A gown is a long elegant dress worn on formal occasions. A-line and ball gowns are two of the very popular dress styles adopted by females across the globe. They are elegant and suited for a range of formal occasions from weddings to formal themed parties. The key difference between A-line and ball gown is that A-line gown is long dress that is close-fitting at the bodice and flows down to the ground with an unbroken line, resembling the letter A whereas ball gown is a long dress completed by a fitted bodice along with a full, bell-shaped skirt that flows down to floor length.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is an A-line Gown
3. What is a Ball Gown
4. Similarities Between A-line and Ball Gown
5. Side by Side Comparison – A-line vs Ball Gown in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is an A-line Gown?
An A-line gown is a long dress that is close-fitting at the bodice (the part of the dress above the waist line excluding sleeves) and flows down to the ground with an unbroken line, resembling the letter A. A-line gown is among the most popular dress styles as bridal wear and prom wear as they present a simple, streamlined and slim look. Furthermore, this is one of the few dress styles that usually work on all body types; however, these are most suitable for those with larger busts and larger hips. A-line dresses were first introduced by the French couture designer Christian Dior in his spring collection in 1955.
A-line dresses are comfortable to wear since they are not very heavy and large like ball gowns. As such, A-line dresses are not a burden on a warm day or to wear for an outside event. However, some A-line dresses have a very fitted bodice, which may be uncomfortable for some. A-line gowns can be patterned with sleeves, without sleeves and also with other accessories such as belts. Depending on the body shape, simple modifications can be made to the neckline and waistline to enhance the best features of the wearer.
Figure 01: A-Line Wedding Dress
What is a Ball Gown?
Ball gown is a dress completed by a fitted bodice with a full, bell-shaped skirt that flows down to floor length. This is also one of the oldest dress styles and its history backs down to Regency era. At the time, wearing ball gowns were a must for white tie attire occasions, which is the most formal evening dress code in Western high fashion. For such occasions, ball gown should be completed with accessories such as dancing shoes, gloves, stole or cape, jewelry, and handbag. Ball gowns remain the most formal female attire to this day, but they are used for a range of formal occasions such as weddings and dinner dances in addition to balls.
Sweetheart, semi-sweetheart and straight across are the most popular necklines used for modern ball gowns while ones with short sleeves are also widely used. While they can accommodate many body types, ball gowns are most suited for slender or pear-shaped figures that are heavier on the bottom than on top. Even though the volume can be controlled at discretion, ball gowns are heavy and large, often with multiple layers of fabric. Also, a ball gown is often supported by a strong bustle. As such, a ball gown is not very suitable for shorter females as they may be overwhelmed by the full skirt. Due to their structure, ball gowns are not very comfortable during warm weather.
Figure 02: Ball Gown
What are the similarities between A-Line and Ball Gown?
- A-line and ball gown are two of the most popular dress styles worn for formal occasions.
- Both A-line and ball gown have close-fitting bodice.
- Both A-line and ball gown are floor length dresses.
What is the difference between A-Line and Ball Gown?
A-Line vs Ball Gown |
|
| A-line gown is a long dress that is close-fitting at the bodice and flows down to the ground with an unbroken line, resembling the letter A. | Ball gown is a dress completed by a fitted bodice with a full, bell-shaped skirt that flows down to floor length. |
| Body Type | |
| A-line gown is suitable for all body types. | Ball gown is much suitable for slender or pear-shaped figures that are heavier on the bottom. |
| Comfort | |
| A-line gown is much comfortable than many other dress styles. | Ball gown is generally less comfortable to wear due to its structure. |
| Formality | |
| The formality of an A-line gown is less compared to a ball gown. | Ball gowns are the utmost form of formal attire for females. |
Summary- A-Line vs Ball Gown
The difference between A-line and ball gown mainly lies in the shape of the gown; thus, they can be easily distinguished. If the gown is a close-fitting one at the bodice and flows down resembling the letter A, it is an A-line dress. If the gown is heavy with a bell-shaped skirt, then it is a ball gown. Both are full-length gowns that can be tailor-made to enhance the features of the wearer while variety can be added with different fabrics, accessories, and colors.
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References:
1. “A Guide to What Suits Your Shape – the 6 Dress Silhouettes Defined.” Timeless Bridalwear. 20 Mar. 2014. Web. Available here. 15 June 2017.
2. “Don’t make the mistake of buying the wrong wedding dress for your body shape – read this first.” SheKnows. N.p., 20 Apr. 2017. Web. Available here. 15 June 2017.
3. Brown, Lisa. Miss Lisa Brown’s Guide to Dressing for a Regency Ball – Ladies’ Edition. n.d. Print.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Ball Gown Wedding Dress” by Michelle Yao (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “A-Line Lace Sweetheart Neckline Wedding Dress with Detachable Shoulder Straps” Mathilda Samuelsson (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr