Style Tips

A Bride to Be is taking appointments every day over the Christmas break except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Appointments are available until 2pm on New Years Eve – 31 December 2013.

When shopping for your wedding gown, you need to consider your figure type to look your glowing best.

PETITE
You should steer clear of huge skirts with plenty of ruffles or large details like bows or flowers which will swamp your tiny frame

Choose a fitted gown in fabric like silk, lace or soft chiffon.

Lucky you, petite brides look fabulous in light flowy gowns made from organza or soft tulle which is perfect with the current trend towards these fabrics
A trumpet style that flares out from the lower hip or mermaid style that flares out from the knee is a great choice as it makes you look taller.

SMALL BUST
The perfect style for you is a sweetheart neckline which draws attention to the bustline. Gown with embellishment around the bust area whether by way of lace, beading, ruffles or pleats are all great choices.

BUSTY BRIDES
To those well endowed brides, a halter neck, deep V neck or scoop neckline will look fantastic on you. A V neckline in particular draws the attention away from the bustline and more towards the complete look of the gown.

A good support bra makes all the difference so avoid strapless gowns and gowns with spaghetti straps. High necklines should also be avoided as they are very aging.

POT BELLY, BOTTOM HEAVY OR LARGE HIPS
Styles that are perfect for you include:

An empire line gown which is fitted at the bustline and then flows out

A gown with diagonal ruching which draws attention to the side of the dress and conceals those problems areas nicely.

An A-line dress with a small hoop which lightly skim over your tummy, hips and thighs

A ball gown with an asymmetrical or slightly dropped waist is also a gorgeous choice

Boat necklines or a sweetheart neckline will draw the eye upwards.

Avoid fitted styles such as trumpet or mermaid styles that draw attention to the belly, hips or thigh area.

Avoid any gowns that emphasise the waist area too much such as gathered waistlines as it will only make you look large

Avoid clingy fabrics like charmeuse or silk that will magnify every imperfection. Avoid stiff fabrics which will only add bulk. Choose instead silk satin or georgette.

HOURGLASS
A mermaid, trumpet or sheath style look amazing on your figure type. You can also take advantage of your slim waistline with a beaded belt.

NO CURVES
The best styles for you are mermaid and trumpet styles which hug all the right places and create the illusion of curves.

FLABBY UPPER ARMS
Choose a dress with lace sleeves, a wrap or a bolero.

Strapless gowns and spaghetti straps can be very risky as it only emphasises the bulk in your upper arms.

VERY TALL
Mermaid, trumpet and sheath styles highlight your long body and compliment your figure.

PLUS SIZE BRIDES
Consider a V neck gown or a gown with ruching in a medium weight duchess satin or a gown with a lace overlay.
Avoid fitted styles or a very low strapless dress.

There are so many choices and terminologies when referring to train lengths on wedding dresses. These are:

SWEEP
A very short train where the back hem is not much longer than the front hem

COURT
A train which extends about a metre from the waist

CHAPEL LENGTH
A train which extends about a metre and a half from the waist

CATHEDRAL LENGTH
A train for very formal weddings which extends about 2 metres from the waistline

There are so many choices and terminologies when referring to wedding dresses. These styles are:

TRUMPET
A trumpet style gown is one that is fitted up to the hips to mid thigh area and then flares out.

MERMAID STYLE
A mermaid style gown is fitted to the knees and then flares out more dramatically than the trumpet style.

BALL GOWN
A ball gown is very fitted up to either the waist or lower hip area and then flares out into a very full skirt. A hoop skirt is often worn under the skirt of a ball gown.

SHEATH STYLE
These gowns are basically straight from the top of the gown to the hemline without a defined waistline.

EMPIRE LINE
An empire line gown has a raised waistline just below the bustline and then flows down to the hemline.

A-LINE
An A-line style gown is fitted at the bodice and then flows out to the ground.

There are so many choices and terminologies when referring to sleeve styles on wedding dresses. These are:

STRAPLESS
A strapless gown is exactly as the name implies â?? a gown without straps

SHOW STRING or SPAGHETTI STRAPS
Shoe string or spaghetti straps are very thin straps that tend to sit at the edge of the neckline

SLEEVELESS
A sleeveless gown is a gown without sleeves.

CAP SLEEVES
Cap Sleeves are little sleeves that sit just off the shoulders.

SHORT SLEEVES
Short sleeves are sleeves which extend halfway between the shoulders and the elbow

3/4 SLEEVES
¾ sleeves extend from the shoulders to just above or below the elbow

LONG SLEEVES
Long sleeves extend from the shoulders to the wrist

There are so many choices and terminologies when referring to hemlines on wedding dresses. These are:

KNEE LENGTH
A knee length gown has a hemline that sits at the knee

ABOVE KNEE
An above knee length gown has a hemline that sits above the knee

TEA LENGTH
A tea length gown has a hemline that sits halfway between the knee and the ankle

ANKLE LENGTH
An ankle length gown has a hemline that sits on the ankle

FLOOR LENGTH
A floor length gown has a hemline that falls to the ground

Fabric choices in wedding dresses can be confusing so here is a guide to help you better understand the differences:
CHARMEUSE
Lightweight, soft fabric which feels like satin

CHIFFON
A transparent and sheer fabric which is very delicate

CREPE
A very soft, thin and light fabric which looks crinkled

DUCHESS SATIN
A lightweight silk or polyester and rayon that has a satin finish

SILK DUPION
A thicker version of shantung, with a slight sheen

GEORGETTE
Very similar to crepe with a sheer and lightweight appearance

ORGANZA
Sheer and ethereal but stiffer than chiffon and more flowy than tulle

SATIN
Shiny, heavy and smooth fabric

SHANTUNG
Very similar to raw silk with a rough texture

SILK MIKADO

Twill weave fabric used in modern architectural gowns. It is less shiny than satin and less matte than crepe.

TAFFETA
A crisp, stiff textured fabric

TULLE
Netting just like a tutu worn by a ballerina. Can be stiff like a tutu or more flowy

TWILL GAZAR

A silk weave fabric made with high twist double yarns which are woven in such a way as to give an appearance of diagonal lines but is has a smooth look. It has a crisp texture and is able to hold its shape.

There are so many choices and terminologies when referring to waistlines on wedding dresses. These are:

BASQUE
A basque waistline features a low U or V shaped waistline.

EMPIRE
An empire waistline has a raised waistline that sits just below the bust and then flows out.

DROPPED
A dropped waistline has a waistline that sits at the middle of the hipline.

NATURAL
A natural waistline sits at the natural waist.

There are so many choices and terminologies when referring to necklines on wedding dresses. These are:

ONE SHOULDER
A one shoulder neckline has a strap across one shoulder only.

SWEETHEART
A sweetheart neckline is shaped like the top half of a heart.

HALTER NECK
A halter neck neckline has one strap that wraps around the back of the neck

BOAT NECK
A boat neck sits quite high on the bust and follows the curve of the collarbone to the edge of the shoulders.

STRAPLESS
A strapless neckline is exactly as the description states â?? a neckline without straps.

QUEEN ANN
A Queen Ann neckline features a collar at the back of the neck that scoops down low across the chest.

OFF THE SHOULDER
Sleeves hat sit just off the shoulder

SCOOP
A scoop neck line features a deep U shaped neckline

SHEER NECKLINE
A neckline that is made from a sheer fabric such as tulle from the top of the bustline to the edge of the neck

 HIGH NECKLINE
A neckline which extends to the neck so it resembles a polo neck or turtle neck