Bridal Gown Silhouettes

A-line
The A-line dress features a shape that is fitted around the bodice and flows out to the ground, resembling the outline of an uppercase A. The dress flows fluidly from the bust to the hem with an unbroken line. Due to its classic and simple style, the A-line dress is appropriate for any occasion, from a quiet backyard gathering to a traditional church ceremony.
Recommended for petite figures because it can make a shorter bride appear taller and for full figured brides hoping to de-emphasize their hips. The A-line, however, is not recommended for brides with thick waist as the hourglass shape will accentuate your waist.
Recommended for: petite, full-figured, short waist
Not recommended for: thick waist, hourglass

Ballgown
The most traditional and formal of all shapes. This style of skirt is best suited for the bride in search of a classic and elegant look. The ball gown is characterized by a fitted bodice and a waistline that leads to a full skirt. This dress is a great choice for medium to taller brides and for those that wish to hide large hips. This shape is not recommended for petite brides as the full skirt can overwhelm or take away from the appearance of the bride.
Recommended for: Thin figure, Full Figure, Med - Tall Heights, pear shaped figure
Not recommended for: petite figure

Empire
An empire dress is defined by the raised waistline that sits just below the bust, from which the rest of the dress flows down to the hem. Like the A-line, the empire style is very versatile and can accommodate a wide range of formality. The empire style is best suited for brides with small bust and slim figures. The shape can give the impression of increased height or for those with thicker waist, it can de-emphasize the area.
Recommended for: Petite, thick waist
Not recommended for: hourglass, Curvy figures, full figure, pear shaped figure

Mermaid
The mermaid silhouette contours to the body from the chest to the knee, then flares out to the hem. This is a very sexy look that highlights the curves of a woman’s body. It has a distinctive diagonal cut on the skirt. For a bride wanting to accentuate her curvaceous figure, this dress is ideal.
Recommended for: hourglass figure
Not recommended for: full figure

Sheath
This style is very form fitting, following the contours of your body very closely. A sheath dress features a straight skirt with no waist. Highly recommended for those brides with a tall, well proportioned (thin) figure.
Recommended for: thin figure, petite figure
Not recommended for: pear shaped figure, full figure

Trumpet
A trumpet dress has a straight-lined skirt that flares toward the hem, like the mouth of a trumpet; It hugs the bodice all the way to the midhip and then widens gradually to the bottom. It's a variation of the mermaid, but differs with a flair just below the hip (mermaid flairs below the knee) which softens the silhouette to be not as dramatic as the mermaid.
A trumpet can also have a more elaborate skirt than a mermaid and still highlight the curves of a woman's body, but in a more forgiving way than the mermaid.
Recommended for: hourglass figure
Not recommended for: full figure