Find the Dress For Your Body Shape
Revolutionise the way you dress. Find the perfect fit for your body shape with our simple guide to celebrate your individual features when dress buying. With help from our advice, you’ll be able to amplify your shape to feel your best no matter the event, thanks to an assortment of flattering dresses to suit your figure.
Your body type can be determined by numerous factors, including height, bust, waist and hips, and is often overlooked due to misinformation. Don’t know your body shape? Don’t worry about it - this is actually quite common. This guide highlights the four most recognised body shapes and how to identify them to find the most flattering fit for you.
These are:
- Apple Body Type
- Pear Body Type
- Straight Body Type
- Hourglass Body type
Body Confidence
Being a woman means adapting to constant body changes and accepting your figure can be difficult. Many women feel that they need to fit into common body norms and with ever-changing beauty standards it can be hard to keep up. People come in all shapes and sizes and distinguishing your body type and learning simple style tricks can help your self-confidence.
This edit is made with real women in mind and you may identify with more than one body type which is completely normal.
What contributes to body type?
Key features that impact your body type are your height and weight. From your lifestyle to genetics, every individual body is different. Your shape can evolve due to exercise, pregnancy and various other factors. What is important is to embrace these changes as part of life and you may find yourself referencing this edit for future occasions.
How to Determine Your Body Shape
Characteristics of Hourglass Shapes (Curvy)
One of the most recognised body shapes. Qualities that often identify an hourglass body type is a defined waist in comparison with a curvy and fuller bust, hips and thighs. Flaunting these features is a true hourglass must!
Characteristics of Apple Shapes (Inverted Triangle)
This common body shape generally refers to mainly equal proportions with shoulders slightly broader than hips. With a more prominent upper body, the importance of this shape is highlighting your legs for key style credentials.
Characteristics of Pear Shapes (Triangle)
Often referred to as a triangle body type, the pear shape line often constitutes to narrow shoulder length in comparison to hip measurements. Another contribution to pear shaped body types is having a wider waist in comparison to your bust.
Characteristics of Straight Shapes (Athletic)
The most athletic body, this shape has well-proportioned features throughout with a straight shoulder line and ribcage. With an aligned bust and hips, the midriff tends to be small to average size.
What’s the best dress for my body shape?
Dress buying can be difficult at the best of times whether for an occasion or general day-to-day wear. The key is to flaunt and flatter and not to hide your shape, remember this is only a guide so your style should be unapologetically you!
Once you have identified your shape, find your figure-hugging fit with a variety of suggestions to elevate your confidence. Draw attention to your features and flaunt your body with a range of women’s dresses. Much like the many body shapes, there are many dress silhouettes to showcase your individual style.
Dresses for Hourglass Body Shape
Fit and Flare
Enhance your figure with demure Fit and Flare Dresses. With an assortment of mini and midi silhouettes for effortless feminine fits. While the fitted top highlights the waist the fuller skirt creates a complimentary poise, and the loose skirt provides an ultra-comfy fit (and can conceal your personal-hang ups.)
Style Tip: This graceful style remains a firm favourite for occasionwear whether a day at the races or a wedding guest look.
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Wrap Dresses
The staple Wrap Dress is the go-to and has remained a timeless number. With ease-free dressing and no back zipper, it's an excellent independent woman piece. Ideal for drawing attention downwards to accentuate the narrowest part of the waist and usually featuring a V-neckline to flaunt your bust. With the sole purpose of creating an Hourglass shape, if you already boast the features, this dress will enhance your figure even more.
Style Tip: For a subtle nod to your style personality, pair your dress with a statement necklace to give your ensemble a new dimension.
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Bodycon
Let your natural body do the talking with Bodycon Dresses. Highlight your curvaceous silhouette with cuts that showcase your shapely lower half and balance the bust. This style is the ultimate love letter to your body and will cling to your figure for a sultry fit.
Style Tip: Choose from contemporary styles in this figure-hugging fit for the ultimate night-out attire to pair with heels and a clutch.
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Dresses for Apple Shaped Body Type
Mini Dresses
Elongate your figure with the eternal Mini Dress. The top tips and tricks for the apple shape line are to show off your pins with a shorter hemline to give the illusion of a taller body. This wardrobe staple can be worn for many occasions and is most prominent during the summertime.
Style Tip: Opt for hemline embellishments, scalloped edging and lace accents for some added panache that will draw attention towards the lower part of the body.
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A-Line Dresses
A go-to for your work attire, elegant A-Line Dresses are a must for your collection. Catering for a womanly outline, this piece is tailored to perfection and helps proportion broad shoulders in line with the rest of your figure. Usually, in midi and mini lengths, the A-Line remains one of the most flattering fits. With the A-Line, you are guaranteed an illusion of a slender waistline with a fitted body and flared skirt.
Style Tip: Discover high-end structured pieces in black and grey colourways to elevate your work ensemble.
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Tunic Dresses
This relaxed fit is ideal for understated styling. Perfect for warmer months, the make-up of tunic dresses is usually lightweight breathable fabric. With a loose fit that can hide problem areas, comfort is key for this silhouette. A versatile piece that can be paired with heels for a day-to-night look. The roomy shape allows the detailing to do the talking for a fashionable flair.
Style Tip: Highlight your style credentials and opt for striking prints to add a playful touch to your attire.
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Dresses for Pear Shaped Body Type
Midi Dresses
Draw attention to more features with hemlines below the knee. By highlighting often hidden features such as your lower legs your proportions will be balanced overall to elongate your figure. Enrich this with flowing skirts that don’t drown your shape for elegant styling.
Style Tip: Opt for fitted pieces to the waist and hips with a fuller skirt to redefine your shape - this will give the illusion of an hourglass figure.
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Off-Shoulder Dresses
One of the most celebrated dress types, the Off-Shoulder approach will emphasise your décolletage. Displaying the shoulders draws the attention upwards, creating a chic silhouette. Often associated throughout history with romanticism for displaying such features as your neck and shoulders (how daring!), this style is just the right combination of demure and sultry fashion.
Style Tip: For a dramatic touch add frills and ruffles to the neckline to reimagine this traditional piece for your next wedding or race day ensemble!
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Shirt Dresses
This blank canvas piece is ideal for accessorising and can be worn for many occasions. Opt for tailored shirt dresses to outline your shape and define your shoulders with an oversized silhouette for everyday styling. Discover on-trend pieces with cinched waists and belted numbers for exaggerated tailored pieces.
Style Tip: Wear with over-the-knee boots and tights for a streamlined silhouette ideal for the transitional season.
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Dresses for Straight Body Type
Puff Sleeve Dresses
With a well-proportioned top and bottom, a rectangle body shape has more opportunity to experiment with shapes when dressing. Adding extravagant puff sleeves can reimagine your shape providing the illusion of broader shoulders. The youthful style that can be worn for daytime or nighttime looks is a must-have piece for your staple wardrobe.
Style Tip: For dramatic shaping find form-fitting pieces that will outline the contrast puff sleeves more for statement styling.
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One Shoulder
Showcase your build with demure One Shoulder Dresses. Spotlight your toned shoulders with flattering dresses for an array of occasions. Draw attention to your toned physique without showing too much with this elegant and appropriate style.
Style Tip: Why not show off your toned legs as well as arms? Pick maxi dress numbers with sultry slit detailing to showcase your figure.
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Milkmaid Dresses
The Milkmaid Dress aims to remedy a common problem for straight body types by adding definition to your shape. The smocked waistline in comparison to fully flowing skirts exudes femininity. Usually complete with girly detailing, this style is a go-to during the summertime.
Style Tip: Discover styles with sweet floral motifs for ultra-sweet vibes during the Spring/ Summer season.
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Summary
Accepting your figure for what it is has continued to be a long struggle for women. This guide is aimed to distinguish your key features and learn how to define them. Much like certain patterns may not be your style, this is exactly the same for silhouettes.
And this is not a recent struggle. While starlets such as Marylin Monore were known for their hourglass figures, Audrey Hepburn was recognised for her slender ballerina shape, but both were equal style icons. Acceptance is the key to the power of dressing and finding the right dress shape for you.
Body Shape FAQs
Can I be more than one body type?
Of course, no woman's body meets a one size fits all beauty standard. If you can identify with more than one body type, this is a huge positive as more styles are available to suit your shape.
Can my body type change?
It is completely natural throughout life for your body to change. From exercise and lifestyle, your body can become a whole new shape to celebrate.
What types of dresses are slimming?
Nothing is more important than dressing for your body type. If you want to cover your personal hang-ups opt for dresses that are beneficial and glide over your shape. Discover dresses that have a high waistline and flowing skirts. Shapes to look out for are shift, fit and flare and empire shape lines.
How should I dress for my body shape and age?
Obviously, your shape is not the only thing that dictates your dress, another factor is finding a style age appropriate. Once you have identified silhouettes that will suit your body shape, discover an assortment of pieces for women of all ages.
Choose from youthful pieces with sultry slip and mini dresses from trendsetting brands. Find flattering fits with an array of dresses for the over 50s age range with beautiful maxi dresses for everyday styling or sleek A-Line Dress for occasions over 50s dressing.
How to measure yourself: Shoulders/ Bust/ Waist/ Hips
Determine your body shape from the comfort of your own home. Grab your tape measure, find the nearest mirror and measure the following:
Shoulders - Start at the tip of one shoulder and take the tape measure around to meet the tip of the same shoulder. This can be difficult to measure so if you have people around this may help.
Bust - Wrap the tape measure over the fullest part of your bust. Let it sit snug but not too tight so that you are not squeezing your chest together.
Waist - Find the smallest part of your waist (usually just below the ribs and above the belly button.) Wrap the tape measure around your waist not too tightly allowing you to still fit your finger between the measuring tape and your skin.
Hips - Wrap the tape measure around the fullest parts of your hips which are usually just above the hip bone.