What's the real difference between an $800 gown and an $8000 gown? Is Dupioni better than Duchesse? When do you need a crinoline, and what is a crumb catcher? From the creator of the #1 online wedding resource, The Knot Book of Wedding Gowns provides the answers to these questions and thousands more. The perfect gift for a bride-to-be, this lavishly illustrated book--more than 250 color photographs and illustrations--tells her everything she needs to know about the single most expensive and important piece of clothing she will ever own. The only fully comprehensive book on the subject, The Knot Book of Wedding Gowns dissects the construction of the dress; profiles the numerous styles; defines and illustrates hundreds of varieties of fabrics, laces, embellishments, and accessories; and provides straightforward counsel on which cuts work best with which fabrics, and what styles look best on which body types. In addition, informative sections explain how and where to search for a dress, how to pull everything together to achieve the perfect look, and how to care for the masterpiece when the wedding is over. Fascinating bits of history throughout unveil the traditions and significance of this most important piece of clothing. For that all-important decision of a lifetime, The Knot Book of Wedding Gowns is the ultimate book on the ultimate dress.