Franklin Dean
Whether or not you need an underskirt for your wedding dress depends on the style of your dress and your personal preference. Underskirts can add volume to your dress, help to create a smooth silhouette, keep your dress in place, and keep you warm. If you're wearing a straight-falling sheath or column gown, you likely don't need an underskirt. However, if you're wearing a shorter vintage-style dress or a dress with a thigh split, an underskirt may be beneficial. Additionally, consider the fabric of your dress; crepe fabric, for example, may not work well with an underskirt. Ultimately, the decision to wear an underskirt comes down to your comfort and the desired look for your wedding day.
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What You'll Learn
Benefits of wearing an underskirt
Whether or not you need an underskirt for your wedding dress depends on the shape, design, and intended fall of your dress. Some dresses require an underskirt to give them their shape and create the full-skirted look intended by the designer. Other dresses, like straight-falling sheath or column gowns, are meant to flow freely and don't need an underskirt.
Comfort and ease of movement
Underskirts can provide comfort and ease of movement by lifting the hem of your dress away from your legs, allowing you to walk and dance without restriction. This is especially helpful for long dresses with many layers, as it gives you more walking room and prevents you from tripping over the fabric.
Shape and volume
Underskirts can enhance and support the shape of your dress, ensuring it stays perfect throughout the day. A-line dresses, for example, often benefit from a one or two-hoop underskirt to help keep the shape at the bottom. For princess-style dresses, a full underskirt with three tiers can add volume and make your waist appear smaller.
Smooth silhouette
Underskirts can help create a smooth, sleek silhouette by hiding any problem areas you may be concerned about, such as your stomach or thighs. Power-net waistbands, for example, smooth out your silhouette, creating the illusion of a perfect figure.
Warmth
If you're getting married during a cooler season or having an outdoor wedding, an underskirt can provide an extra layer of warmth. It can also protect your dress from dirt and dust if you're having an outdoor celebration.
Keeping your dress in place
Underskirts can help keep your dress in place, especially if you're wearing a lightweight or sheer dress. They can prevent your dress from slipping or moving around, ensuring you feel secure and comfortable throughout the day.
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Types of underskirts
There are several types of underskirts that can be worn under a wedding dress, each serving a unique purpose. Here are some of the most common types:
Petticoat
Petticoats are usually made from sheer or lightweight fabric and are designed to be super fluffy and girly. They are perfect for adding extra volume to a wedding dress and creating the illusion of a longer skirt. This type of underskirt is ideal for shorter, vintage-style gowns to achieve a full and fluffy retro look.
Slip
Slips are made from heavier fabric and provide extra coverage and support. They are a good choice for brides who are concerned about their dress being too sheer or revealing. Slips can also help to smooth out any lumps or bumps that may be visible under the dress.
Crinoline
Crinolines are made from stiff, structured fabric and create a dramatic, voluminous look. They are perfect for brides seeking a full and shapely silhouette.
Satin Underskirt
Satin underskirts are made from luxurious satin fabric, giving the dress a polished and elegant finish.
Tulle Underskirt
Tulle is a sheer, lightweight fabric that creates a soft, romantic silhouette. It is a good choice for brides who want a more ethereal look.
Fishtail Underskirt
Fishtail underskirts are designed for dresses with a fishtail or trumpet silhouette. They have a longer elastane body and netting only at the bottom, helping to hold the weight of the dress and keep its shape.
A-Line Underskirt
A-line underskirts are designed for dresses that flare from the natural waist, creating an "A" shape. They help to add waist definition and can come in adjustable versions for different sizes.
The choice of underskirt depends on the style and size of the wedding dress, as well as the level of comfort and support desired by the bride. It is important to try on the underskirt with the dress to ensure they complement each other and create the desired silhouette.
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Choosing the right underskirt for your dress
Choosing the right underskirt for your wedding dress is an important decision. The right underskirt can make a big difference to the look and feel of your dress. It can enhance and support the shape of your gown, create a shapely waist and hipline, and add volume to skirts. It can also help to keep your dress in place, prevent it from slipping or moving around, and provide extra coverage and support.
When choosing an underskirt, it is important to consider the style and fit of your wedding dress. Some dresses, such as straight-falling sheath or column gowns, do not require an underskirt as they are meant to flow freely and swish in a more organic way. Dresses with thigh splits or made from crepe fabric are also not typically compatible with underskirts. However, if you feel your dress is slightly sheer or revealing, or you want to hide any bumps or lumps, a slip may be useful.
For those wanting to add volume to their dress, a petticoat or crinoline underskirt is a good option. Petticoats are usually made from sheer or lightweight fabric and are meant to be super fluffy, adding extra volume and creating the illusion of a longer skirt. Crinolines, on the other hand, are made from stiff, structured fabric and are meant to create a dramatic, voluminous look.
If you are looking for an underskirt that will provide extra support and hold the weight of your skirt, a hoop underskirt may be the best choice. Hoops are designed to sit under the dress to give it its perfect shape and can also help to lift the hem of your dress away from your legs, providing more freedom to move. However, it is important to note that adding a hoop later may make your dress too short once it has been hemmed.
Finally, consider the colour and fit of your underskirt. Choose a colour that will complement your dress and ensure that the underskirt is fitted properly to prevent it from bunching up or riding up. It is also a good idea to try on the underskirt with your dress before the big day to ensure that it looks and feels perfect.
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Dresses that don't need an underskirt
There are several reasons why brides choose to wear an underskirt on their wedding day. Bridal underskirts can help to create a smooth, sleek silhouette, add volume to the dress, keep the dress in place, and keep the bride warm. However, there are certain wedding dresses that don't need an underskirt.
One type of wedding dress that doesn't require an underskirt is a straight-falling sheath or column gown. This style of dress is meant to flow freely and swish around in a more organic, body-hugging way. Dresses with thigh slits or sheer skirts are also not typically worn with underskirts, as the idea is to show a flash of skin rather than a peek of the underskirt.
Crepe fabric can also be problematic for underskirts as it is a heavy-draping, slinky fabric that is often used in figure-hugging designs with smooth lines. The netting or tulle of an underskirt may be visible through the fabric, ruining the desired sleek look. That being said, some brides choose to wear an underskirt with a crepe dress to help hold the layers of fabric away from their legs and create a more defined shape.
A-line dresses are another style that may not require an underskirt. Some brides choose to wear a small hoop underskirt to keep the fabric from dragging on the ground, while others find that an alteration to the hem is enough to solve this issue and that the dress looks better in photos without an underskirt.
Ultimately, the decision to wear an underskirt or not depends on the specific dress and the bride's personal preference. Some dresses may already have built-in netting layers that provide the desired shape and volume, eliminating the need for an underskirt. It's important to try on the dress with and without an underskirt to see what looks and feels best.
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Adding volume to your dress
The type of underskirt you choose will depend on the amount of volume you want to add. For extra volume and drama, go for a petticoat or a crinoline. Petticoats are usually made from sheer or lightweight fabric and are meant to be super fluffy. Crinolines are made from stiff, structured fabric and are meant to create a very voluminous look. If you want to add a little volume, but not too much, you can opt for a small petticoat that will keep the dress off your legs and hold its shape.
If you want to add volume to your dress, it's important to consider the length of your dress. If you remove the underskirt, the length of your dress will change as the fabric will fall straight down, making your dress longer. This could pose an issue for walking and dancing.
Finally, if you want to add volume to your dress, you might want to consider layering two underskirts for maximum volume. This will also help you avoid length alterations.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the style of your wedding dress. If your dress is a straight or column dress, you don't need an underskirt. However, if you want to add volume to your dress, create a smooth silhouette, or keep your dress in place, an underskirt can be a good option.
There are three main types of bridal underskirts: petticoats, slips, and crinolines. Petticoats are usually made from lightweight fabric and add volume to the dress. Slips provide extra coverage and support, while crinolines are made from stiff fabric and create a dramatic, voluminous look.
The right underskirt for your wedding dress will depend on the style and fit you want to achieve. If you're looking for extra volume, a petticoat or crinoline is a good choice. For more coverage and support, a slip is a better option. You can also layer two underskirts for maximum volume.
Wearing an underskirt can help to enhance and support the shape of your wedding dress, create a smooth silhouette, add volume, and provide coverage. It can also keep your dress in place, prevent it from dragging on the floor, and provide warmth on cooler days.
It's important to decide whether you want to wear an underskirt before or during your dress fittings. Your seamstress will need the underskirt to get the length of your dress correct. Adding an underskirt later may affect the hem and make your dress too short.
