Wedding Gown Material and Design

Before shopping for you perfect wedding gown, let's get familiarized with some of the more common fabric, material and design. There are many other options, or combination of them. You have to try it on to feel the material, its overall look and effect on your body. Once you know what type of neckline, bodice, silhouette that suit your figure, it will a lot easier to land on the most fitting dress.


1. Ivory silk satin organza bridal gown. Strapless sweetheart neckline with asymmetrical layers of raw edged silk satin organza on the bodice. Ivory silk ribbon belt with jeweled fabric petal detail at natural waist, Asymmetrical tiered skirt.

Silk - luxurious and expensive natural fiber from silkworm cocoons that is soft, smooth and strong. There are several types of textures.

Satin - is not a fiber, it is a type of weave which can be made from any fiber; natural fiber such as silk or from synthetic fiber like polyester. Satin is soft and smooth with a lustrous shiny surface.

Organza - Crisp, transparent, sheer like chiffon but with a stiffer feel, can be made out of silk, polyester or nylon. It is similar to tulle but more flowy.

Left: Silk Satin. Right: Organza

2. Ivory tulle bridal ball gown with an alencon lace bodice and V neckline. Alencon lace is layered throughout skirt front and back, sweep train.

Tulle - Netting made of silk, nylon or rayon which is light, see-through often used for wedding veils and skirts.

Alencon lace (Corded lace) - The most elaborate French needlepoint lace on a sheer net background with motifs and is outlined in heavy cordonnet or thread giving it a three dimensional look.

Left: Tulle. Right: Alencon Lace

3. Ivory Chantilly lace softly fluted bridal gown with godets at sides and center back skirt. V neck front and back leads to Ivory silk chiffon ruching at empire waist with jeweled fabric floral detail, sweep train.

Chantilly Lace - A delicate lace originated from Chantilly, France with outlined pattern, and abundant detail. It is made on a lightweight hexagonal mesh background. There is light and shadow effect in the pattern which is normally flowers, created by the use of a half-and-whole stitch as a fill.

Chiffon - flowy, sheer, and transparent fabric made from silk or rayon which is soft and airy; often used to make overlays, sheer sleeves or wraps.

Ruching - ruffle or pleat

Godet - A piece of fabric in triangular shape which is inserted into a garment causing it to flare adding more volume

Left: Chantilly Lace. Right: Silk Chiffon

Left: Ruching. Right: Godet

4. Tulle bridal ball gown with a Chantilly lace bodice and one shoulder neckline tulle illusion overlay. Silk ribbon and flower detail at the natural waist with a swirling multi-tiered tulle skirt and horsehair detail.

Illusion Overlay - a very thin, delicate tulle of silk or nylon having a cobwebbed appearance, laid over something else, example a dress.

Horsehair braid - is often used to give stiffness and shape to circular hems in dresses.

Left: Horsehair hems. Right: Illusion Overlay

Ref: jlmcouture.com

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