At Ellis we want to make the wedding dress shopping process as easy as possible for you, we understand it can be a lot to take in when you don’t know where to start. We believe a great place to begin is understanding the fabrics and finding out which one you like best. Although wedding dresses aren’t meant to be seasonal, you may find that you want a thicker fabric for your Autumn wedding or that you want a light, flowy fabric for your destination wedding.
Before you dive straight into your wedding dress shopping, we’ve put together a fabric guide of Ellis Bridals classic fabrics.
Crepe
Made for minimalist yet striking gowns. Crepe fabric is known for its luxurious drape and flowy appearance, most commonly used for sexy sheath fit dresses. The crepe is fused and layered to hold in the body and flatter your curves The fabric is quite thin making it very breathable, so perfect for an outdoor wedding!
Some of our crepe top pick dresses!
Satin
The most versatile and durable wedding dress fabric. Satin has a luxurious sheen which makes it quite sexy. It is heavy and smooth and is suitable for all seasons. There are two types of satin which we most commonly use, duchess and slipper satin. Duchess satin, as seen on Rhea and Addison, is a more structured satin used for sculptured ball gowns. silhouettes as it holds more shape. Next, is slipper satin, used on Eloise, Eva and Clara, it is a more lightweight, silky and drapey satin. It has more shine to it, making it perfect for softer ball gown shapes or slinky dresses. Slipper satin can also be used in a combination with crepe, to contour the body, for instance Kimberley and Robyn.
Some of our satin top pick dresses!
Lace
Lace is the epitome of delicate and romantic. It is a very common fabric and universally loved for obvious reasons, it comes in all different patterns, embellishments, texture and weight. If you are looking for a classic and romantic look, lace could be for you. Matte finish, delicate lace, like Pippa,
Ada and Harriette, create the perfect look for the classic bride. Sparkly lace for the princesses, appliques layered with chantilly and sequins, as seen on Lillibeth, Eden and Kitty. Finally, modern laces with unique patterns and 3D elements are seen on dresses Hazel and Freyja.
Some of our lace top pick dresses!
Mikado
A heavier type of silk with a shiny finish, perfect for structured ballgowns and fishtails. Mikado is quite a regal material which we tailor to our sophisticated designs. Keep it completely clean with Effie or mix it up with some lace, like Alice and Amelia. Mikado is great for sculptural elements and clean lines as seen on our Mabel and Imogen dresses. There is also stretch mikado, which is a lighter weight with a slight stretch. Most suited to a fitted shape as it perfectly contours the body, just like the dress Blair.
Some of our mikado top pick dresses!
Tulle
A very delicate fabric which is somewhat similar to netting, it is very airy but can be ruched to build structure. Typically used to create a sexy illusion neckline or backs, barely there sleeves and cutouts.
These illusion elements can be seen on Mauve, Scarlett and Kitty. Tulle is used on some of our softer looks like Aliana and Eden, which is mixed with lace appliques. While for the fashion forward brides we have Tilly, our polka dot tulle top which can be worn over Effie.
Some of our mikado top pick dresses!
Organza/Organdy
Very similar to chiffon but creates more structured silhouettes, it is warm so ideal for colder weddings. Often used to add fullness to gowns as it is very lightweight. It is the perfect fabric for romantic, princess gowns. Organza is used on Eloise, Eva and Robyn sleeves, as well as the skirt of Bronte. Meanwhile the organza is all in the details for Serafina and Wren with their cut out back detailing.
Some of our organza top pick dresses!
Chiffon
One of the lighter fabrics, it has a floaty and ethereal style. It is a delicate and airy fabric making it perfect for spring and summer weddings. Crinkle chiffon creates a unique lettuce edge hem, as seen on Phoebe. While chiffon is also used for romantic and soft A-Lines like Keira.
Some of our organza top pick dresses!
