Bridal Terms

Dress Silhouettes

Gowns

A-line: When bodice is fitted, flowing in the waistline and the skirt is full, no gathers.
  Two Piece: When the Bodice and Skirt are two different pieces.
  Ball gown: A natural Basque or dropped waistline and very full skirt.
Empire: A high waist that starts just beneath a fitted bodice and a slim skirt.
Mermaid: A body-hugging style with a skirt that flares at or just below the knee.
  Princess: Fitted, multiple vertical panels, extending in an A-line from the bust or shoulders to the hem with no defined waistline.
Sheath: A narrow, long-line, form-fitting style.

Trains

  Court: Extends 1 yard from the back of the waist.
  Chapel: Extends 1½ yards from the back of the waist.
  Cathedral: Extends 2 ½ yards from the back of the waist.
  Illusion: A transparent fabric panel or yoke.
  Extended or Royal Cathedral: Extends 3 yards from the waist.
  Sweep: A short train that barely sweeps the floor.
Watteau: A train that is attached to the shoulders of the gown.

Laces

Alenćon: A delicate floral or leaf design on a fine-net background, outlined with heavy threads to define the pattern and add more dimension.
Battenberg: A heavy lace made with patterns of linen braid and tape connected with decorative linen stitching.
Chantilly: A web-like floral pattern outlined with silk threads on a lace background; soft to the touch.
Guipure: A heavy lace designed to show large patterns over a coarse-mesh background.
Lyon: An intricate, ornamental design delicately stitched over a net background; the pattern is outlined in silk or cotton.
Point d’esprit: Oval dots woven in a pattern on net fabric.
Schiffli: Intricate floral pattern (similar to Alenćon lace but lighter) embroidered directly onto the gown.
Venice: Heavy floral or leaf pattern in needlepoint, with motifs connected in lines.

Dress Lengths

  Ballerina: Hemline falls just above the ankles.
  Floor: Hemline falls ½ to 1-½ inches from the floor.
  Intermission or Hi-Lo: Hemline falls to the mid-calf in front, floor-length in back.
  Street: Hemline just covers the knee.
  Tea: Hemline falls to the lower part of the calf.

Necklines

Bateau or Boat: Follows a straight line from the shoulder, covering the collarbone; offers a subtle variation on the Sabrina neckline (opposite).
Bertha Collar: A wide, deep collar that covers the shoulders of a low-neckline dress.
Halter: Fastens at the back of the neck, leaving the bare back.
Illusion: A transparent panel or yoke attached to the bodice that extends from the bust to the collar; constructed of tulle, net, organza, or lace.
Jewel: encircles the base of the neck in a shallow ring.
Portrait: Wraps around the shoulders leaving them completely bare.
Queen Anne: High-standing at the back of the neck that curves down to a sweetheart front.
Sabrina: Extends from shoulder to shoulder, curving slightly down below the collarbone.
Scoop: A rounded low neckline dipping from the shoulders to just above the bust line.
Square: A half-square or a rectangular neckline.
Strapless: A no neckline straight across the upper bust bodice.
Sweetheart: Begins two inches inside the shoulder line and dips to a heart shape at the bust line.
  Temple Ready: A bodice with shoulders and sleeves. The neckline is scooped or square but only 7 inches across, repeating in the back also. The back is not lower than an inch above the bra strap, and the front is not lower than an inch into the cleavage of the bust. The sleeve is cap, short, tee length, three quarters, or long. Also known as TEMPLE FILLED.
Wedding Band Collar: High necked, fitted, standing collar.

Waistlines

Asymmetrical: Begins at the natural waistline and angles down to one side.
Basque: A continuation of the bodice that falls below the natural waistline with a pointed or round detail.
Blouson: Fabric is gathered just below or at the waist, creating a soft fullness.
Dropped: Falls below the natural waistline may have points or rounded detail.
Empire: Begins just below the bust line.

Skirt Details

Bustle: A gathering of fabric (may include the train) at the back waistline of the gown.
  French: Inverted inside the skirt.
  American Handkerchief: When the train is pulled up, it makes a triangle which points to the zipper on the back of the skirt.
Flounce: A wide piece of fabric or lace gathered and attached at the hem.
Pannier or carriage front: Gathered fabric draped over the sides of the hips.
Tiered: Layers panels of fabric that fall from the waist to the hem in varying lengths

Sleeve Lengths

  Cap Sleeve: Short open sleeve available for moving, hugging, closing the arms. About 2-3 inches long.
  Tee length: A tee shirt length about 4-5 inches long.
  Quarter Length or Three Quarters Length: In the clothing world this sleeve hits below the elbow. On a bridal gown it stops above the elbow, so movement is allowed. If it is below, it has a pleat, or a slit in the seam side, open for movement.
  Long sleeve: To the wrist. This sleeve is primarily for look, not function. Satin does not bend easily.

Other Terms

  Corset: A lace up bodice that comes in a two-piece or one-piece style of gown. The left and right side are laced up in the middle with a ribbon or tie.
  Embroidered: Stitching onto the dress that is the same color of the gown or an accent color. Usually a design of flowers, leaves, scrolling, lines, or initials.
  Appliqué: a cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material.
  Bust Belt: Elastic that is sewn to the inside front of the gown that is        fastened in the back of the gown. This keeps a strapless dress from slipping down. (Also called a seat belt.)