Silhouettes
A-Line: Fitted at the bodice and flows out to the ground, with an unbroken line (resembling the outline of an uppercase A).
Ballgown: Fitted at the bodice and has a waistline that leads to a full skirt .
Mermaid: Fits closely to the body from the chest to the knee, then flares out to the hem.
Sheath: Fits very closely to the contours of the body. Has a straight skirt with no waist .
Trumpet: Fits closely to the body until the midhip and then widens gradually to the hem. (resembling the mouth of a trumpet). Often confused with mermaid, but trumpet flairs from mid-hip, whereas mermaid flairs below the knee.
Necklines
V-Neck: Dips down in a V-shape.
Sweetheart: Neckline is shaped like the top half of a heart .
One Shoulder: Strap across one shoulder only.
Off the Shoulder: Sits below the shoulders and highlights the collar bone and shoulders.
High Neck: features high neck/t-shirt neckline.
Straight Across Strapless: Straight across neckline with no curves and no straps.
Halter: Has straps that wrap around the back of the neck.
Waistlines
Empire: Has a raised waistline that sits just below the bust, from which the rest of the dress flows down to the hem.
Princess: A-line silhouette with vertical seams down the front.
Dropped Waist: Features a waist line below the natural waist at the mid hip.
Natural Waist: Waist line that hits at the natural waist (the indentation between the hips and the rib-cage)
Trains
Fabrics
A wedding dress can be made from either silk or polyester. How the fiber is woven determines if the dress is:
Charmeuse: Lightweight, semi-lustrous soft, is satin-like to the touch.
Chiffon: Delicate, sheer, and transparent, with a soft finish. Often layered because of its transparency.
Crepe: Light, soft, and thin, with a crinkled surface.
Mikado: A brand of blended fibers, usually heavier than 100-percent silk.
Organza: Crisp and sheer like chiffon, with a stiffer texture similar, but more flowing than tulle.
Satin: Heavy and smooth with a high sheen on one side.
Taffeta: Crisp and smooth, with a slight rib.
Tulle: Netting (just like ballerina tutus)