How to find the Perfect Type Of Dress for your Body Shape?

You might have bought the dress that appears so gorgeous on the mannequin but found out later that it doesn’t look fabulous on you!

 If this happened to you, then now is absolutely the time to know your body type. Why? Because identifying your body type can take you in finding your most flattering fit in a dress.

 But take note, you should know that style is not all about sporting the trendiest outfits. Nor the most expensive dress! It’s about highlighting the best features on your body through your outfit. 

So to be able to do this, we will help you know your body type first. And you will be successful in your quest in searching for that dress that’s perfect for your body type and best features.

So what are the body shape types, anyway?

Well, have you ever heard the words pear shape, apple shape or banana shape? You may not a fan of the idea but these fruits are used to describe the different body types less technically and scientifically. 

These fruits that represent our body type are also known with different shapes such as triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle, round, diamond and oblong.

Still, most of us can categorize our shape with these few broad categories:

  • Hourglass 
  • triangle or “pear”
  • spoon
  • inverted triangle or “lollipop”
  • round or “apple”
  • Rectangle or “banana”
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To help you identify your body type and the kind of dress that best suits you, continue reading this blog with a purpose in mind. 

1. HOURGLASS BODY TYPE is also known as “curvy shape”

Just like the literal hourglass or sandglass, the hourglass body shape is balanced and harmonious with a curvy body figure.       

How to know if you have an hourglass figure?

· Your bust and hips are proportional and well-balanced or have equal measurements.

· Your waist is narrower, clearly defined and has a curvy body. (Good for you, accentuate this asset!)

· You may have a fuller bust, hips, and thighs (wow!)

· Your upper body has the same length as your leg length.

Top hourglass: it is similar to the regular hourglass but your bust measurements are slightly larger than your hips.

Bottom hourglass: You have a clearly defined waist just like the top hourglass but your bust is smaller than your hips.

What are the perfect types of dress for your hourglass shape?

If you belong to this category, your hourglass figure is the envy of almost all women (who wouldn’t? you have an amazing curve!) but that doesn’t mean that you have any more dressing issues! So here are the best dresses for you that naturally shows off your best feature:

· Dresses with v-necklines and open necklines

· Dresses that have clinched-in waistlines

· Wrap dresses with belted waists are also great options for your hourglass figure!

Note: If you love trapeze or other loose-fitting silhouettes, you may simply add a belt. The general rule of thumb when you’re in doubt is to simply belt it!

Do NOT wear:

· Baby doll dresses or short dresses/gowns that are loose-fitting.

· Shapeless styles

· Empire waist styles or dress that has a fitted bodice ending just below the bust.

· Oversized dresses as they won’t highlight your curvy figure

· Flowy styles won’t show your best feature

2. PEAR BODY TYPE is also known as “triangle shape” 

If you’re not comfortably likening your body shape to a fruit, (p-pear? what’s up with the fruit?) then feel free to call it triangle shape! Women with a triangle body shape typically have a slimmer upper body and larger hips and thighs making it like a triangle shape.

How to know if you have a triangle figure?

  • Your hips and thighs are wider than your shoulder and bust.
  • A defined waist thanks to larger hips
  • Your arms and shoulders are proportionately slim, weight is distributed to the bottom and legs rather than your upper body.
  • You have a fuller rear

What are the perfect types of dress for your triangle shape?

Stylists usually recommend dresses that show off your waistline if you are pear-shaped body or triangle shape.

· Dresses with dropped and embellished necklines (you don’t have to worry about accessorizing since the jewelry is already built-in!)

· Dresses with open backs, dramatic sleeves and belted styles can exaggerate your more slender upper body.

· A-line styles of dress that are fitted above and around the hips but flares gently to the hem also look fantastic on you. 

· Any hemline that hits right below the knee will elongate your frame and slenderize the hips and thighs. 

· Maxi dresses that are formfitting at the top and flowing at the bottom can add more volume to your upper half body.

Do NOT wear:

· Oversized/shapeless style dress (same with hourglass shape!)

· poofy skirts or bubble skirts

· Super-short hemlines

· Curve-hugging fabrics

3. SPOON BODY TYPE 

This body type is similar to the triangle or “pear” shape which is characterized by a curvy and large hip with a slimmer upper body.

Compared to a pear body shape, a spoon-shaped body may have a larger tummy, while the pear shape typically doesn’t.

How to know if you have a spoon figure?

  • Your hips are much larger than your bust and have a “shelf”-like appearance or shape that resembles the number 8.
  • You have a nicely defined waist. 
  • You tend to gain weight in your upper section, especially the stomach region.
  • You may also carry some weight in your thighs and arms.

What are the perfect types of dress for your spoon shape?

  • You may be told to look for dresses that have classic “baby doll” cuts or other items with an empire waist.
  • Choose a dress that has lighter color in the upper body region but darker in the middle and lower body region, 
  • Strapless, boat neck and wide necks dress can greatly expand your shoulder width visually, thus balancing out your wider bottom by making your shoulders appear wider.
  • A-line dress is fitted at the top and flares out gradually under the waist so it can camouflage your heavier bottom thus, making it the most flattering silhouette to women with the spoon shape. 
  • well fitted dresses around the waist, 

What Not To Wear

  • Dresses that are overly ruffled or pleated below your bust.
  • wide stripes near your mid-body region
  • very short dress that end just below your hips

4. inverted triangle also known as “lollipop”

The inverted triangle body type is the opposite of the pear shape since their body follows the shape of a “V”.

How to know if you have an “inverted figure?”

  • Your shoulders may be straight, squared, or athletic-looking.
  • Your shoulders and bust are broader than your hips which makes it appear like V-shape or inverted triangle.
  • You are not necessarily as curvy through your hips or have no well-defined waistline. (You’re hourglass if you do!)
  • You have small hips and slender legs. Though you do not have a well-defined waist, your upper body is full and should be accentuated to draw away attention from the waist.

What are the perfect types of dress for your inverted triangle shape?

Go for dresses that flare from the waist to the hips, which will balance your broad shoulders. 

  • Nipped or belted dresses
  • Dresses with pleated skirts and paneled waists
  • Dresses with slightly flared hemlines
  • Dress with ruffles around the neck
  • Dresses that have stripes in slanting angle
  • satin dresses,
  • V-neck style dress
  • A-line dresses
  •  long dresses 

Do NOT wear:

  • Baggy waistline and shapeless dresses 
  • spaghetti and noodle straps, ¾ sleeves
  • dresses with horizontal stripes across your shoulders and padded shoulders

5. APPLE BODY TYPE is also known as “round”

The apple body shape is a variation of the inverted triangle where you also have broader shoulders and a thicker, less defined waist. 

 Compared to inverted triangles, apple shapes carry a little more in their midsection while triangles do not.

How to know if you have an “apple figure?”

  • Your 
  •      shoulders are wider than your hips
  • You may have a large bust
  • Ribcage and back appear somewhat wide
  • Fullness around the mid-section
  • Weight gains are first visible in the central torso/tummy area.
  • You may not have a well-defined waistline (that’s ok, just wear clothes that draw away the attention from your waistline!)
  • Narrow hips -you are not necessarily as curvy through your hips 
  • You tend to have slimmer limbs, legs, arms and flat bottoms.

What are the perfect types of dress for your round shape?

  • Belted styles, swing dresses and drop-waist dresses
  • Dresses with an embellished top or an empire waist all look good for an apple shape.
  • A-line dresses are great for curvy apples. And when in doubt, diagonal stripes and darker colors are always slimming.
  • flowy dresses from down your bust line
  • Short dresses, your major assets are your legs, so you may flaunt them in shorter dresses! If not, then knee-length shift and sheath styles look great too!
  • dresses which have darker sides and lighter middle section, 
  • Dresses with full skirts are also great options, as they help conceal the midsection.

Do NOT wear:

Anything that turns the eye to your midsection, such as:

  • Avoid clothes that are tight-fitting, rough-textured, shapeless, and boxy
  • avoid dresses with turtle or round necks, boat necks and halter necks
  • dresses with waistlines, 
  • Off-shoulder dresses, and broad belts.

6. ATHLETIC SHAPED BODY TYPe is also known as “rectangle” or straight shape.

 It is also called a “boyish” body type- your hips, waist, and bust are about the same size. Your body is well proportioned and athletic in appearance.

Like the rectangle shape, this shape of your body is also called the straight or ruler body. Happily, your shape looks great in almost everything, you can flaunt or conceal as much as you feel comfortable.  

How to know if you have a “rectangle figure”?

  • You are not particularly curvy, your waist isn’t very small or well-defined, but rather straight up and down.
  • Your weight is fairly distributed throughout your body
  • Your shoulders and hip measurements are nearly the same

What are the perfect types of dress for your rectangle shape?

A stylist may recommend these styles of dresses:

· Dresses that will balance the upper body and fill your slight hips, such as dresses with embellishment, ruffles or any other volume-increasing details.

· tube dresses and belted waists

· halter style to show off your back

· Choose strapless (with a great push-up bra) or plunging necklines to play up your bust.

· A-lines and lower waistlines are very flattering 

· If you have bigger busts, dresses with ruching and draping, U-necklines, and V-necklines will all help play up the curves of your body and make your bust look its best! 

· dress with a cinched midsection can give your body a more feminine shape

· Love your legs? Hike up that hemline. 

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Do NOT Wear

· Hemlines that are too short 

· Strapless dresses like spaghetti straps and dresses that don’t have enough support (especially if you have a bigger bust)

· Dresses that are stretchy through the torso, as well as dresses with details/shirring/ruffles on the bust.

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else! And that applies to your body shape and body measurements too. So if a dress looks gorgeous on others but does not appear good on you, don’t give up. We purposely made these articles to guide you in shopping for that most beautiful dress for your body type. And with so much choice nowadays, there’s a dress type to suit everybody. So if you have doubts, you may read this guide again. 

Once you know what dresses work well with your body type, you can save much time when browsing dresses online! You will be confident that you buy that dress that fits you well.

So what dress styles work best for your body type? Let me know in the comments below!

May Joy is a writer and editor with extensive background in journalism and academic writing. She also writes for blog post contents with knowledge in SEO. She graduated as Cum Laude at the University of the Cordilleras.

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