Bridal Gown Shapes





Rounding out this first week back we’re very much in girly mode this morning – it’s all about wedding dresses today ladies! In fact we’ve decided that in 2010 we didn’t feature wedding dresses enough, and it’s one of the most crucial elements for any bride, so 2011 is going to be the year of the wedding dress on OneFabDay.

Wedding dress are generally defined by the skirt shape – Fishtail/Trumpet/Mermaid, Ballgown, Empire, Sheath and A-Line.  Today we’re all about the A-Line wedding dress. The A-line is the great catch-all, the classic suits-everyone shape. They cinch in at the waist and flow out from the hips, so whether you’re straight up and down, or have a big bum or legs, the style hides a myriad. A-Lines are the easiest way to create the perfect hourglass silhouette. If you’ve boobs, then great, but even if you’re small on top, having a boned or built-in corset will even you out.

wedding-dress-creator Bridal Gown Shapes

A-Line doesn’t have to be about a straight skirt, or any particular style of neckline – we’ve found a collection of very diverse styles and shapes to suit all tastes. Starting with…



Bruce Oldfield is currently front-runner as Kate’s dress designer of choice (though rumours abound now that it’s an unknown british designer) and no wonder when you see this timeless and elegant 34104 (snappy name there Bruce!) – reminds us very much of the Issa dress Kate wore for the engagement announcement.

Jenny Packham‘s May Blossom is a airy silk strapless dress with diamante waist detail and slightly ruched skirt.

Giuliana from Monique L’Huillier, designer to the stars, is “Ivory re-embroidered lace jewel neckline corset and ivory silk gazar hand-tufted skirt with ruched waistband” – reminds me of a modern doll

The Emmeline from Vera Wang, high priestess of the wedding dress, is a “V-neck tissue organza ballgown with illusion corset bodice, and french tulle veiled metallic hand painting, with grosgrain sash at natural waist”



wedding-dress-creator-2 Bridal Gown ShapesPretty and practical, this Paloma Blanca strapless A-Line wedding dress with jewelled waistband is simplicity and elegance epitomised, but with pockets!

I love this unusual dress from Aire Vintage Collection – it’s the Zaga and something about its cross-over embroidered bodiced and white layers reminds me of Christian Lacroix.

Another old-school look is the Eire (?!) from Rosa Clara – pure ivory duchesse satin with capped sleeved and acres of train.

Cymbeline is a Paris-based wedding dress designer and this bright white lace, satin and tulle one-shoulder dress would be a great look for any body shape. The graduation of the lace detail at the shoulder down the length of the dress catches the eye and lengthens the body.

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Elie Saab is another celebritydesigner favourite, the Agalaya with its floral lace capped sleeve bodice and full organza skirt with flower embroidery is very much a showstopper.

From lace and tulle, to pure silk satin, Anne Barge is the creator of this gorgeous ivory duchesse satin strapless A-Line dress with lightly ruched skirt.

Reem Acra offers a twist on the A-Line skirt with a half skirt of tulle over another long version. Loving the embroidery at the waist to join the smooth bodice with the textured skirt.

The Electra from Rosa Clara has a definite feel of Princess Grace with all over lace, full skirt and train, and off-the shoulder bodice.

A-Line Dress – Fit For A Princess?

You may wonder about the title of this post – while researching the 2011 wedding trends post earlier this week, we discussed how Kate Middleton’s dress is going to be the defining wedding dress of  2011-2012. So far we’ve held off on trying to predict what her dress will be like, but having done this post something twigged.  We had a look back over pictures of her style in the last few years and it’s fair she is a pretty conservative dresser, she shows off her figure but in a very demure way. I somehow can’t see her wearing a fishtail gown and a ballgown isn’t really her look. So our money is on an A-line dress – who knows, might even look like one of these?