: Learn the Silhouettes

Wedding gown shopping – oh, where to begin! For starters, as a bride, you should aim to look like the absolute best version of yourself on your wedding day. And aside from your beaming smile and bridal glow, your dress will be front and center. We all have different body types, which is why it's so important to begin the wedding dress shopping process by understanding the different gown silhouettes — and for which body types they work best. Here’s a quick and easy guide to break down the various wedding gown silhouettes!

For those of you who don't know what silhouette means, a silhouette is the basic outline of the clothing on the body or the overall shape of the garment devoid of embellishment. It's about shape and outline. Terms such as "hourglass" "pear" "apple" "bouffant" are some standard silhouette words commonly used,the common term for a Nigerian who doesn't really understand fashion is "Figure 8 or Lekpa or Agbani", lol.

Ballgown: The “fairy tale” dress, with a fitted bodice, flairs at the waist with a full skirt. Ideal for most body types but looks great on pears, since it hides the lower body. Not good for petites; the skirt can be overwhelming on a small frame.

A-Line: Fitted bodice through the waist and flows out to the ground, resembling the outline of an uppercase "A." Ideal for all body types.

Modified A-Line: Fitted on the bodice and hips and gradually flares to the hem, forming an “A” shape. The skirt of a modified A-line dress fits closer to the body than a traditional A-line. Ideal for all body types.

Trumpet: Fitted through the body and flairs mid-thigh. The cut is between a modified a-line and a mermaid cut. Ideal for frames with small waists, such as the hourglass, banana, and petites. Not good for pears and apples, as it accentuates stomach and hip area.

Mermaid: Fitted on the body from the chest to the knee, then flares out close to the knee. Ideal for slender frames and hourglass body types who are willing to show off their curves. Not good for apples and plus size body types.

Sheath: Narrow shape that flows straight down from the neckline to the hem. Ideal for lean frames, such as petites and bananas. Also good on hourglasses who are willing to show off their curves. Not good for pears; sheaths will accentuate extra inches and can be unflattering.

Tea-Length: Skirt falls in between the ankle and the knee. Ideal for all body types.

Mini: Skirt falls above the knee. Ideal for bananas. Not good for plus sizes.

I hope this blog entry helps you pick the best wedding gown that suits your body shape.

This blog entry is dedicated to all future brides.....winks....