Bridal Gown Terms

After working as a stylist for a few years, it started to be clear that brides can feel a little lost with all the wedding dress jargon that gets thrown around. Instead of allowing that to be a barrier to entry, or allowing it to keep you from getting what you need in your shopping experience, I decided it could be helpful to create a glossary of ‘bridal vocab’! This way, when you go shopping you can clearly articulate what you love, and what you’d like to avoid!

AppliquÉ

This word will come up a lot and its important to understand what is just lace fabric, and what are appliques. Appliques are motifs of lace sewn onto a base fabric and usually create a 3D effect (can also be beaded or textured). Whether or not your dress has appliques will affect the cost of your alterations as it will need to be lifted and re-sewn if adjusting.

 Bustle

The best way to keep your train up off the floor during your reception. Using either ribbons or buttons and loops, you can tie up the back of your dress to allow yourself to move freely. The most common bustle options are called the French, American or a Faux hem, you would typically work with your tailor to choose.

Boning

This is a construction element used to create structure in your gown. For example, if you have a strapless dress, you may feel some hard plastic element going up the side seams, back, and front of your gown. This is to prevent the gown from falling and secure style lines. Boning can also be added in alterations for additional structure.

Crepe

Currently very popular, this is a woven fabric with a slightly grainy texture that produces a beautiful drape. If you’re going for a minimal look, try searching for crepe gowns.

Cups

You may be searching online and seeing a lot of backless dresses and thinking to yourself ‘what do I do with my boobs?” Typically when a gown is backless or has a low or sheer back, your tailor will install ‘bust cups’ which are essentially bra cups into the front of your dress to keep your chest in place. This is done in alterations and not when you purchase the gown to achieve the best possible fit for the individual bride.

Bodice Princess Seams

Illusion back with button detail

Illusion

You may have noticed that some gowns have buttons that look like their floating along the back or plunging necklines that are held taught. These design elements are made possible by installing ‘illusion mesh’, a soft stretch fabric that is mean to hold tension and disappear against the skin. Plunging necklines with illusion coming up the front are referred to as ‘illusion necklines’.

Princess Seams

These are the seams between the center of your body and the sides of the gown. They bisect your bust in the front and go down your shoulder blades in the back,  and can be located on the bodice or skirt of the dress. These seams are used to provide more curvature and shape through your gown, and in certain cases can make it easier to alter.

Sample Sale

A sample sale is when a store or a designer is selling off their floor stock. The gowns haven’t been worn, but they have been tried on by brides in store so they  may have light damage. Samples are usually marked down from 50-70%, so this is a great option if you’re trying to stay on budget. However, if the sample is more than 3x your size or is very heavily damaged, keep in mind this will probably add another $800-1100 in alterations.

Scallop

The rounded edges of lace, sometimes with an eyelash (fringe-eqsue) trim, commonly found around necklines, hems, and sleeve edges.

Train

The back of your dress that is long and trails behind you.

Tulle

A lightweight, fine, stiff netting. Often used to create volume in skirts and in crinolines.

Trunk Show

A trunk show is an opportunity to shop a designer’s entire line, as boutiques often only carry a selection. They are usually only for a limited time (from a weekend to a few weeks) and often carry a 10% discount attached. Some may even be attended by the designer themselves which gives you a chance to discuss potential customization options!

Train with button back detail