Contemporary Western wedding dress

A bride in a contemporary version of the traditional long white wedding dress with train, tiara and white veil.

A contemporary Western wedding dress follows popular fashions in Western wedding gown selection from the year 2000 on. Dresses are usually white or ivory, and follow a pattern for popular silhouettes, necklines, and gown lengths. Modern bridal fashion is also characterised by specific styles of headpieces, lingerie, veils, and high heels.^[1]

Silhouettes

Some of the most popular contemporary silhouettes include: A-line, above-the-knee, column, empire, meringue, mermaid, princess, and trumpet.

A-line

A dress or skirt silhouette that is narrower at the top, flaring gently wider toward the bottom thereby resembling the letter A. Works well on most figure types; good for disguising bottom-heavy figures.^[2]

Above-the-knee

Can be recognized by their tent-like silhouettes, hemmed short above the knee.

Column

In fashion, a column, similar to a sheath dress, is a type of dress designed to tightly fit the body. It is often made of a very light and thin material like cotton or silk, and rarely contains any flourishes. Unlike the shorter cocktail dress and the longer ballroom dress, a column dress typically falls around the knees or lower thighs, and can be either strapped or strapless.

Empire

A type of dress or top where the waist line is raised above the natural waistline, sometimes as high as right below the bust.^[3]

Meringue

Characterized by a very full skirt that begins at the waist and continues to a formal length. It has a full bodice and a cinched waistline that falls into a full skirt.

Mermaid

The mermaid dress is close fitting through the bodice, down through the hips and to about mid or lower calf where the skirt flares out.^[3]

Princess

Designed to hang in smooth, close-fitting, unbroken lines from shoulder to flared hem.^[4]

Trumpet

A straight skirt with a hem flounce that flares away from the body at the hem.^[5]

Necklines

Popular contemporary necklines include asymmetric, bateau, halter, jewel, off-the-shoulder, portrait, scoop, sheer, square, strapless, sweetheart, and v-neck. The neckline refers to the shape of the material at the top of the dress as it falls on the neck and shoulders.

Asymmetric

Asymmetrical by its very definition means there is no symmetry or no balance. So this neckline appears different on either side of the centre front.^[6]

Bateau

Also known as the "Boatneck". This is a wide, high neckline that follows the curve of the collarbone and ends in points on the shoulder seams.^[7]

Halter

Necklines have a high panel on the front, which is then tied around the neck for support and, optionally, may be tied behind the neck or include a clasp, exposing the back and shoulders.^[8]

Jewel

A plain, slightly rounded neckline without a collar.^[9] Also known as the T-shirt neckline, the jewel neckline is round and sits at the base of the throat.^[6]

Off-the-shoulder

This neckline sits below the shoulders, with sleeve-like straps that cover part of the upper arm. Shows off your collarbone and shoulders.^[6]

Portrait

Characterised by a wide, soft scoop from shoulder to shoulder.^[6]

Scoop

Also known as a "ballerina neckline", this U-shaped style is often cut low, and occasionally the scoop will continue on the back of the dress.^[6]

Sheer

A neckline that is created by "sheer" or translucent fabric, such as lace or netting, rather than an opaque material or strap.

Spaghetti strap

This neckline is nearly strapless, except for the presence of thin, delicate straps; a bit like strings of spaghetti.^[6]

Square

The neckline is cut straight across the top in between the straps, creating a "square"-like shape to the top of the dress.

Strapless

A neckline that can be any shape, but is discerned by its lack of straps (neither over the shoulder, nor around the neck).

Sweetheart

A neckline with a plunge in the front in the shape of the top of a heart.

V-neck

A neckline characterized by a plunge in the front shaped like the letter "V".

Gown length

Ankle

Characterized by a hemline that hits at the ankle.

Floor

Characterized by a hemline that hits the floor.

Knee

Characterized by a skirt that comes to the knee.

Mini

Characterized by a skirt that falls very high on the thigh, the shortest option.

Short

Characterized by a skirt that falls in between the knee and high on the thigh (length in between a mini and a knee length).

Tea

Characterized by a skirt length that falls between a knee and ankle length, usually having a hemline at the mid-shin.

References