This is a less common wedding dress style, and youe

Choosing Your Perfect Wedding Dress Silhouette

Il admit it: Even though there are, at last count, 4,386 reality shows that share the premise that fashion is the most important thing in the whole universe, I hadn really been paying attention.

So when I started shopping for my wedding dress, I had some catching up to do. My saleswoman started throwing new and faintly terrifying terms at me. I thought about just trying to fake it, but I became increasingly sure that if I said the wrong thing a trap door would open up under my feet and send me tumbling down a long, greasy Chute of Shame. At the bottom would be Anna Wintour, and Tyra Banks, waiting to confiscate my Girl Card.

I dove in with hand gestures instead: want it to sort of?go up here?And then maybe like this??The saleswoman cocked her head at me like the RCA dog and took a moment to consider pressing the silent alarm, then suggested I look through the racks a bit.

To save expensive evening dresses you from that particular slice of pre-wedding embarrassment, here a quick rundown of basic wedding dress silhouettes.

A-line

Youe probably worn an A-line dress at some point. (If you haven, give one a try! Theye flattering on just about any figure.) Some flare out gently from the shoulder, creating kind of an overall letter A shape, and other versions flare out from the waist with a more fitted bodice. Either way, youl look terrific.

Ball gown

Youe seen these on most animated princesses. A ball gown has a closely fitted bodice, then poofs out into a very full, bell-shaped skirt that is usually floor-length. The waistline may dip down into a V, and may sit higher or lower on the hips, depending on your preference.

Ballerina

This is a less common wedding dress style, and youe probably already guessed how it looks. Like the ball gown, a ballerina dress has a fitted bodice and a skirt that poofs out from the waistline, but in this case there more of a tutu effect, with the skirt hitting about mid-calf. Youl be working with very light, floaty fabrics in lots and lots of layers, and there may be some petticoat action.

Bustle back

When seen from the side, this dress has an S-shaped silhouette that was popular from the 1890s through the 1910s or so, when folks liked to (demurely) emphasize the fact that Baby had back. Youl see either a big bow-style decoration or maybe even an extra bunch of fabric in back. Some women automatically freak at the idea of emphasizing the badonk, but I think bustles are classic and fun.

Empire

This confusingly named waistline actually starts just below the bust, and then the dress drops straight down, or close to it. Youe seen these in Jane Austen adaptations like Emma and Sense and Sensibility. Ie read alleged experts who say that empire dresses look best on slender women and others who say they look best on full-figured women. Me, I think they give all women a little-girl look, which may or may not be your bag. So forget the experts and just go by whether or not you like them.

Mermaid

A mermaid dress will give you a shapely silhouette without being inappropriately sexy for a wedding dress. The dress hugs your curves from your bust to your hips, then flares out at the knee to create a fishtail effect. (That looks way better than it sounds.) Mermaid dresses can be strikingly beautiful, but because they are fitted so closely, they may not be good for ceremonies in which you have to kneel. You may girls evening dresses even have some trouble sitting down if your dress is very form-fitting, so consider changing into another outfit for your reception.

Princess

In this case, youe going for a grown-up princess instead of a Grimm. Think Grace Kelly. This dress is less close-fitting than a mermaid or sheath, but still follows your natural curves. The bodice has vertical panels of fabric and then the skirt flares out gently. This is an elegant style that brings out the inner stone-cold fox in most women.

Sheath

Like mermaid dresses, sheath dresses are very form-fitting. In this case, though, your guests get to see your feet as well as your curves. A sheath dress will be clingy from shoulder (or bust, if youe going strapless) to hem, with no flaring out. It looks like an evening gown ?one that really hugs your body, so make sure youe feeling bold. And, as with the mermaid, make sure youe not feeling like sitting down or kneeling.

Slip

This is an elegant style that is usually kept very simple. It a slinky fall of satin (or satiny material) that clings to your body. Slip dresses are often cut on a bias, with shoestring shoulder straps.

A final word on fashion xperts?br /> Ie seen a lot of expert commentary on how women should dress to look their best lately, and Il just say this: Many of these people are well-intentioned men and women who love, love, love women and their bodies.

But many of them aren.

Some love clothes but don like women, and some only like very tall skinny women, and some sincerely mean to love women but are carrying around great big laundry baskets full of issues, and some of them like to lash out at anyone who might be an easy target because they secretly don like themselves and being snarky reassures them that theye superior to somebody.

Some of them are people who just need to fill that magazine issue and sell some long sleeved dresses ads and are terrified of doing anything different from the last 117 issues lest someone else get mad or make fun of them. And some people just can stand it when not everyone conforms to their idea of what looks good.

My point is that you may want to take expert advice with a grain of salt, and maybe the whole shaker. Some fashion experts can be positive and wonderful, and some can really mess with your head, whether they mean to or not. By all means, read or watch them, but if youe starting to feel worse about yourself as you do, pull out. The most useful fashion experts are the ones who start with the premise that youe a babe and then work to help you become the most fabulous version of yourself.

And, in the end, your instincts trump them too. If a dress breaks all the rules but makes you feel absofreakinglutely amazing, that The One.

Good luck, Gorgeous. Happy shopping!

Classic Wedding Dresses For Picky Brides To Be

Finding that perfect wedding dress can prove no small feat, especially considering it's the most important dress you'll ever wear! When you first start shopping for wedding dresses, the seemingly limitless options can be overwhelming, especially if you're a picky bride-to-be. But shopping for your wedding dress doesn't have to leave you feeling stressed out, especially with this guide at your fingertips. Whether you prefer a traditional, modern, elegant or glamorous look, you'll find the best of classic wedding dresses for picky brides-to-be right here.

Traditional Wedding Dresses

When asked, even the pickiest of brides-to-be simply want to look like long sleeved wedding dresses a princess on her wedding day. If you want nothing less than a complete fairytale wedding, here are the top three classic and traditional dream wedding dresses.

Nothing says fairytale like a ball gown wedding dress. The epitome of romance, the Satin Ball Gown with Ruffled Organza Underlay wedding dress promises to make you feel like a true princess. You'll look like a classic beauty in this strapless bodice that features a beautiful jewel-embellished waistband, ruffled organza underlay and chapel train.

Looking like royalty on your wedding day is no longer too much to askfter all, you want to look like a true princess! The most flattering and dazzling wedding dress now available is the Satin A-Line Gown with Lace and Beaded Appliqu. Created to slim the figure with its princess A-line silhouette, this dress also features ruching detail for some extra flair. You'll look like a true princess as you glide down the aisle, your wedding dress shimmering with delicate beaded lace appliqu, which adorn the entire bodice and skirt of this stunning classic wedding dress.

Contemporary Wedding Dresses

You're likely searching for a look that blends tradition with a fashion-forward twist, which can often prove a hard combination to find. Here we've listed our top three modern, yet classic wedding dresses.

Look effortlessly feminine in the Taffeta Ball Gown with Layered Tulle Skirt wedding dress. The classic wedding dress with a modern twist shows off your neck and shoulders with its strapless bodice and shirring detail with a floral-inspired bow at empire waist. You'll look effortlessly graceful in this layered tulle skirt, which combines soft and romantic with volume and drama.

Simple yet incredibly detailed, the A Line Tulle Gown with Crewelneck Embroidery wedding dress is unforgettable. This dress features a strapless bodice with hand-stitched crewel, a type of embroidery with rows of chain stitch that creates an embossed effect. For added sophistication, you'll love the empire waist that comes accentuated with a crisp grosgrain band that flows into a full tulle skirt.

Elegant Wedding Dresses

Any bride-to-be wants to look elegant on her wedding day, but you won't accept any less than the epitome of elegance in your wedding dress. Here we've found two wedding dresses that perfectly marry classic and elegant.

The Strapless Lace and Tulle Slim Gown Style can certainly be considered a masterpiece when it comes to wedding dress design. This dress has beaded lace and pleated tiers of tulle that merge to create a one-of-a-kind, classic look. In addition, you'll love the slim dress silhouette that promises to look elegant on any figure. This dress comes in ivory/champagne, solid ivory or timeless solid white.

You'll take everyone breath away as you walk down the aisle in the Satin Ball Gown with Laser-Cut Floral Appliqu. A perfect blend of classic and modern elegance, this strapless satin ball gown features overlapping laser-cut floral appliqu and horizontal bands across the skirt. You will feel gorgeous in the flattering strapless bodice and full ball gown skirt as you appear to float down the aisle with a dramatic sweep train.

Glamorous Wedding Dresses

You want drama. You want each and every wedding guest to lose their breath as you glide down the aisle, the epitome of glamour. Well, look no further: even the pickiest of bride-to-be love these two classic, glamorous wedding dresses.

Picky brides-to-be often fall immediately in love with the taffeta ball gown. A perfect balance between a classic and glamorous look, the Taffeta Ball Gown with lace long dress Floral Appliqu embodies drama and romance. This dress has a form-fitting taffeta bodice, which features a dropped waist and all over ruching for a flattering look. Rich in detail and style, this taffeta ball gown has floral appliqu that shape its breathtaking skirt. To top it off, this dress features the coveted chapel train, which offers you length without hassle.

If you desire all out glamour on your wedding day, the Organza A-Line Gown with Angled Draped Pick-Ups dress is for you for three reasons: dramatic draped angles, a stunning sweetheart neckline and a dramatic sweep train. This dress is a top pick for brides-to-be, with its gorgeous sweetheart neckline highlights that perfectly accentuate the shoulders, while the 3D floral embellishment at waist adds an extra glamorous touch.

As you browse through this guide of classic wedding dresses for picky brides-to-be, you'll finally be relieved to find your perfect wedding dress is indeed out there!