The balloon silhouette describes the apparel that has the inflated shape of a balloon. The balloon shape can be either from the bust or from the waistline. The bubble skirt (sometimes called tulip or puffball) has a gathered small waistline, then ballooning out and tapered in the hem. This silhouette was popular in 1950's and recurring again and again due to its unique and eye catchy appearance.
The Mermaid is a slim fitted silhouette that hugs the body from the chest down to the knees and then the skirt flares out at the end in the shape of a fishtail and hence also called as fishtail dress. The mermaid gown was introduced in late 1960's by designer Norman Norell, completely covered with sequins to give a dazzling effect. The mermaid silhouette best fits the body with an hourglass figure, showcasing the curves.
Princess style is used for women's clothing which is characterized by long vertical panels, shaped to body through torso, without waistline seam. It is the basic cut for women's dress with long seams and shaped pattern pieces. It was also known as AGNE'S SOREL STYLE in early 1860's. French princess. This style mainly finds its application in dresses, blouses, coats, slips etc.
The S Bend or S Curve Silhouette refers to a body shape with pushed hips at back and the bust forward characterized by a forward leaning torso that resembles the letter 'S'. This silhouette is also referred to as Bustle Silhouette (a general term which describes the fullness at the back of the skirt of a woman's dress) and also Edwardian Silhouette as this style became popular in the Edwardian period from 1901 to 1910 when Edward VII the first son of Queen Victoria was the king of England.
The hourglass shape is defined by a woman's dress with a full bust, pinched in waist and a full hip. It gets its name due to its resemblance with an hourglass, where the bust and hip are almost equal in size with a narrow waist.
Ballerina refers to women who is a ballet dancer. The ballerina silhouette is inspired by classical ballet and the dress flows straight down from the neckline tightly fitting the bodice and features a layered skirt (usually with silk or nylon frills) that falls to the halfway between the knee and ankle.
Bell silhouette refers to the apparels that resembles the shape of a bell. This silhouette is fitted in bodice up to the waist and the flares till the hem. The dress of the silhouette is usually worn by women at formal social functions.
The X-line is the ultimate silhouette which celebrates the feminine figure with an emphasis on shoulders, a small waist and a full hem which resembles the alphabet 'X'. This is the silhouette for women with a narrow or slim waist that is with an hourglass body type and can be created using padded shoulders, belted or fitted waists and full skirts.
Asymmetry refers to absence of balanced proportions between parts of a thing. That is when an imaginary line is drawn vertically in the middle of a garment, each side appears different. Examples in an women's dress include, diagonal hemline, drapes arranged more on one side, single side closing, single shoulder or different trimmings on each side of a dress etc.
Any modern dress consisting of high waistline located just under the bosom. The waistline is characterized by an inserted piece of fabric or a seam. This style is derived from First Empire period in France (1804-1815) under the rule of Napolean Bonaparte. Other Characteristics of the silhouette includes low-cut neckline at the front and back, long and straight skirt.
The H-line is a straight silhouette or dress resembling the alphabet 'H' as the garment goes straight from shoulder to hip marked by a low horizontal belt, cuff or seam at the waist. It was called H by designer Christian Dior in 1954.
The L-line or column silhouette is a fine gown that best fits a thin or slender body. The dress belonging to this group or silhouette has same measurement for bust, waist and hem and hence appears rectangle in shape. A shift dress belongs to this silhouette flows straight down the body in one straight line (without any flare) and conceal the body shape. This silhouette is also ideal for a person with thick waist and broad hips as it helps to hide these flaws very easily. This silhouette is made with well drape able light fabrics.
The V-line silhouette or style is characterized by broad shoulders tapering towards the bottom (at the hem) without any emphasis on the waist.
A-line is the most popular type of silhouette which is fitted at the top (shoulders or waist) and then gradually flares or gets wider towards the hem. The term A-line was first coined by Christian Dior in 1955 to describe the shape of his spring collection of clothing that resembled the shape of capital letter A.
The A-line silhouette emphasizes a small waist as different silhouettes emphasizes different body shapes or parts. A-line dresses can be of any length ranging from full skirt to ending at knee. This silhouette can be off shoulder, sleeveless, short or long sleeve and with any kind of neckline. The A-line silhouette is most widely used in everyday outfits and wedding dresses.
A Silhouette is the most prominent visual element of the garment that is the general outline or shape of the garment.
Silhouette are shown in solid black on a white background and is named after French Author Etienne de Silhouette who first made the drawings in black with no background details.
The side seam, waistline, shoulder line, hem line all work together to create a dominant shape called the silhouette. A silhouette can be changed by moving the waistline, narrowing or widening (shoulders, sleeve or legs), adding fabrics, padding different parts of the body or corseting waist or bust to create illusion.
There are basically seven types of silhouettes (dresses)
