In bridal fashion, a silhouette fitted through the waist and hips before falling straight to the hem is a sheath silhouette.
A sheath wedding dress follows the body’s vertical line rather than creating a dramatically expanded skirt. It may be cut from crepe, satin, silk, lace, or another fabric with enough structure or drape to maintain a clean outline. The hem can be short, tea-length, or floor-length, although the term describes the shape rather than one required length.
The sheath is often confused with the mermaid silhouette. A mermaid dress is closely fitted through the torso and hips but flares noticeably near the knee or lower leg. An A-line dress widens progressively from the waist, while a ball gown has a fitted bodice and a very full skirt.
Because it does not depend on a large skirt, the sheath silhouette is frequently associated with streamlined, modern, civil, and destination-wedding styling.