Important Elements of Dresses
Dresses can be flirty, fashionable, professional, conservative or fun. The choice is really up to you and your personality.
Many people wear dresses because they are comfortable and convenient. They can also provide a stylish go-to outfit for a business event or a night out with friends.
The Bodice
The bodice is one of the most important parts of a dress, providing shape and form to the silhouette. Whether you’re looking for a formal ball gown or a casual sundress, the right bodice will give your outfit the look and feel that you want.
A well-constructed bodice can also help ensure that your dress stays in place and does not require constant adjustment throughout the day. In addition, properly fitting bodices distribute weight evenly across the body, reducing discomfort from prolonged wear.
A popular type of dress silhouette, the A-line bodice is fitted from the chest to the waist and flares out at the bottom to create a triangular shape that resembles the letter A. A-line dresses are great for flattering all body shapes and sizes, especially those with narrower waistlines.
In earlier times, a bodice was used to describe the upper portion of a two-piece dress, with the skirt and sleeves attached separately. Today, the term “bodice” is most often used to refer to a single-piece garment. This upper section of the garment is typically characterized by a fitted shape, and may have features such as boning or bustles.
The Waistline
The waistline of a dress determines how the fabric hugs your hips and torso. It is also what defines whether the dress will be slimming or fuller.
During the Neoclassical fashion of the 1810s and 1820s, Dresses dresses slipped their waistlines downward to create a columnar silhouette that emphasized the natural waist and widened up the upper torso. Underpinnings like boned stays and bust gussets helped to shape the waistline, while swathes of satin and silk cinched around the bustline.
To calculate the waistline, take a tape measure straight down from your armhole and across your back and front, then subtract the back waist from the front waist to get the waist measurement. If you’re not sure where the natural waist lies, try wearing a belt to figure it out.
Pear-shaped bodies usually present narrow waistlines in comparison to their hips and bust measurements. To balance this body type, you can accentuate the shoulders and bust using embellished top shapes and open backs or try to divert attention away from the wide hips with hemlines that fall above the knee.
The Neckline
A dress’s neckline can make or break its silhouette. While some necklines may come and go in fashion, it’s important to find one that flatters your body shape.
A boat neck (also referred to as a bateau neckline) sits close to the collarbone and is great for accentuating a strong shoulder line. Audrey Dresses Hepburn was a big fan of this style!
Another flattering option is a scoop neckline, which falls slightly below the clavicle. This neckline works well on most body shapes and is ideal for showing off jewelry.
The surplice neckline is similar to a v-neck but it crosses in front instead of extending down the sides of the shoulders. It can be found in dresses, blouses and tops.
A sweetheart neckline is a classic that’s perfect for showcasing cleavage. It’s also a great option for formal occasions. A split sweetheart neckline follows the same traditional shape but is split deeper along the center front to reveal more cleavage. A halter neckline has straps that twist in the front and tie behind the back of the neck. The strap width can vary from thin to thick and the shape of the neckline can be round or square.
The Sleeves
Sleeves are a crucial element in the design of dresses. Whether they are long or short, they can alter the silhouette of the dress completely. They can also be fitted or full, depending on the style of the dress.
One of the most popular sleeve designs for dresses is a butterfly sleeve, which is full at the shoulder and top of the sleeve, but taper down to the elbow. This is often combined with a frill or cap sleeve below the elbow. Actress Mabel Love wore a similar style in her 1890s outfit, which she called a gigot (meaning leg-of-mutton sleeve).
Other sleeves that you might see on dresses are flutter sleeves, which are light and airy and look best when made from lace or sheer sewing fabrics. These are often ruffled, but they can also be plain. You can also find bell sleeves, which are very wide and gathered to create poofiness. You can also find peasant sleeves, which are inspired by hippie culture and are loose right up to the armhole. Finally, there are set-in sleeves, which require extra care when sewing as they need to match up with the armhole markings on the bodice pattern.
The Skirt
A skirt is a piece of clothing that hangs from the waist and covers part or all of the lower body. It is traditionally worn by women, although in some cultures and historical periods men have also worn what could be considered skirts.
The skirt’s silhouette can have a big impact on the overall look of the dress. Some silhouettes are flattering to most body shapes, while others accentuate a particular figure type.
Skirt styles may vary from fitted to full or from pleated to pencil style. Some skirts are gathered or folded to create fullness, while others are more tightly fitted, creating an hourglass silhouette.
The fit-and-flare silhouette is fitted from the bodice to just below the knees and then flares out. This shape accentuates the curve of the body and is best suited to pear or apple shaped bodies. A similar silhouette, the bell or ballgown, is fitted from the bodice to the waist and then flares generously to the hemline, which can be as low as the ground or as high as mid-calf.
