Clear Up the Confusion: Dress Style Vocabulary Quick Guide

October 21, 2014

Dresses come in many, many styles. and depending on your own body style, one might be a better choice than another. Be sure to take your shape into consideration to find a truly perfect match. Last year was my daughter’s senior prom. We went dress shopping at all the area and out-of-area boutiques. When asked at each fitting what style of dress she wanted, she had no idea. Given examples of styles like ball gown, mermaid, column she looked at me blankly. And I won't mention all the choices in sleeves, waistlines, fabrics, colors, and so on. This is what I imagine many shoppers doing. A quick guide to some dress vocabulary should help clear up any confusion and is just what may be needed to make sure your dress is the best for you.

Ball Gown

What do you think of when you hear this description? Do you think of a tight top and full tulle skirt? That is what many of us see in our heads. But, these are new takes on the classic ball gown. Notice the full skirt doesn't have to be tulle or the bodice tight.

Ball Gown

Mermaid Style

If you are fairly new to this the mermaid style may seem rather modern. Don’t be afraid to try it though. This is a very flattering style for curvy women. Form fitting from the bust to just below the hips and a full skirt make this a great dress for any formal occasion. A few examples for you to admire:

Mermaid Style

Column Dress

For all the ladies that are shaped like a pole, there are beautiful dresses made especially for you. These long, shoulder to floor numbers are sophisticated, romantic, and show stoppers. Take a gander at some of the dresses the WardrobeShop has to offer, and for a limited time get 10% off.

Column Dress

Sleeve Styles

I am sure that you have been looking at these dresses and noticed some vast differences in the sleeves. You could want just about any length sleeve or no sleeve at all. But, do you know how to search for the right style? A few examples are cap sleeves, three-quarter, strapless, spaghetti strap, batwing or butterfly.

Cap Sleeves form a cap over only the shoulder, not quite the same as a short sleeve:

Sleeve Styles

Three-Quarter Sleeves extend down past the elbow:

Strapless is seductive:

Sleeve Styles

Spaghetti Straps aren't just for summer:

Sleeve Styles

Batwing and Butterfly wing sleeves are flowy and whimsical:

Sleeve Styles

Waistline

Where do you want the tightest part of the dress to sit? It doesn't have to be your natural waist (just below the belly button). Choosing the right waistline for your body is a choice, not everyone can wear every style. Choose from the Empire, which sets just below the breastbone and gives a long torso, an Asymmetrical waistline, which gives an illusion of having an hourglass shape to some women, or even Dropped waist which sits below the hips and is meant to elongate the middle of the body. Even the mermaid styles above are all about waistline.

Waistline