In Wedding Dress And Gowns: Neckline Styles,Skirts, And Sleeve Styles

Flattering, stylish neckline styles are important if you would like to draw attention up and away from your not so flattering waistline. Higher necklines are for brides who consider themselves more modest or with smaller busts. Lower necklines are appropriate for more formal evening wedding gowns. Showing lots of cleavage - not appropriate for any wedding unless you are in Hollywood.

• Off the shoulder: any neckline that leaves shoulders bare.
• On the shoulder: any neckline that covers shoulders.
• Bateau: little to no “scoop,” often accompanied with a high back, can also have a low or bare back.
• Halter: sleeveless style leaves the shoulders bare, neckline circles the neck, often leaving the back bare also.
• Portrait: frames the face, off the shoulder style, usually has a design at the center.
• Queen Anne: similar to the sweetheart neckline, extended back creates a diamond shape neckline.
• Scoop: dips to a “U” shape, often both front and back.
• Square: similar to a scoop, this neckline dips into a square shaped opening.
• Sweetheart: often off the shoulder, this neckline dips in front creating a heart-shaped opening.
• V-Neck: dips in the front, and sometimes the back creating a “V” shape.

How formal do you want your wedding dress? A floor length gown is more formal, but if you prefer a tea length or an even shorter length - that’s up to you. Your gown should fit not only your figure, but also your personality. Victorian? Sophisticated? Princess like? Sparkly? Simply chic? Which personality will your gown reflect? Do you want to bustle your train? Will it hide, flatter, or accentuate that lower, back portion of your body. There are several ways you can bustle your gown, which we suggest you consider before you make the final decision as to which wedding dress your will where on your NJ wedding day.

• Ballgown (or Full Skirt): full and flares out from the waist, often keeps it shape with the aid of a crinoline (an underskirt or slip made of stiff netting), may have long train to be bustled or held up with a wrist loop; hides hips yet gives narrow hips a curvy look.
• Fishtail or Mermaid: hugs the body until it reaches the knees or just below and then ends in a dramatic flare, (above the knees allows for freeer dance movement and is more popular at this time), may have detachable train; more suitable for trimmer figures.
• Tea-length: less formal, usually with little to no flare, ends a few inches above the ankles; popular for NJ beach weddings.
• A-line or Princess: A-line, starts to flare out just below the natural waist; flattering to just about every shape camouflaging the bottom; gives illusion of height; works well for full-figure brides because heavier fabrics won’t cling; popular for NJ shore beach weddings.
• Sheath: narrow, straight flattering - popular for New Jersey shore weddings because it is less confining and requires less undergarments allowing for more air flow on New Jersey’s warm, summer evenings.

Some NJ wedding dresses come with optional sleeves, detachable sleeves, thin or wider shoulder straps, or halter strap. Your NJ bridal shop will work with you to give you sleeves or straps that will be most comfortable during your busy wedding day. Cap sleeves might be less flattering to the larger upper arm, and the long sleeve is more flattering, but much warmer and confining. The loser, short or 3/4 sleeve are the most flattering, yet less sophisticated in style. A long sleeve draws less attention to the wider middle of the body, too, since there will be little contrast between arm and waist with them both the same color. (If you prefer the more sophisticated cap sleeve or strapless, it might be the incentive you’ve needed to hit the gym and tone the arms.)

• Cap: short, close fitting, long enough to just cover the shoulders; popular for NJ shore summer weddings.
• Fitted: long, (to the wrist) and fitted, hugging the arms; suitable for NJ winter weddings.
• Short or 3/4: roomier and longer than the Cap sleeve, reaching slightly more than half way to the elbow; popular for NJ spring shore weddings.
• Strapless: no sleeves and very sexy, not flattering to broad shoulders.

http://www.newjerseyweddingvendors.com