The Most Flattering Dress for Your Body Type

Have you ever been shopping and fallen in love with a dress on the rack, only to try it on in the fitting room and find out that, while stylish, it didn’t quite flatter you the way you’d expected? Well, same, but the frustration should end now. The first step to finding a dream dress that looks as dreamy on you as you imagined it is to shop specifically for your body type. First things first: If you don’t know how to categorize the shape of your body, check out our easy three-question test to narrow in on one of the shapes. Don’t worry if you can’t decide on one shape exactly. Every body is different, and these guides are meant to help you shop for more general dress shapes. Feel free to pick and choose if you identify with more than one shape. Then, once you’ve honed in on your silhouette, scroll down to shop the best dresses for your body type.

Body Type: Hourglass

Show off your curvy figure by sporting a dress with a belted waist. Adjustable belts allow the best flexibility in terms of the desired fit, and they create the most flattering silhouette on you, emphasizing your waist. Right now we’re loving belted dresses that button up the front in all different colors and fabrics.

Shop Belted Dresses

Body Shape: Apple

Apple shapes usually have thin legs and tend to carry weight around their middle. Try out a swing, empire, or smock dress that will flow over your midsection for an instantly flattering effect.

Shop Swing Dresses

Body Type: Inverted Triangle

Try dresses with slightly flared hemlines, such as A-line dresses. These are ideal for balancing out broad shoulders while still creating a bit of shape. Easygoing wrap dresses and cool A-line styles are our favorites this season.

Shop A-Line Dresses

Body Type: Athletic

For athletic figures, look for dresses with draping and ruching to play up your curves. A cinched midsection is also ideal for offering a flowing fit. Lucky for you, drawstring details and ruching are bound to be a major spring dress trend. Get ahead of the curve and shop the style now.

Shop Ruched and Gathered Dresses

Body Type: Triangle

A fit-and-flare dress and corset style pieces that nip in at your midsection will be your best friend, playing up your waist and upper body while falling over your bottom half in a flattering way.

Shop Fit-and-Flare Dresses

This story has been updated by Anna LaPlaca and Allyson Payer.