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What is your body type and best dress shape for it?

catgirl

Veteran

Apparently the cloud dress I posted, which is kind of a sack/shift dress, works on me because of my shoulders. Very few dress silhouettes work for me, so it's good to know this as an IT.

Sheaths are often too hourglass, wraps either too revealing or make me look too rectangular, fit-and-flare just looks silly...

What works best for you in terms of dress shape and why?

Dressing

52 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Anonymous

Rectangle with apple and IT tendencies here. I wear shift dresses, sheaths, and some fit and flares if they fit well on top. I cannot wear a wrap dress as much as I'd love to because I don't fill out the top.
Most knit dresses are pretty awful on me too. They look like they do on the hangar.

marit

Apple/rectangle. I need a higher waist in a dress which is tricky to find sometimes - either in not looking pregnant or a neckline that isn't too skimpy. My smallest point is around the ribs (under the bust) and my bust is average-sized (I think?) so a wide fitted waistband around that point with some draping down over the middle works for me pretty well. I like wraps too if the waistline is high enough. Emphasizing the bust to distract from the waist works, and I prefer lower necklines for this reason.

Thistle

Veteran

I am a pear with hourglass tendancies. Wrap dresses work the best for me.

Sona

Veteran

IT/Apple. Shifts work best. wraps do not work. clingy jersey does not work. higher waists ( empire) in a nice styling work well. anything that fits at a low natural waist hates my body.

Raisin

Veteran

I am not sure what's body shape is... Maybe hourglass maybe ruler or a bit of both, but I like wearing shift dresses and wrap dresses.

bj1111

Veteran

pear with a pooch (pp?). structured is good so sheaths cut with hips, wraps because i can create faux boobage with my liar bras. the ideal is an old old dress which is a wrap style but made from wool gabardine--GENIUS! knit dresses in cushy fabrications.

a-line though "ideal" for pp, hubs thinks makes me look wider than i am and has banned them from the house. too tired to argue.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Short sack dresses are EXCELLENT on IT's, Una! As are strapless styles.

I'm a Straight Hour Glass (slap bang in the middle of Rectangle and Hourglass). Alas, a high necked form fitting knee-length sheath is best. But my heart is with the fit & flare. And I look AWFUL in a wrap. I cannot fill one out if my life depended on it.

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ElleH

Veteran

I think I am a straight 8 hourglass. I will try what Angie looks best in, though it might not work because she doesn't appear to be an 8.

Irene

Veteran

Fit and flare shirt dresses or fit and flare dresses in general. I can also do bodycons/sheaths on a good day. I'm a slim hourglass with a big bust, a strong shoulderline and develop a belly after eating lol

Sack dresses make me look bigger from a profile view.

This style is the most unflattering one on me:
http://www.productwiki.com/upl....._dress.jpg

I've never tried wrap dresses! I don't see them much here. Either I am looking at the wrong places or they are not popular in my country.

Anonymous

I'm not sure about my body type, but I think I look best in wraps and slim sheaths. Sack dresses look really sad on me!

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Hourglass with a strong shoulder line.

Fit and flare is very figure flattering for me, but I often think it looks too girlish. Sheaths usually work, but I tend to feel really self-conscious in them. Strapless works, but I do not lead a life that requires strapless dresses. (I think of them as only for formal events for someone my age.)

Empire waists are dreadful. Wraps are usually dreadful too. I'm not sure why on that last one.

Shifts always fit - if the shoulders/upper back is the right size there'll be plenty of room everywhere else - but are perhaps not the most figure flattering for me. I look better with some waist definition. THey're still my favorite shape.

All dresses must be at least to the top of the knee-cap. Despite being 5' 4", this rules out a lot.

Geez, no wonder I can't find more summer dresses.

DonnaF

Veteran

I am definitely not IT since I have narrowish sloping shoulders nor am I an Adorable Apple since I have a relatively small waist for my age. I am closest to Pear due to my thighs, although I am a slightly smaller size in skirts and pants than on top; go figure. Probably a rectangular Hourglass as a secondary, but wrap dresses look horrendously bad on me. I only own four dresses, but sheaths and possibly fit'n'flares flatter me the most, but fit'n'flares can look a bit twee on me. IMHO, I look best when the shoulder line is broadened and the waist is defined. Flimsy, drapey dresses have always made me look dumpy, even when I was in my twenties. More structured looks like coatdresses flatter me; shirtdresses less so. And shift dresses look meh unless they are rather stiff and A-line. That sleeveless KamaliKulture ruched dress that Angie featured might work for me if the design features hit me right horizontally since I'm your height at 5' 1".

All in all, the dress that would probably flatter my body the most is a classic ceremonial kimono. For those, you want a tubular body, so not too wide straight on; no butt; narrowish sloping shoulders so you don't have to pad them to make them slope; chest but not super busty so you don't have to pad the upper chest; some waist but not so small that you have to pad it; and hips that don't stick out. My legs could be longer, but I would wear those wedge zori or platform geta, and with the wide obi to raise my waist, I think it would work -- for a photo shoot. I also have bowed legs which work to cradle the body when sitting on one's knees. Figure flattery, yes; practicality, no.

Carla

Veteran

Rectangle with hourglass/apple tendency. Sheaths with a boatneck are best, with faux wraps--particularly ones with high/under bust waist ( like my red dress, and the Magic dress) next. I have to be careful about a deep V neckline though.

Diana

Veteran

Probably A-lines or gentle flares. I am a pear that carries my weight in my high hip, and I have a very short waist. Fit and flares technicallly work but I feel like most of them generally make me look super short waisted and can enhance the high hip shelf too much. The exception is fit and flares without a waist line, i.e. princess cut. Those tend to be super flattering.

Sheaths never have enough room in the hips for me. I have to size up a bunch which makes the top part enormous.

I also really like tulip skirts/dresses. It's like a pencil/sheath with extra hip room, so perfect for my shape. And oddly they usually do not make my hips appear huge.

As for the top part of the dress, I look for lower (vee or scoop) necklines for my short neck and wider shoulder straps/cap sleeves/shoulder embellishment to add some oomph to my sloping shoulder line.

I like sack dresses too, but I guess in my case they'd fall into the A-line category since I can't fit into the straight cut ones.

K. Period.

Veteran

I'm IT, like you. Sheaths work great on me, although sometimes I have to have the hips taken in and the bottom tapered to make it look right. The manufacturer of the sheath makes a real difference. No Ann Taylor, Talbots or Boden sheaths for me. All are cut too curvy. Tahari work often. JCrew and Banana work, but only in petites because I am short waisted. Gap sometimes work.

Straight shifts or sack dresses and Angie's suggested strapless work well too. I can't wear a wrap dress or fit and flare. Anything that is intended to show off curves is horrible on me. It just highlights my thick waist.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hourglass with pear tendencies here. Sack dresses, anything drop-waisted, and shifts look awful on me. Sheaths can work but fit is often a challenge. When the fit is on, they can be great on me, even though they tend to have high necklines, which is not great on my bust.

Wrap and faux-wrap dresses are usually good on me. I should just stick with buying that classic DVF dress in every color I can find. Fit-and -flare often works well on me, but they seem a little too girly for my style these days.

How about shirtdresses? Do any of you have much success with them? I kind of like the ones that have straighter cut skirts.

I have been combing the online stores for interesting dresses with some edge that would also be flattering on me, and coming up woefully short. If anyone has ideas, let me know! Knee length or longer.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I like most any dress with a defined waist. I think I'm an 8 hourglass but feel like my middle is getting bigger each year.

AJ

Veteran

I have an IT shape with added giraffe neck and accordion belly. I've tried sack dresses, but don't like how I'm lost in all the fabric. Shifts and sheaths that fit in the shoulders and chest are the best for me.

I also wanted to point out how pattern and design details can also be quite helpful:
1) I like the way the arm holes angle in towards the neck to minimize the shoulders. Also the lightweight tiers of ruffles help with the tummy.

2) The diagonal lines help add some curves and distract from the tummy. the black trim with the slight v shape help shrink the shoulder line.

3) The wide black trim around the shoulders and chest help decrease the shoulder line and give more shape to my small chest. The fuller shape of the shift and the scattered print help with the tummy.

4) This dress is a newly thrifted acquisition and I'm quite surprised that it works. It's a faux wrap. (I had to place 3 small tack stitches down the neckline to keep it from opening.) The cumberband waist detail is above my natural waist. I think because it's thick and there is a pleated fabric flowing down the middle, the tummy is nicely hidden. Also notice the placement of the print. The top section, the lines curve to add more curves to my chest. Under the cumberband, the lines angle in a way that adds shape to my hips. The best part is the wide border print at the hem that helps balance my shoulders, takes attention away from the tummy, and is just plain awesome! If this dress was a solid color, I don't think it would flatter me the way that this print does.

5) The gorgeous colors of this dress in this hectic print is just awesome for distracting from the shoulder and tummy issues.

6) Is this a sheath or fit and flare? I don't know, but the placement of this wide U-shape design helps narrow my waist while the A-line hem balances the shoulders.

7) I no longer have this dress as it got too faded and short. I did luv how the wide floral pattern on the bottom (Notice a theme here?) takes attention away from the tummy and shoulders.

8) Another shift dress is a light flowy fabric to hide tummy and shapeless hip issues. I do find that I prefer a long necklace to counteract the attention that the lace brings to the shoulders.

Hope that helps!

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catgirl

Veteran

Oh, this thread is so enlightening! Drop waist and tulip skirts work well on me too, if I can find ones I like. Empire waists are horrendous on me as I just look busty and chubby. Interesting to see who can wear what.

rachylou

Veteran

This kind of full skirted dress with a fitted bodice often seems most flattering for me. But I do tend to look like an anachronism when I wear them around...

ETA: Short-waisted apple/rectangle here.

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bj1111

Veteran

ETA: this dress is truly magical. one size fits most.

i have it in black...i have worn it when i was 10# heavier, now and when i am 10# lighter and it still looks super.

hubs always always always, ahem, comments on this dress regardless of what weight i am.

catgirl

Veteran

Really, bj1111? Bodycon is horrible on me in my lumpy middle age! And it's one size fits all. Do you have any pictures? Affidavits from hubby? I am sure you look fantastic!

bj1111

Veteran

una...it's the ruched squares that hide all the sins of overeating. will photo for proof. must wait for hubs to return for sworn statement.

Echo

Veteran

I am an hourglass with pear tendencies and a bit of a tummy. Sack dresses and anything drop-waisted is simply disastrous on me. Wrap dresses work, although I prefer fit and flare styles. Sheaths work when I am slightly slimmer, although there are definitely fit issues with many of them. I am not that big busted, but higher necklines often make me look heavier. Empire waist dresses have a tendency to make me look pregnant - either that or since being pregnant and often wearing empire styles, I associate them strongly with pregnancy and so I avoid them.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Hourglass. I do well in body con, sheath, sack, A-line, fit & flare, shirt dress. Don't own a wrap dress but pretty sure I could wear one. Don't do empire cut or baby doll. I guess I should wear more dresses. I tend to save them for the opera & going out.

catgirl

Veteran

Anna, you're confirming my theory that most dresses are made for hourglass figures.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am a rectangle or an apple with a bit of IT and I like shift dresses or dresses that are fitted at the rib cage and are drapey sack like after that - I know this sounds like a princess style but what I have in mind is a certain drapey style that is popular here. I recently tried a big sack dress and looked like a big sack imho.

Vildy

Veteran

I'm a moderate 8 shape. My shoulders are somewhat bigger than my hips but they are not straight across. My upper arm is larger than my shoulder. I always have *some* waist. I have that lower belly protruding if I don't watch the dairy.
I look narrower from the front and back than from the side.

I've never been able to wear a shift/sack because from the side it looks like somebody dumped a bunch of potatoes in the sack. But I can wear a sheath, so long as I watch the dairy because I don't want to wear spanx.

I don't wear wrap dresses because they seem to show too much bosom and I prefer not to and don't like the look of camisoles. Also they seem very insecure in the skirt area. I don't want to have to think about it or wear a kilt pin.

I can't wear shirtdresses because I look a tied parcel. Though if it were not a true shirtdress and very shaped with princess seams and needed no belt to show waist definition, I could. I can't wear a full skirted gathered dress but I could wear a bias cut one. Though I never seem to find any. I could wear a fuller skirted dress if the fabric were thin and silky and pleated into the waist.
My legs are short so I can't wear a drop waisted dress.

I can wear those dresses everyone makes fun of - the Laura Ashley style with ties that reach round the back to give waist definition without gathering.

I can't wear those Eileen Fisher things that are unstructured and with loads of fabric.

I pretty much hate the qualities of jersey and don't wear most of the dresses I see that seem to be on offer, on account of this.

I wear a coatdress really well. I guess that means that I mostly want structure in a dress.

I do, though, have a few moderately full maternity dresses that are thin and somewhat floaty in dark prints for summer.

ETA: I have a moderate swayback and I think this is what kills the shift/sack dress for me.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Like Janet I am an hourglass with pear tendencies but smaller bust: my hourglass balance comes from my shoulders, not my bust. Therefore wrap dresses are awful for me: I cannot fill up the top part Fit-and-flare are slam dunk, sheath can be hit-or-miss depending on the cut and fabrication. I can pull off an occasional sack dress if it is above the knee. Like Angie I need a higher neckline.

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