One of the most important fashion purchases a woman will make is her wedding dress. It’s not only stitched with sentimentality, but it also reflects her style and can determine whether she is more of a Kate Moss garden fairy or Chloe Sevigny avant-garde kind of girl. With all the attention to details and countless styles on offer, choosing your perfect bridal look can be overwhelming.
Thankfully, brides of today are more resourceful, social media savvy and have a finely tuned idea (honed through extensive research) of what they want. But, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot of questions. They just might not know where to start.
Bridal gowns have a long and varied history, starting with ancient Rome’s simple white one-piece robes. But it’s not until the Victorian Era that a wedding dress became what we know now. This is the era that brought us everything from poufy shoulders and lace to 27-foot trains and floral embellishments. Princess Diana’s 1981 taffeta gown with lace V-neck and puff sleeves was arguably the most iconic bridal dress of all time. In the 2000s, strapless dresses were all the rage and gave brides the chance to show off their bods while keeping it classic with off-the-shoulder bodices. For the most part, though, dresses have kept to a traditional mood and remained white.
In recent times, however, the wear-it-once mentality has been changing as more brides realize the environmental impact of wasteful gowns that they will never wear again. Even if you are not eco-conscious, you might be able to find a way to repurpose your wedding gown after your big day. Stylist Gemma Sort Chilvers wore her wedding dress by The Own Studio for her 2023 nuptials in Spain, and then rewore it at her friend’s wedding later this year.
A growing number of brides are also opting for a separate reception dress to allow them freedom of movement as they dance and mingle with guests, especially if the ceremony takes place outside. This could be anything from a tea-length frock to a flowy, airy gown with lighter fabrics.
Regardless of your style, it’s important to understand the anatomy of a wedding dress so that you can choose the right silhouette and fabric for your perfect day. Here, Danielle Wen, Tina Wong and Alyssa Menosky, three bridal stylists from Grace + Ivory, break down the different parts of a bridal gown.
The Bodice
“The bodice is the upper portion of a gown that spans from the shoulder to the waistline,” explains Wen. This is the most important part of a dress because it accentuates the shape and creates an overall silhouette. Wen and Menosky recommend choosing a bodice that fits tightly around your natural waist or the smallest part of your torso to give you an hourglass figure.
“The skirt is the lower portion of a gown that extends from the waistline,” adds Wen. “Skirts are typically designed to fit close to the body, so be sure to choose a design that complements your desired proportions.” If you’re looking for a fuller skirt, you should consider choosing a design that features multiple layers.