A-line silhouette
A dress, skirt or coat shape that is narrower at the top and widens toward the hem like the letter A.
What does A-line silhouette mean?
An A-line silhouette gradually opens out from a narrower upper section to a wider lower edge. The term is most often used for skirts and dresses, but a coat can have the same outline. The flare may begin at the waist, hips or higher up, so two A-line garments need not fit alike through the body.
What it looks like in real life
Picture a simple blue dress that follows the shoulders and upper body, then gains room as it falls toward a calf-length hem. It moves without clinging at the knees. Wear it with flats and a cardigan for an ordinary day, or change the shoes and layer without changing the dress's basic outline.
What people often get wrong
A-line describes an outline, not a prescribed body shape or a guarantee that an item will suit everyone. It is different from an X-line: an X-line visibly defines the waist between broader upper and lower sections, while an A-line mainly widens downward.
How to use the idea
When comparing two skirts, look at the shape while they hang and while you move. Note where the flare starts, how wide the hem feels, and whether the length works with shoes you own. Those details matter more than the label on a product listing.