Plump hourglass, and surprisingly - most shift dresses work best. they just skim over the curves and are somewhat sleekifying, if that makes sense. Also, some tailored shirt dresses can work well too.

Wrap dresses and the like can be a bit too "va va voom" for some reason. I tried the sweater dress trend a couple of years ago, and you know what? I never actually wore the one sweater dress I bought. It's still hanging in my closet, never worn.

Hands down, the shift dress. I don't really like the "va va voom" effect of other styles, and find that shift dresses and the like are better for me.

I'm an hourglass (X shape) with strong shoulders and a round butt, and I wear empire waist almost exclusively! Am I the only one? I would love to wear sheaths, but I almost never find one that fits shoulder, waist, and hips.

High-fiving Angie, my dress twin! She's slimmer and a couple of inches taller than I am but the basic shape is similar (smack dab between a rectangle and slim hourglass) and I look best in the kinds of dresses that flatter her most: high necked sheaths. I like fit and flare, too, but have more luck with skirts paired with blouses or tops in this silhouette than in actual fit-and-flare dresses, probably because I am short waisted but not truly petite (so petite dresses are generally too short for me even though the waist placement is better).

I have a relatively strong shoulder line (my shoulders are the widest part of me in fact) so I can wear a shift pretty well, too, if it's cut right. And I like the look of that in summer, especially.

I can't fill out the top of a wrap dress, alas. I look even worse (if possible) in a "surplice" dress -- i.e. a faux wrap. Ugh.

Skirts should be either quite full or quite narrow (even tapered, esp. if midi length). The A lines that used to look so fab on me when I was just a bit curvier now hang sadly limp and foolish.

This is why I haven't found a shirt dress that I like. Many are A-line. The top portion would look fab on me (esp. if in a classic shirt-collar style) but an A line bottom would be less than fab.

Rectangle with secondary type being pear. A "skittle" really so I look best in A-line, empire waist or shaped shift with some structure. Drop waist when they are on the scene is good. Fit and flare is ok but I am happiest in silhouettes from the 60's and 20's.

I don't care for most wrap dresses or anything body-con on me.

Great question, Una! I am somewhere between an 8 and an O. The sheath dress (high or low neckline) has been my standby for 30 years no matter what my weight. Lately I've been experimenting with surplice dresses with a band around my ribs, flaring out from there. They have been a good option for a casual look or just for days I want to be more comfortable. For me a sheath requires heels and a certain mindset.

@Adelfa - Thank you for mentioning surplice dresses! Now I know what style to call my Max and Cleo dress.

Anything but a sack dress. It would have to be extremely short to be doable. I am a consumated pear.

As a curvy petite apple, the best dress shapes on me are wrap dresses followed by fit-n-flare and maybe a sheath when the fit isn't too snug in the mid section. V-necks are my best friend as they help to elongate and slim my silhouette.

I do get stuff tailored, especially sheaths -- I often have to bring the shoulders up a tad. And sometimes I buy a larger size for my upper body, then get the waist and hips taken in. Is "Curvy Amazon" a body type? I think that's what I am, ha.

Ali, I agree. GORGEOUS curvy Amazon!!

I also agree about tailoring. Taking the shoulders up is a simple fix for me sometimes, too.

Ah, thanks, Suz!!!

I'm a pear, so a dress has to have a full, flared or fish-tailed bottom. Empire lines are a no-no as they create a tummy where I don't actually have one and people start no so subtly enquiring whether I'm pregnant. I don't even look at straight/pencil dresses any more after a disastrous derriere split situation :O :O :O

Petite hourglass with pear tendencies, small bust, but my shoulders complete the hourglass shape - I need clothing to come in at the waist. A lines, fit and flares, fitted sheaths (provided they are not cut too straight), and wraps seem to work best. I can do shirt dresses as long as I belt them but feel that they are not my very best look.

Late to this, but I'm a short-necked, larger-busted Hourglass-Rectangle. More of a wider rectangle than Suz and Angie, though, since I'm both shorter and heavier. I prefer sheath or slim-cut dresses that taper toward the knee, have a lower neck, and have some waist definition. Otherwise it looks like I'm wide all the way down. Ruching or draping on the waist helps with the belly.

...and ditto towards tapering at the knee, if not, I look wider, much wider. A line is good but it has to be really fitted at the waist and high hip, if not, I get the same widening issue.

Good question. I'm reading this thread with interest. I think I have some crossover with Rae here. I'm short, quite slim but with a somewhat fuller-than-expected bust, a short neck and not much in the way of waist definition. I have strong but bony shoulders, so I used to think I was an IT but after much experimentation (and drawing myself!) I've decided I'm a true rectangle. Sooo, it seems I can manage a number of dress styles. I have enough of a bust to nicely fill out a wrap, and the flared skirt balances out my narrow hips to give the impression of a proper hourglass. That's probably my best dress shape. Lower necks are better. Turtle necks and high crew necks look horrendous. I have a sleeveless halter neck a la Marilyn Monroe that looks good. I can do all sleeve lengths, from sleeveless to full length, but I tend to push the full length sleeves up to show my forearms. For some reason that works better. I can do a sheath (if it fits right), a wiggle dress, a shirt-dress (without a waist tie), and a very slim-fitting empire waist WITHOUT gathers under the bust (nothing makes you look preggers like under-bust gathering!). Hemlines cannot be lower than just below the knee. I absolutely look dreadful in anything loose that ties at the waist. I've never tried a sack dress, and am curious to know if it would work.

I'm an IT and wear lots of different styles of dresses. My favorites are probably sheaths and faux wraps. I have just enough of a chest to fill out wrap dresses well enough to work. And wraps/faux wraps give me the illusion of having a waist. Sheaths work very well if they fit me well. I can't wear ones that are designed for an hourglass figure.

I guess I'm going to have to try sack dresses.

High five, IT sister! I'm an IT with hourglass tendencies.

I love volume on my bottom, so I have no problems with fit-and-flare silhouettes. I know it's not everybody's cup of tea.

I know my short li'l waist shouldn't like empire waists, but I do ... as long as it's the right empire waist. Too much pleating and volume emphasizes the non-existent distance from my bust to my waist, but a restrained empire waist implies a longer waist than I have. Here's some super-old photos of empire waists that pass my filter; note that dress #1 and #4 have been purged for unrelated reasons, but #2 (and to a lesser extent #4) still illustrates the silhouette.

I don't gravitate towards wrap dresses for the same reason: too much attention drawn to my short waist.

Angie seems to like structured A-lines on me (photo #6). I do adore the balance they bring to my strong shoulders.

I'm just discovering sacks now!

I'm petite and have pear shape tendencies with smaller shoulders and boobs, shorter legs. I look good in structured a-line dresses that cinch at my waist and flare out. I tend to carry my weight in my tummy and inner thighs so the a-line style works to hide those flaws.. You'll see me in shirt dresses and a-line skirts.

I like this question. However, I have to divide it into two categories...what shapes/silhouettes look flattering on me, and what shapes/silhouettes *which fit me* can I easily find in stores. I think I could probably pull off just about any dress shape if it were made for my measurements. However, because I am short, short waisted with a wider waist than is typical (I have curves, just not as pronounced), and have a tendency to gain weight on my belly before any of it reaches my bust, hips, or bottom... it's not always easy to find particular examples of certain styles off the rack that fit me. Thank heavens for spandex is all I can say. If it weren't for that miraculous touch of stretchiness that has permeated much of the clothing industry, I would be unable to wear most of the dresses that are out there.

The one exception to the "all shapes will potentially work" blanket statement I made above is the sack dress. I have one in a lightweight black wool with a cotton bodice covered in black cotton detailing that resembles wilting flowers (I swear it looks better in person than what I'm describing) that I love to wear. It's sleeveless, and adding a jacket or cardigan seems to move the stylishness of the sacklike shape into unstylish territory. So there's only a short window between seasons when I can wear it. If it were anything but black (or possibly a similar dark color), I think it would feel kind of juvenile to me. The length is good, hitting a little bit above the knee. Any higher would definitely up the juvenile factor. Any lower and it would truly feel like a sack. So...I have one example of that style that I feel works for me.

I've mentioned my boyfriend here before. This is an example of why I both love getting his fashion advice and simultaneously take it with a grain of salt. I held up the dress to him as a possible outfit for that day, and he gave it an enthusiastic thumbs down. He hated it. Months later, he sees me wearing it and compliments me on it. He can be very silly.

High fiving Suz right back! My frock, top and jacket twin :). I'm sure we are the same width!

I forgot to mention Una, I LOVE shirt dresses - both straight and flared. (Thanks for reminding me, Janet). If only I could find one with length under $500.

I thought of another tricky dress shape for me...empire waists.

Such fascinating and enlightening answers here. Obviously we all have an instinct for what suits us. And what's interesting is that I tend not to like what doesn't suit me (empire waists, for instance) and be drawn instantly to what does. I guess that's a good thing, right?

FAB answers, all!