Wedding gown silhouettes can be confusing. Dresses are often labeled trumpet/mermaid because the terms are used interchangeably, but technically mermaid gowns flare out at the knee or lower (think of a mermaid’s fish body and her tail) while trumpet gowns flare somewhere between mid-hip and the knee (a la the bell of a trumpet). Any higher than that, and now you’re in dropped waist territory.
Personally, I’m calling the Justin Alexander Couture wedding dress below a trumpet silhouette, and an extreme trumpet at that. Maybe it’s more of a French horn silhouette?

I’m just going to come right out and say I hate it. To me, it looks too much like this wedding dress is having an identity crisis. Does it want to be a mermaid gown? Or is it a ballgown with a sagging waistline? Does the bride love every bit of her body other than some major cankles or giant feet? Unlike the mermaid gowns that at least swish prettily when the bride is walking, I can’t see this dress having much swish. NtB is just not feeling it.
What say you?
It’s funny – I’m not usually a fan of either the trumpet OR the mermaid style, but I kinda like this one. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the material at the top of the bell – it looks like something slipped. If it smoothly transitioned to the bottom portion I wouldn’t have anything to criticize 🙂
Me? I’m coming down firmly on the hate side. In addition to the ‘slipped material effect’ that Becs comments on, I find the proportions rather ungainly. The belt also looks a tad Tacked On to Distract From Other Issues to me. The really ironic thing to me is that I think the belt would look great if the skirt were more restrained, or if there happened to be something corresponding at the point where the pouff begins.
The same gown with the same lines but with a bit of gold trim at the top of the pouff, while it would never be my style, could just have gotten my seal of approval all the same.
I actually don’t mind the style terribly, however… is it just me, or does the material look like plastic grocery bag?
Yuck. No thank you. Nothing seems quite right about that dress…
meh… it doesn’t do anything for me either way. Its not like if I saw someone wearing it I would be “OMGWTF!” but I would never even put it in the pile of “Maybe, I’ll try it on because I could be pleasantly surprised” at the store.
thats my wedding dress and i love it on me!!!i loved it first time i saw it!!!
maybe i ll send you some pics and change your mind!!hiohi!my wedding is next sunday
Please do, Maria! We’d love to see them!
you will see me on youtube …. rock wedding story….by kakanis!!!!