What is the best dress style for your body shape?

SO, you need a new dress for your next party, a night out with the girls, or date night. But what is the best dress style for your body shape? I searched online & buy here.

The secret of any great evening look – or any look for that matter – is highlighting your best features and disguising the bits you like the least.

In the fabulously fickle world of fashion, it is so easy to buy into the “must-have” of the season. We get “sold” into believing that to be on-trend, we have to buy the latest style, often resulting in buying the wrong clothes for our body shape.

In my last post I shared a few of my favourite little black dresses to help you get into the party spirit. But before you head off into the night, every woman needs to know what her best features are or, preferably, her body type. Knowing your body shape will help you identify which dress style will be perfect for you. Now, who doesn’t want that!

So how do you choose the right dress for your figure? Here’s how:

WHAT IS THE BEST DRESS STYLE FOR YOUR BODY SHAPE?

GREAT NECK AND SHOULDERS

* The idea is to draw the eye up to look at your neck and shoulders and away from your least favourite bits.
* Aim for wide boat necks, deep V-necks and details at the neck or shoulders that draw the eye up. A dress with a V-back is a stunning alternative to strapless or off-the-shoulder styles.
* If you have long hair, wear it up to draw attention to your neck and maximise your style advantage.

AVOID closed necklines, detailing anywhere lower than the bust, and bright and busy bottoms (skirts, pants, or dresses).

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LARGE BUST

* Tailored clothes are perfect for you, but whatever your choice, make sure there’s good built-in support.
* Opt for dresses with darts or seaming through the waist. Show off your cleavage and balance your curves with a scoop or low-cut V-neck. Or try keyhole or square styles. Baby doll and empire-line dresses also look great.
* Look for silhouettes in fabrics that skim (rather than cling) your body accentuating your curves subtly.

AVOID details at the bust, flimsy soft styles and billowing fabrics, buttons in the wrong positions, high necklines, crossover styles that cut your bust in two (a wrap-front style is better) and feature details around the waist.

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SMALL BUST

* It’s all about details for you. Anything with detailing on the bodice — pleats, frills, beading or corsetry — will add interest and draw the eye up creating the illusion of a bigger bust.
* If you don’t need to wear a bra (lucky you!), try halter-necks, strapless styles or dresses with spaghetti straps.
* Look for jersey and silk dresses that fit like a glove from the waist upwards.

AVOID stretchy tube dresses if you are flat chested.

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LARGE UPPER ARMS

* If you’re looking to up the sex factor, choose a dress or top with sheer sleeves in a contrasting material. These can be just as sexy as sleeveless styles while covering less-than-perfect biceps and triceps.
* Obviously unsightly upper arms, commonly known as “tuckshop” arms, are hard to disguise with sleeveless styles! Alternatively look for styles with three-quarter sleeves with minimum detail, and darker tones. And, of course, you can always wear a light jacket, cardigan or wrap of some kind.

AVOID sleeves with patterns, strong bust details and puff sleeves.

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VOLUPTUOUS CURVES WITH NO WAIST

* A tailored A-line skirt or dress and a V-neck are the most flattering shapes.
* A dress or top with V-neck opens up the chest area and draws the eye downward, making the waist appear narrower. Look for pieces with built-in darts and panels, which also help define your figure. An A-line skirt, with its wider hemline, will also make the waist appear narrower.
* Alternatively, drawing the eye up to an exposed shoulder is also a great balancing trick. If you don’t want to bare a shoulder, a great piece of jewellery at the neckline (either a brooch or necklace) will be just as effective. Opt for a length just below the knee to get as much height as possible.

AVOID two-piece outfits, high-waisted anything, straight skirts, cropped tops and jackets, belts and sleeves that finish at the waist.

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BOYISH FIGURE

* You’re one of the few who can get away with a simple shift.
* But if you feel that’s too simple, create curves with a belt, or darts and seaming at the waist. A sleeveless dress that’s slightly cut away at the shoulder will also strengthen your look.
* However, a full skirt and nipped-in waist will add some feminine appeal giving the illusion of shape. You can also get away with ruffles and frills, which, for many, are figure killers.

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THICK WAIST/STOMACH/MIDRIFF

* A thicker torso lacks a defined waistline, so you need to fake it with fashion tricks.
* Look for a straight, slightly fitted design with darts through the waist to give the illusion of a nipped-in waist.  While a shirred or ruched dress pulls in the waistline causing it to appear slimmer than your top and bottom halves.
* Or hide a less-than-trim torso with a gently tailored style and empire-line dress that skims directly over the midriff.
* Alternatively, go for an A-line dress or skirt with a matching short or cropped jacket that can button up.

AVOID anything stretchy or fitted that stretches over your stomach and midriff area.

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BIG HIPS (pear shaped)

* The secret to dressing a pear shape — those whose hips are wider than their shoulders — is to draw the eye up and away from your least favourite bits.
* Defining and emphasising your shoulders will help counterbalance your wider hips. Look for sharp shoulders or add small shoulder pads to balance your wider hips.
* A-lines are the best hip minimisers. Alternatively, choose a waisted A-line dress that falls gently over the hips. The length can vary from mid-thigh to ankle-skimming.
* A plunging neckline (it doesn’t have to be too deep) will also draw the eye up away from your hips.

AVOID fitted straight skirts or dresses, straight tunic styles, full skirts (they can make your hips look even wider), dropped waistlines, tight mini-dresses that stop mid-thigh and details of any kind at the hip area.

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UNSHAPELY LEGS

* For women who want to cover their legs, long or maxi dresses are easy to find.
If you are tall, try the full-length versions; if you are short, look for three-quarter length dresses instead.

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GREAT LEGS

* Just because you’ve been blessed with great legs, doesn’t mean that a short dress is your best option.
* A hem that sits on or just below your knee (at the narrowest point of the leg) with flippy details or a floaty fabric that moves when you move (such as silk and viscose) is way more seductive.

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KNOBBLY KNEES

* If your knees are less than svelte (honestly, who has great knees?) any style that stops at the narrowest part of the leg – just below the knee – will flatter.

AVOID styles that cut right across knees.

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PETITE

* Empire waists lengthen petite frames. As does monochromatic dressing – one shade head to toe.
* A sheath dress should be your go-to style. The clean, elongated shape helps you appear taller and leaner – even more so if you choose one that sits just above or in the middle of your knee (never longer) to play up the narrowest part of your leg.