Ballerina – A length of veil hitting between
the knee and ankle.
Blusher – A length of fabric made to hang over
the face, used in traditional weddings to present the bride by
lifting the fabric to reveal the brides face.
Bridal Illusion - A very fine, soft form of
nylon tulle that is made specifically for bridal veils. It is
available in a wide range of colors, and it's the traditional
veiling for brides in the United States.
Bouffant – A veil that goes above the head and
is often worn without a headpiece
Cathedral – also know as a chapel, it is a long
wide veil that usually extends past the train.
Chiffon - A fine, semi-sheer fabric that has a
slightly stiffer hand than bridal illusion but still drapes
beautifully. It is more opaque than bridal illusion, so generally a
veil made of chiffon doesn't have a blusher. It comes in almost any
color.
Cut Edge - A cut edge is just that: cut. It has
no stitching or embellishment to finish the edge of the fabric.
Generally, this is only appropriate for bridal illusion because
other fabrics tend to fray.
Elbow – This is a veil whose length ends at the
elbow.
English Net - Similar to bridal illusion but
with a slightly stiffer hand. English net is made of cotton and is
slightly harder to find.
Fingertip – This is a veil whose length is
approximately to the bride’s fingertips.
Flyaway – This is a style of veil to accentuate
the back and hits just at the shoulders.
Hand - Hand refers to the weight and body of a
fabric. A "stiff hand" means that the fabric has more body and
doesn't drape as easily as a "soft hand."
Mantilla – Spanish-inspired veil edged with
lace.
Organza - An opaque fabric with a stiff hand
that tends to be slightly iridescent. Like a chiffon veil, an
organza veil usually doesn't have a blusher, is made in a variety of
colors and is often made of silk.
Pencil Edge - A very narrow stitching that can
be used on any veiling. Size 5 is the largest and size 0 is the
smallest. The smaller the width, the more delicate and the less
noticeable the edging. Any color thread can be used to showcase the
stitch.
Pouf – Used in bridal headdresses, material is
bunched to add volume and height to the headpiece.
Rolled Edge - Generally used on veiling other
than bridal illusion. The veil's edge is rolled to the underside,
stitched in place, the trimmed along the stitch. On fabrics that are
very likely to fray, the edge is double-rolled to completely enclose
the raw edge.
Scallop Stitch - A decorative scallop stitch can
be used on almost any veiling, though it isn't really appropriate
for bridal illusion. Each scallop is about ¾" long and 1/16" wide.
Any color thread can be used to showcase the stitch.
Silk Gauze - A very fine, very lightweight
version of chiffon. If you like the opaqueness of chiffon but you
want something lighter and more transparent, then silk gauze is for
you. It is less than 1/2 the thickness of silk chiffon, and it seems
almost as light as air. Silk gauze won't obscure the details of your
wedding gown, and it is so light that you can wear it as a blusher.
This is a great, less expensive alternative to silk tulle.
Taffeta -
Silk, rayon, synthetics. Usually plain with a fine cross rib.
A cloth supposed to have originated in Iran (Persia) and was called
"taftah" (a fine silk fabric) - (in 16th century, became a luxury
for women's wear). It is made in plain colors, fancy prints,
watered designs, and changeable effects. It is smooth with a
sheen on its surface. The textures vary considerably.
They have a crispness and stiffness. Taffeta in silk will not
wear, as long as other high quality silks, since weighting is given
the fabric to make it stiff. If it is over weighted, the goods
will split or crack.
Tiara - A
jeweled or flowered headband for formal wear by women.
Tier - One
of two or more layers one atop another, for veils it is one layer.
Veil – A
length of cloth worn to cover the head and shoulders and often the
face, traditionally worn by brides at weddings.
