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NLWedding dress glossary
Every cut, fabric, neckline and train in plain words. 62 terms, so the next appointment makes sense the moment you walk in.
Silhouette
- A-Line
- Fitted through the bodice and widening steadily from the waist to the hem, so the skirt traces the letter A. The most forgiving shape, and the most common silhouette in our app.
- Ball Gown
- A fitted bodice over a full, structured skirt, usually built on layers of tulle. The most dramatic shape and the one most people picture when they hear wedding dress.
- Trumpet
- Fitted through the body to mid-thigh, then flaring out gradually like the bell of a trumpet. Less severe than a mermaid and easier to walk in.
- Mermaid
- Fitted from the bust to below the knee before flaring sharply at the hem. The most figure-hugging silhouette, and the one that shortens your stride the most.
- Fit & Flare
- A general term for anything fitted on top and fuller below. Softer than a trumpet and without the sharp break of a mermaid, so it sits between the two.
- Empire
- The waist seam sits directly under the bust and the skirt falls straight from there. Named for the French Empire period, and a common choice for maternity gowns.
- Princess
- Shaped by vertical seams running from shoulder to hem instead of a horizontal waist seam, which gives one long unbroken line.
- High Low
- A hem short at the front and long at the back. It shows the shoes standing still and keeps a formal outline from behind.
- Two-Piece
- A separate top and skirt worn together, so each half is fitted on its own and the skirt can be swapped for the party.
Neckline
- Sweetheart
- A neckline curved into two soft lobes, like the top half of a heart. The most common neckline in our app.
- Semi Sweetheart
- The same heart shape flattened almost straight, so the curve is suggested rather than drawn.
- V-Neck
- A straight-sided V. It lengthens the neck, and it is the second most common neckline in our app.
- Deep V-Neck
- A V cut low toward the waist, usually held in place by a sheer illusion panel or interior tape.
- Off-Shoulder
- The neckline sits below the shoulders with a sleeve or band crossing the upper arm, leaving the collarbones and shoulders bare.
- High / Halter
- The front rises toward the throat and is carried by a strap or panel behind the neck, leaving the shoulders and upper back open.
- Scoop
- A wide, rounded U across the chest.
- Square
- A straight front edge meeting the straps at right angles, which gives a clean architectural line.
- Boat Neck
- A shallow horizontal line running almost shoulder to shoulder. Also called a bateau.
- Jewel
- A plain round neckline sitting at the base of the throat, the same line a simple T-shirt has.
- Queen Anne
- A high collar at the back of the neck falling to a heart-shaped front, so the shoulders are framed rather than covered.
- Cat Eye
- A curved front that lifts to a point at each side, echoing the outer corner of an eye.
- Cowl
- Fabric draped in soft folds across the front, cut on the bias so it falls rather than holds a shape.
- Strapless
- No straps and no sleeves at all: the bodice is held up by its own structure.
Fabric
- Lace
- Openwork fabric with the pattern worked into it rather than printed on. The most used material in our app, and the word covers dozens of very different weights.
- Chantilly
- A fine, light lace with a delicate floral pattern and a scalloped edge, named after the French town. Softer and flatter than a corded lace.
- Tulle
- A fine net, light enough to layer many times over. It is what gives a full skirt its volume without weight.
- Satin
- A weave rather than a fibre: smooth and reflective on one face, dull on the other. Heavier satins hold a structured shape.
- Stretch Satin
- Satin woven with elastane so it follows the body, used where a fitted shape still has to move.
- Crepe
- A fabric with a fine, slightly grainy surface that hangs close to the body without shine. Chosen for clean, modern lines.
- Chiffon
- Sheer and very light, so it floats rather than falls. Usually layered, and common on summer and destination gowns.
- Mikado
- A heavy silk blend with a subtle sheen that holds a sculpted shape. The choice when a skirt has to stand away from the body on its own.
- Organza
- Sheer and crisp where chiffon is sheer and soft, so it holds volume while staying light.
- Silk
- The natural fibre itself rather than a weave. Breathable, expensive, and the base of several of the fabrics above.
- Jersey
- A knit rather than a woven cloth, so it stretches in every direction and skims the body.
- Macrame
- Coarse knotted openwork with a handmade look, closer to rope than to thread.
- Jacquard
- The pattern is woven into the structure on the loom rather than applied on top, so it shows on both faces of the cloth.
- Taffeta
- A crisp woven fabric that rustles audibly and holds a sharp fold.
- Brocade
- A rich woven fabric with a raised pattern, often metallic, standing proud of the surface.
- Dotted Mesh
- A fine net with woven dots scattered across it. Also sold as polka dot tulle or point d'esprit.
- Embroidery
- Thread stitched onto finished fabric to make a pattern, as opposed to a pattern woven in.
- Sequins
- Small flat discs sewn on one by one or on a backing tape, catching light directly rather than reflecting it softly.
- Beading
- Beads applied by hand or machine, usually across a bodice, adding both light and weight.
- Illusion
- Sheer tulle matched to the skin, so lace, a neckline or an open back appears to float unsupported.
Length and train
- Chapel Train
- A train extending roughly 30 to 40 cm past the hem. The shortest formal train and the easiest to bustle up for the party.
- Cathedral Train
- A train of a metre or more, cut for a long aisle. Usually the most formal length a house offers.
- Sweep / Brush Train
- The shortest train there is. It just brushes the floor behind the hem.
- Puddle
- A hem long enough to pool on the floor when you stand still, without becoming a separate train.
- Tea
- A hem ending between the calf and the ankle. Also called tea length.
- Midi
- A hem ending around mid-calf.
- Knee
- A hem at or just above the knee.
Back
- Keyhole
- A cut-out opening in an otherwise closed back, usually a teardrop or an oval below the neckline.
- Lace-Up
- A corset back closed with ribbon through loops or eyelets, which allows several centimetres of adjustment at the fitting.
- Backless
- The back left open to the waist or below.
- Cut Out
- One or more shaped openings placed deliberately in the fabric.
- Tattoo
- A sheer panel carrying lace or appliqué so the pattern reads against the skin, like a tattoo.
Sleeve
- Cap
- A very short sleeve covering only the top of the shoulder.
- Puff
- A sleeve gathered at the shoulder, at the cuff or both, so it stands away from the arm.
- Wing
- A short sleeve cut to fall open from the shoulder rather than wrap the arm.
- Bell
- Fitted at the shoulder and widening toward the wrist.
- Three-Quarter
- A sleeve ending between the elbow and the wrist.
- Detachable
- A sleeve that unfastens, so one gown gives you a covered ceremony and a bare party.
- Separate
- Sleeves supplied as their own piece, either fastened to the gown or worn on the arm.
