What to Wear Based on the Feature You Want to Accentuate

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You generally know what looks best on you—perhaps there’s a wrap dress that consistently makes you feel confident or you always gravitate toward wide-leg pants—but it never hurts to expand your sartorial horizons. There are plenty of factors to consider when getting dressed in the morning, including the weather, the occasion, and of course, your mood, but if you've wanted to know exactly how to dress for your body type and accentuate your best features, you've come to the right place. 

Since there are so many shapes and silhouettes on the market and trends are ever-changing, it can be tough to choose what works best for you, but we have some ideas to help out. Whether you want to play up your curves, highlight your legs, create the illusion of curves, or accentuate your upper half, there are some strategic pieces that will help you do just that. At the end of the day, all of these pieces are insanely stylish no matter the reason for buying them. Scroll down to shop our picks. 

If you want to accentuate your legs

If you'd like to accentuate the lower part of your body, highlight your legs in either short dresses or elongating flare jeans. As for shoes, find heels that match your skin tone to give the illusion of mile-long legs. 

Flare Jeans

Minidresses

Nude Heels

Miniskirts

If you want to accentuate your curves

Try highlighting your curves—not hiding them—by emphasizing your waist. Styles that are cinched or belted are always a great way to do this.

Crop Tops

Belted Jackets

Pencil Skirts

Wrap Dresses

Belted Wide-Leg Pants

If you want to create the illusion of curves

If you'd like to create the illusion of curves, side cutout dresses will make your waist look smaller compared to your bust and hips. Ruffled swimsuit and sweetheart necklines will help create the illusion of a larger bust.

Side Cutout Dresses

Sweetheart Necklines

Ruffled Swimsuits

If you want to accentuate your upper body

Try accentuating your top half with A-line dresses and skirts as well as embellished tops and interesting prints that draw attention to your upper body and waist. 

A-Line Dresses

A-Line Skirts

Embellished Tops

Printed Tops

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Editor in Chief

Kat Collings has over 15 years of experience in the editorial fashion space, largely in digital publishing. She currently leads the vision for editorial content at WhoWhatWear.com as the site's editor in chief, having risen through the editorial ranks after joining the company in 2012. Collings is a Digiday Future Leader Awards nominee, was named Buzzfeed's best fashion Instagram accounts of the year, and is a member of the CFDA Awards Fashion Guild. Prior to Who What Wear, Collings worked on styling projects for brands such as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Lucky, and Oliver Peoples. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in communications and calls Los Angeles home.