know your dress types (before you buy your gown)

taken from www.wedbykez.com

Walking into a bridal shop or dress makers may be confusing if they start throwing terms around that you have never heard off. If you don't know your Basque waist from your Ballgown the below will clear out the confusion and make dress shopping a dream..

A-line



A fitted bodice that flares out to the hem. 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.

Ballroom
Classic Cinderella type gown, full skirt, off –the- shoulder and a natural waistline. Ballgown is a type of long dress that is fitted at the bodice, with a very full skirt. This is the most formal dress silhouette, usually reserved for the dressiest of occasions.

Looks best on average height to taller women, as the full skirt visually cuts the body in half. However, the ballgown is a very forgiving style, hiding everything from tummies to full hips and legs.

Basque waist
Waistline begins below the waist, forming a U or V shape/silhouette.
This type of dress also provides the illusion of length

Extremely flattering dress style and good on most body types.

Empire



Cropped bodice, high waist, slightly flared skirt. Waist line is raised above the natural waistline, sometimes as high as right below the bust.

Best on slender-on-top or petite figures, the empire dress creates the illusion of length and camouflages a bottom-heavy figure or thick waist.

Miniskirt
The hem is above the knee

Princess
Slim fitting bodice with emphasis on the waist.

Sheath
No waist. The fabric continues down the body from the shoulders to the ankles for a close-fitting look.

Now for the Necklines

Polo
Wrap around the neck itself. Also called turtlenecks.

Jewel
Pass around the base of the neck on all sides. Also called the T-shirt neckline.

Scoop



Curved U shape, where the arms of the U pass over the shoulders. Scoop necklines can be demure or plunging, depending on the depth of the U.

Boat necklines
Necklines with a broad opening, but which pass nearly horizontally across the figure near the collarbones. Also called bateau necklines or Sabrina necklines.

Off-the-shoulder necklines
Generally cut across the figure nearly horizontally, but significantly lower, below the shoulders and collar bone. Such neckline usually pass over the arms but, in the strapless neckline, may pass under the arms. These necklines accentuate the shoulders and neck of the wearer.

One-shoulder necklines



Asymmetrical linear necklines that cut across the torso diagonally, usually from one shoulder to under the other arm.

Halter necklines
feature a high neck with deep, raglan-type armholes or else two straps from the bodice that meet at the back of the neck. In both cases, they form diagonal lines that converge inwards to the neck from the sides. Although such necklines reveal a lot of shoulder, their convergence makes the shoulders seem smaller. Halter necklines can have a horizontal bottom edge, or their two side edges can meet in a V.

V necklines



Two diagonal lines from the shoulder that meet on the chest. These necklines can be demure or plunging, depending on the depth of the V. The surplice version of this neckline (known as a portrait neckline) is a pretty alternative. The V may also be truncated by a small bottom edge, forming a trapezoid.

Square necklines
Three linear edges, the bottom edge meeting the side edges at right angles. The bottom edge cuts across the figure horizontally and the side edges pass over the shoulders. A special case of this is the slot neckline, in which the side edges are very close (roughly the width of the collar-bone points), forming a narrow slot.

Sweetheart necklines



Curved bottom edge that is concave down and usually doubly scalloped to resemble the top half of a heart. The side edges often converge on the neck, similar to halter necklines. Sweetheart necklines are good for accentuating the bosom.

Keyhole necklines
Akin to halter necklines, but the converging diagonal lines meet in front of the neck, forming a "keyhole". More generally, a neckline that features a central hole, usually just below the collar bones. These necklines are seen infrequently.