Bride's Attire Glossary

• ANTEBELLUM WAIST: Dress has natural waistline that dips two inches to a point in the center front. 
   
• BASQUE WAISTLINE: Waistline of dress is two inches below the natural waist; often dips to a point in the center  front.  
  
  
• BERTHA COLLAR: Cape of fabric or lace attached to neckline for shawl effect.  
  
  
• BISHOP SLEEVE: Full sleeve that ends in gathered band at wrist.
    
• BLOUSON: Drooping fullness in fabric from bodice to waist; gathered at or below waist.
  
  
• BRUSH TRAIN: Very short train that just sweeps floor during walk.  
  
  
• CAPELET SLEEVE:  Falls several inches below elbow in soft flare.
  
  
• CAPELET TRAIN: Flows from back of shoulders.  
  
  
• CATHEDRAL TRAIN: Material extends three yards from waist.
  
  
• COURT TRAIN: Extends a little under three feet from waist.
  
  
• DOLMAN SLEEVE: Top of sleeve is wide, cut in one piece with shoulder.
  
  
• EMPIRE WAIST: High waisted with short bodice. Skirt begins two or more inches above natural waist.
  
  
• GIBSON SLEEVE: Full at shoulder, fitted at wrist.
  
  
• LEG-OF-MUTTON SLEEVE: Very full puff at shoulder, tightly fitted on the forearm. 
   
• PEEK-A-BOO SLEEVE:Sheer, puffed sleeve; different fabric showing through underneath.
  
  
• PEPLUM:Short flounce or overskirt attached at waistline.
  
  
• POET SLEEVE: Pleated at shoulder; very full from shoulder to cuff.
  
  
• PRINCESS LINE: Dress style with a slightly flared design; accentuates the waist, but doesn?t hug the body.
  
  
• QUEEN ANNE NECKLINE: High on sides and back; open bodice in sweetheart shape.  
  
  
• QUEEN ELIZABETH NECKLINE: High collar stands up in back, comes to a closed V in front.
  
  
• SABRINA NECKLINE: Begins two inches inside shoulder; straight across front.
  
  
• SHEATH: Silhouette of straight, slim lines.
  
• SHIRRED WAIST: Fabric is gathered to make a horizontal panel at waist.
  
  
• SWEEP TRAIN: Slightly longer than brush train.
  
  
• TRUMPET SKIRT:Tapers close to legs, flares at or below knee; think mermaid.
  
  
• WATTEAU:Train falls from back yoke of dress.