How to choose the right dress for your body shape?

Wearing clothes that fit your figure, are comfortable and stylish every day, guarantees a boost of self-confidence. Finding a dress that suits your body shape can be much simpler than it seems: analyze your curves, including the width of your shoulders, waist, and hips, then follow the guide!

Why adapt your dress to your figure?

The dress , a must-have piece in women's wardrobes around the world, can take on an infinite number of forms. Thus, there is one for all tastes and all body types! Some cuts are perfect for highlighting particular body types, while others can be enhanced with accessories to assert your style while showing off.

Choosing dresses based on your body shape helps highlight your natural assets for a harmonious and balanced overall look . In fact, this approach also allows you to gain self-confidence . Wearing a dress that fits your figure provides a feeling of comfort and guarantees you feel beautiful and comfortable in clothes that fit your body. In addition, choosing dresses based on your physique promotes a more conscious approach to fashion , where you choose your outfits based on yourself first and foremost.

The different female body shapes

There are several types of female body shapes, based on three essential measurements: shoulders, waist and hips . Body shape is most often designated by a letter:

• A-shaped body, also called a triangle: the shoulders are narrower than the hips, the silhouette widens towards the bottom, forming a sort of triangle with the point pointing towards the top of the body.
• V-shaped body shape: this is the opposite of the A-shaped body shape, with shoulders wider than the hips, resembling an inverted triangle, pointing towards the lower body;
• H-shaped body shape, also called rectangle: in this case, the shoulders, waist and hips are aligned, with a slightly defined waist.
• X or 8 body shape, sometimes called an hourglass: This type of silhouette has aligned shoulders and hips, with a narrower waist in the middle. Depending on the shape, we speak of an X or an 8, in the case of more generous curves.
• O-shaped morphology, known as round: this presents rounded shapes, with a slightly marked waist, but a developed chest.

Which dress to choose for each body type?

Every figure has its own matching dress! Fortunately, there are several styles to suit every body type, and it's essential to treat yourself first. Here are some suggestions for finding the styles that might perfectly suit your physique:

Choosing a dress for an A-shaped body

If your hips are wider than your shoulders, the goal is to draw attention to your upper body by adding volume. Clothing with panels, ruffles, or simply pretty embroidery on the shoulders is perfect for highlighting this type of figure. Treat yourself to open or V-necklines to draw the eye to the neck rather than the hips.

For this type of body shape, empire dresses, trapeze dresses , as well as straight dresses are often recommended.

V-shaped silhouette

If your shoulders are wider than your hips, the opposite of the previous situation, the goal is to draw the eye towards the lower body . You can therefore play with the volume at the hips , by favoring skater or ball dresses for example, which elongate the legs. A -line dresses are just as suitable for this type of physique, as are straight or tight dresses .

H-shaped morphology

When the shoulders, waist and hips are well aligned, the game is to give the illusion of a waist to define the silhouette. To do this, nothing beats a belt under the chest, like on an empire dress , for example. Similarly, straight and flowing dresses or shirt dresses are perfect for this type of body shape. People with H-shaped figures with small chests can also opt for strapless or low-cut dresses , which naturally enhance them.

Choosing a dress with an X or 8 silhouette

Hourglass figures are lucky enough to have virtually anything they can wear when it comes to cuts. With a defined waist that 's easy to accentuate, skater and A-line dresses are perfect for this type of figure, as are bodycon or wrap dresses . Shorter people can dare to wear short, fitted dresses , and those with smaller busts can wear empire waist dresses.

O-shaped morphology

To enhance an O-shaped silhouette, with a slightly defined waist, nothing beats a wrap dress , with a V-neckline to highlight the chest. Empire dresses or straight dresses are also often recommended, in solid dark tones. For more style and comfort, opt for flowing materials that flow around the body.

Accessories and body shape: the detail that changes everything

Depending on the cut you choose, you can further enhance your figure with well-chosen accessories. For people with a V or H shape , who want to accentuate their waist, pretty, elegant and eye-catching belts are ideal for drawing attention to the lower body.

When it comes to jewelry, A-shaped bodies that want to draw attention to their shoulders can wear long earrings and pretty, bold necklaces . H-shaped bodies can also use this trick to add movement and curves to their overall look.

As for O-shaped bodies , it is often recommended to wear high-waisted belts , with long necklaces and dangling earrings , and to avoid chokers and small bags.