How do you choose a dress for your body type? - YouLookFab Forum

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How do you choose a dress for your body type?

Neel

Veteran

After I went on a mad hunt for a cocktail dress, I realized just how weird my body is! There were so many beautiful dresses and none would fit me well! Almost created a negative body image in my head! Almost .... because I talked myself out of it I am a size 8 on top and size 10 down. Size 8 dresses are too small on the waist/hips and size 10 is too big on the shoulder/bust. AND there was a serious shortage of fit and flare dresses and dresses with a bit of stretch which seem to fit me the best.

Makes me think if retail shops only cater to a specific hour glass figure? So how do you buy dresses? Do you buy the larger size and then get it altered? Or should I quit complaining and start working my butt out (pun intended!)?!

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from Neel

rute

Veteran

ohh please you should never get angry with your body, it's not your body! Retail clothes are made to suit all, so you should buy the larger size and get it altered. A dress will be perfect if it's altered for you!

VenusCow

(website)

Most people would die to have your figure but I do understand what you are saying; retail have lost the plot. I have the same issue as you so I designed my own perfect LBD in high quality stretchy material so you might want to check it out.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Dresses can be hard to fit for sure. You might have more luck with a two piece outfit that looks like a dress -- i.e. matching top and skirt.

But many Fabbers who are slightly pear shaped still find lots on the shops. If you start a new thread titled: dress recommendations for pretty pear you will get lots of links, guaranteed! You might have to try some online shopping if shops in your area do not carry them.

Echo

Veteran

I have to agree that it is rare now to find nice dresses that actually flare a little bit in the skirt. Most dresses are either just slightly A-lined, which can still be snug in the waist and hips, or they are sheaths. I share your frustration!

But as people have said, it is NOT your body. Many, many women have a similar shape. I shop for dresses constantly, even when I don't have a need. I do this because I buy one when I find the right fit so that I have it when I need it. In the meantime, separates can work (though I don't like the way they often create a line in the middle).

Neel

Veteran

Suz thank you for the two piece dress suggestion! How could I forget that?! I never came across a two piece dress though in the places I looked! I should have gone to all the wrong outlets! Online shopping might be the way to go as the place where I live everything seems to be two seasons old!

Echo - I have a huge wardrobe hole when it comes to formal wear. And I think, like you, I should start filling the hole as and when I find dresses that suit my body Thanks for the advice

Rute - I need to find a good seamstress. I think alterations would be the way to go. I wish I could sew!

Venuscow - The widest part of my body is my mid section (lower abdomen). I struggle with muffin top every time I put on the slightest of weight! You wouldn't want my body shape! Trust me!

Irene

Veteran

I feel some brands are targeted at different body types. Like, I always get a feeling that MANGO designs for a pear-shaped woman, with smallish tops with lots of shoulder detail, and bigger bottoms.

It's just a one size difference, it's not such a big deal AND there is nothing wrong about your body!!! I am an hourglass so do not have your problem, but I do have other fashion-related problems even with the so-called 'perfect proportions'. It's not us, it's the clothes. I mean, even as an hourglass, there are many different types of hourglass-shapes, so it's no wonder what fits one doesn't fit the rest!

Anonymous

Ditto what Irene said. It's not you. It's the clothes.

I just got off the phone with my niece, who bemoans the fact that "all dresses are made for women between 5'2" and 5'4" tall." She's 5'6" and says she has extreme difficulty finding a dress that fits because the waist always hits 3" too high on her body.

And I, who am 5'2" tall, shared with her how difficult it is for me to find bootcut petite pants that have an inseam long enough to wear with heels.

One of her DDs is 5'10" and has problems finding tops and dresses that fit properly in the bust.

So yeah, we all have issues when shopping for clothes. I should quit bemoaning the fact that it's so difficult finding stylish petite clothing that fits and be grateful that I manage to find so many things that fit without having to be altered. Yes, I have to hunt and hunt and hunt, but at least I don't have to wear custom-made clothes or pay for alterations other than occasionally having to hem up something that's too long.

Irene is also correct that certain brands usually fit certain body types. Whenever I'm not sure, I ask for garment measurements. I also make sure to buy from stores that have excellent customer service and easy/fair return policies.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Your body isn't that strange. Many of us are pear-shaped and have that experience often with shopping for one-piece items like dresses. I find it much, much easier to shop for separates for just that reason.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

*waves hand* Here is another one! I cannot tell you how often a size 6 works beautifully for my upper half, and I need an 8 to accommodate the lower. It's not unusual at all. Frustrating? Yes. But we are not freaks.

There are some designers and brands whose dresses do NOT work for me at all. They're definitely cut for straighter figures or for ITs. But I've had success with Calvin Klein, Muse, DVF, and some others. Once I found a brand that worked, I scoured online for more dresses by that maker.

Some things can be altered if the fit on top is just slightly large -- I do that sometimes. Just a bit of taking in on the sides at the top and waist can often do the trick.

Keep looking! You will find things that work. If I can, you can.

Anonymous

Mass produced clothes, for the masses

It is the clothes. I am an hourglass, the bust line is too tight, the waist lands higher than my natural and there is a slight pucker above the natural curve of my posterior,,,,,sigh, we all should go back to making our own clothes

I often wear separates even for black tie, easier to fit

kkards

Veteran

i've always found dress to be the hardest thing to fit. if you can get separates, that is a great way to go.
the last 2 work party cocktail dresses that i bought were both tadashi. i think this designer has a reputation for making dress that fit all different shapes.

Neel

Veteran

Oh dear! Wouldn't have thought hourglasses didn't fit into these dresses either! That's weird!

So I guess I have to go a size (or two!) up and then check if it could be altered. Else return and try something else! Sounds too hard! LOL Guess I will stick to separates as much as possible! And bag the dresses that fit me as and when I find them! Atleast I would have some fall back options in case I am stuck on what to wear for a formal event and I do not have the time to alter, as was the case this time!

Thank you for your time and reply ladies! I am glad I do not have that weird a body after all!

Neel

Veteran

@kkards - The tadashi cocktail dresses are beautiful!! I doubt any would fit me though! These are the exact type of dresses that wouldn't fit me (waist clinching)! To add to the problem every dress is much much longer on me (I am 5'4) and the waist does not hit me on my natural waist. This causes gaping on the sides of the bust!

I wish they had a bit of stretch!

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

@Irene: I am huge fan of Mango. And as a recently re-assessed Hourglass/Slight Pear, I can only agree with you. Mango has dresses than either fit from the rack or need a small, easy alteration on shoulders to fit perfectly.

You should check Mango out @Neel. They even have an outlet online. (And it is update as often as the main website. Really good!)

Neel

Veteran

Thanks jurocha! I might have to try online shopping with Mango.

minimalist

Veteran

It's the clothes!

The writers of Simple Isn't Easy repeatedly highlight the importance of alterations, as Rute and others have said. But knowing what can be altered, or not, that's a skill set already.

Aziraphale

Veteran

You body isn't "weird", lol. I've said this before, but I bet people were less critical of/less frustrated by their body shapes a hundred or so years ago, when clothes were made to fit the individual.

It doesn't sound like your figure is too far off the standard dressform shape. It should be fairly easy to buy a dress that nearly fits and have it altered down. I have a lot of experience with the tailor because I've got size 2 hips and a size 6 bust, which sounds really unbalanced on paper, but is actually not that hard to fit in real life. But I do get a lot of minor alterations.

Neel

Veteran

I learnt a few things in the last week:

1) Clothes need to be altered for a better fit. Every body is different! And very few actually fit into dresses off the rack!
2) Last minute rush to find a dress is not an ideal situation. Almost had a panic attack.
3) There is something called as a two-piece dress! (Duh! Why did I forget that?!)
4) Dressy separates can be chosen over a dress.
5) I should work on a dressy occasion capsule.
6) It might not be my *pear* shape causing the issue ..... it is my *almost* apple shape that is making it harder for me to find dresses.

Thank you all for your insight into this topic! I would have never figured all that out without your help!