The Mura Journal
Wedding Dress Glossary: 25 Terms Brides Hear
Bridal has its own language, and it arrives all at once: consultants and websites toss around words like "basque" and "bustle" as if everyone learned them in school. Nobody did. Here are twenty-five of the terms you'll hear most, translated into plain language — bookmark this page before your first appointment and you'll follow every conversation with ease.
Silhouettes and structure
- A-line: fitted at the bodice, flaring gradually from the waist like the letter A. The most universally flattering shape.
- Ballgown: a fitted bodice with a full, dramatic skirt — the classic princess silhouette.
- Mermaid: fitted through the body to the knee, then flaring out. Trumpet is its softer cousin, flaring from mid-thigh.
- Sheath: a straight, narrow silhouette that follows the body without flare.
- Empire waist: the seam sits just under the bust, with the skirt falling from there.
- Basque waist: a waistline that dips into a V point at the front — a vintage, torso-lengthening detail.
- Bodice: the upper part of the dress, from shoulders to waist.
- Boning: flexible strips sewn into a bodice to give it structure and support.
- Corset: a structured bodice style, often with visible seaming or lacing, that shapes the torso.
Necklines, sleeves, and backs
- Sweetheart: a neckline shaped like the top of a heart.
- Illusion neckline: sheer net across the upper chest or back, often scattered with lace, giving coverage that looks like bare skin.
- Off-the-shoulder: the neckline sits below the shoulders, with straps or sleeves resting on the upper arms.
- Bolero: a short, cropped jacket — often lace — worn over a dress, and removable.
- Detachable sleeves: sleeves that fasten on for the ceremony and come off for the reception.
- Bustle: the system of loops, buttons, or ties that lifts a train up into the skirt so you can walk and dance.
Trains, veils, and fabrics
- Train: the fabric extending behind the skirt. Sweep brushes the floor, chapel trails about a metre, cathedral extends dramatically beyond that.
- Cathedral veil: a veil that extends past the train; a fingertip veil ends at your hands, a blusher is the short layer worn over the face.
- Appliqué: lace motifs cut out and sewn onto a dress, often trailing from bodice to skirt.
- Tulle: fine, soft netting used for skirts and veils — the fabric of the classic floating skirt.
- Organza: a crisper, more structured sheer fabric that holds volume.
- Chiffon: a soft, flowing, matte fabric that drapes and billows.
- Crepe: a smooth, matte fabric with a slight texture, loved for clean modern dresses.
- Satin: a smooth fabric with a gentle sheen — the classic formal choice.
- Mikado: a heavier, structured satin-blend that holds architectural shapes.
- Sample size: the standard size a boutique stocks for trying on — not your size, and not a reflection of the dress made for you.
Now you speak bridal
Half the stress of dress shopping is vocabulary; with these twenty-five words, the other half is just trying things on. If a term comes up that you don't know, ask — a good consultant would rather explain than have you nod along. Our own FAQ page answers the questions brides ask us in plain language too, and our Collections will let you test your new fluency on real dresses.
Ready to put it into practice?
Book a private try-on in Martindale NE, Calgary — call or text (587) 434-7634 — and feel free to arrive with this glossary open on your phone. We'll translate anything else as we go.