Wedding dress style: The A-line shape
Wedding dress style: The A-line shape

Wedding dress style: The A-line shape

This month we’re having a more in-depth look at dress styles. Can you tell your mermaid style from your fit-and-flare?! Your A-line from your ballgown?! Well never fear, we are here to help!

Now we are complete advocates of buying a dress that you are absolutely in love with, regardless of your body shape or size. However if you’ve no idea where to start, our guides might just help point you in the right direction.

Today we’re looking at the A-line dress shape. Easy to wear, the A-line allows you to move freely and works beautifully on any figure and height. It’s a classic shape, fitted at the chest and then flowing down to a wider hem, in an A-shape, funnily enough! It looks beautiful with sleeves, dropped straps and strapless, as well as working with bateau, sweetheart and V necklines.

It’s also a great style for short trains, long trains, and no trains at all. Style with a cathedral length veil, cape or streamers from your shoulder straps. If you’re going for a long train, why not think about forgoing the veil, and opt for a gorgeous headpiece instead?

A-line shapes look gorgeous with layered tulle, satin and chiffon, but I’ve also seen some really beautiful dresses in a heavier, more traditional silk.

The A-line shape lends itself really well to a detailed bodice and a more simple skirt. You could even go for separates, which would give a more defined waist and kick out the skirt a little more, but not as much as a ballgown shape.

It really is a versatile and timeless dress style, and one that the designers love too! Here’s a few of our favourites from recent collections.

The A-line wedding dress

Galia Lahav – Kaila

From The Fall 2020 collection, I adore this soft A-line silk tulle dress. The combination of ivory, nude and pink colours blend beautifully, creating the prettiest skirt for the floral stems to wind down. This dress has the feel of a woodland nymph, with floral dropped straps and a floral bodice to tie the elements together.

Wedding dress style: The A-line shape
Galia Lahav – Kaila

Amanda Wakeley – Orla Bodice and Thea Skirt

If you want to keep your options open, separates are the way to go! These pieces are silk Mikado, lightweight but strikingly beautiful. The open back bodice is beautifully embellished with rows of geometric beading, matching the detail on the waist which then leads to a simple skirt with a short train. You could swap out the skirt for a pair of satin trousers for the reception, or your going away look.

Wedding dress style: The A-line shape
Amanda Wakeley – Orla Bodice and Thea Skirt

Hayley Paige – Finley

From the Fall 2019 collection. This bodice has the sweetest pearl and opal beaded detail, leading to a really simple skirt, which almost has a wrapped feel with the thigh split appearing from the folds. A different bodice shape here, with a plunging sweetheart neckline and capped sleeves. This is a great example of where a detailed bodice fits together with a chic and simple skirt.

Wedding dress style: The A-line shape
Hayley Paige – Finley

Pronovias – Ursa

This A-line dress has sweet spaghetti straps, and a nude bodice with crystals scattered across it and light tulle skirt. The real feature is the train, which is long and elegant. It’s really important to think about the back of your dress, as this is the part that a lot of people will be staring at throughout the ceremony. The little buttons and embellished V are a really lovely detail; a hair vine or glittering headpiece would look fabulous with this dress.

Wedding dress style: The A-line shape
Pronovias – Ursa

Jenny Packham – Thistle

From the 2019 collection. Thistle’s wrapped tulle bodice drops down to a matching skirt. This is a gorgeous look, with dropped sleeves and a waterfall skirt creating a lovely textured feel. The dress is simple, yet elegant. You could wrap a coloured ribbon around the waist for some added detail and a splash of colour.

Wedding dress style: The A-line shape
Jenny Packham – Thistle

Sassi Holford – Millie

I love this dress! A different neckline here with a halterneck, tying with a feature bow at the back that trails down the dress – no need for a veil here! The dress is silk crepe, with an organza overlay on the skirt. This is simple, with style!

Wedding dress style: The A-line shape
Sassi Holford – Millie

So that’s the A-line dress! Next week we’ll be looking at the sheath shape, so look out for that one!