3 Silhouettes Brides Are Loving Right Now
Knee-Length
What it is: Brides are going short and sweet! Wedding designers from Monique Lhuillier to Marchesa now are showing lovely white knee-length creations. Zac Posen, who helms the Truly Zac Posen wedding gown collection for David’s Bridal, calls this shorter style the “most innovative silhouette of the season. It’s perfect both for the wedding ceremony and to dance freely at the wedding reception,” he notes. “It’s as flattering as a cocktail dress but maintains the refinement that is often called for in a wedding gown.”
Best suited for: A bride who dares to go short is feminine, confident and sophisticated. “She is someone who embodies a true sense of identity. She is empowered, glamorous, enjoys the transformative power of fashion, and is not dictated by trends,” Posen says.
Wedding type: Consider a knee-length frock for a garden or beach fete, or even a vow renewal. Can’t make up your mind? Consider a long gown for the ceremony, then change into a flirtier knee-length number when it’s time to party.
Fitted But Fluid
What it is: Soft and sexy figure-skimming silhouettes, or fit-and-flare gowns, “play up your figure in all the right places,” says Watters president and founder Vatana Watters. Adds Alvina Valenta head designer Jessica Williams: “They convey a sexy, effortless mood that can accentuate not only a woman’s figure but also leave room for her personality.”
Best suited for: A romantic, modern and sexy bride will love this long and flowing silhouette that shows off a feminine shape. She’s also “classic in taste but always très chic,” according to Cymbeline designers, sisters Chantale and Monique Joubert and Evelyne Delaroche. Williams calls this bride a “sultry muse” – her individual sense of style leads her toward sensuous, dramatic but effortless choices.
Wedding type: The ladies of Cymbeline envision a wedding with natural light and glass chandeliers, lace and flowers, and romantic touches such as a horse-drawn carriage. Some of Williams’ favorite concepts: an afternoon garden reception, vows on the beach, a chic urban loft or an artsy gallery setting. “Brides are getting really creative with venues, from farms to parks to rooftops – they are breaking all rules,” Watters notes.
Ball Gown
What it is: “We’re seeing a huge resurgence in the ball gown,” says Danielle Cloutier, public relations director for Alfred Angelo. “This year, brides want their Grace Kelly moment.” At its best, this 1950s-inspired silhouette gives a small waist, a pop of beading or netting at the neckline, and then billows out from the waist in regal fashion.
Best suited for: A classic bride (especially with princess fantasies!) can’t go wrong. “The great part about a ball gown that hits the natural waist is that every body type is going to look amazing. It’s forgiving if you have curves, it elongates you if you’re petite, it shows off your assets and hides your flaws,” Cloutier says.
Wedding type: Depending on the fabric, a ball gown can work in summer or winter. Just remember they may be heavier to carry, Cloutier notes. “Keep this in mind if you’re having a destination wedding.”