Chances are, you have been dreaming about your wedding dress since long before you met your fiancé. The trouble is that you can picture it perfectly — and putting that picture into words is harder than it sounds.
So we broke the gown down into its elements. Learn to name each one, and you will be able to tell your stylist exactly what you are dreaming of at your bridal appointment — and find it faster.
Silhouette
The silhouette is the overall outline of the dress — not the little details, but the way the gown follows your body. A-line, ballgown, and fit-and-flare each flatter differently, and knowing which shapes you love is the single best place to begin your search. For a closer look at each shape, read our silhouette guide.
Neckline
Necklines set the mood of the bodice. A few you will hear in the salon:
- Sweetheart — a soft heart shape across the bodice, most often strapless.
- Scoop — a gentle U that curves down from the shoulders.
- V-neck — a V at the front (or the back); depths vary, so say how deep you dare.
- Straight — the minimalist line, straight across the bodice.
- Off the shoulder — fabric or sleeves that drape from the shoulder; it pairs beautifully with several of the above.
Straps & sleeves
This one is usually an easy call: straps or no straps? Straps come in different widths — thin, thick, even spaghetti — and if your dream gown has sleeves, describe them by length: cap, short, three-quarter, or long.
Fabric
Fabric is the hardest element to name, and the one we least expect you to know. Describe the look and the feel instead — shiny or matte, structured or flowing, sheer or opaque, plain or laced — and your stylist will translate it into silk mikado, crepe, tulle, or French lace.
Bring the picture in your head to a private appointment — and because every Modern Trousseau gown is made to measure in our American atelier, the dress you describe is the dress we will make.