As soon as you look at that perfect dress displayed at the shop you start wondering that how you’ll look after getting into it. In your head questions like “How will I look while wearing it?”, “What should I pair it up with?”, “How will it style for the upcoming event?” etc start popping up. Everything starts getting engraved in your mind during that 30 seconds walk near the shop. However, at times to one’s dismay, you either don’t find the right size or the dress looks awful on you. That sums up the majority of the shopping experiences just because most of the people don’t know their body type or what dress suits them according to their body type. This small guide can help you to know the basics and then know to identify your body type this, in turn, will help you to select outfits according to it.

To put it in simple words your body type is the outline or silhouette of your body. Understanding your body type helps with mapping your clothes or even altering their style to best suit your body shape/type. The target is dressed up in a way that sits beautifully and proportionately to enhance your overall look or make your body type look more appealing. Here are the general body shapes and the dressing guidelines to follow for each one of them:

1- Apple Body Type

An apple-shaped body figure comprises a heavier upper body in comparison to the lower body. People of this body type usually have broad shoulders, bigger bust and most of the weight gather around the midriff.

Dressing Style for Apple Body Shape
As most of the weight is concentrated in the upper half of the body, midriff looks heavier in general with a minimal waistline. The dressing style should move the attention away from the upper half of the body and highlight the more balanced areas like the legs. A V-shaped dressing style that creates an elongated illusion of the torso can also help in making the upper body less prominent.

Dresses for an Apple Shape Body:

• A-line or empire cuts
• Printed or textured dresses and patterned jackets
• Monochrome looks with dark colors
• Full or ¾ sleeves
• Flared bottoms and plazos
• Flowy tops

Dressed to Avoid:

• Figure-hugging fitted dresses
• Skinny jeans with tops
• Replace waist belt with an upper waist belt

2- Hour Glass Body Shape

This is the most balanced body shape with a proportionate top and bottom. Such a body type has a well-defined waistline. It is important to choose the right dresses for this shape as such a body type is to die for and it deserves to be flaunted in an elegant way.

Dressing Style for Hour Glass Body Type
A well-balanced figure should have a well-balanced dress. The dress should sit well on all the right curves and enhance them according to their outlines.

Dresses for an Hour Glass Shape Body

• V or V plunge with sweetheart necklines
• A-line or similar cuts
• Body-hugging dresses
• Good news is almost everything looks great

Dresses to Avoid:
Loose bottoms or tops might kill the look of an hour-glass shape body

3- Pear Shaped Body 

The pear-shaped body comprises a heavier lower half. The butts and thighs are visually bigger than the upper part of the body. People with such body shape need to make some space for the base. This body shape is quite a rage these days and people laud it and even do workouts to achieve it.

Dresses for a Pear Shape Body

• Wide-legged pants
• A line skirts
• Patterned or ruffled tops
• Skinny jeans with loose tops
• Crop tops
• Sweetheart’s necks
• V of Deep-V necks
• Boat neck

Dresses to Avoid

• Skin fitted tops along with loose bottoms

4- Rectangle Body Shape

A rectangle body shape is usually balanced from shoulders to hips. There is not too much definition in silhouette. It’s a fairly straightforward body type.

Dressing Style for a Rectangle Body Shape
Arms and legs are the assets of a rectangle body shape. The focus should be on enhancing them. It’s more like an hour-glass figure minus the well-defined waistline.

Dresses for a Rectangle Shaped Body

• A line skirts
• Wear belt at the narrowest portion of your waistline
• Choose wrap dresses
• Peplum jackets

Dresses to Avoid:
Avoid over-arching dresses

5- Inverted Triangle Body Shape:

The inverted triangle is the most athletic looking body type. The shoulders are much broader than the hips. Your arms and shoulders need to be enhanced as-as we can.

Dressing Style for an Inverted Body Shape:

Go for styles that add definition to your hips and focus on creating a balance. Straight cut jeans, pants, and dresses with a natural inverted V look will suit an inverted triangle shaped body.

Dresses for Inverted Triangle Body:

• Pencil cut skirt
• Skinny jeans
• V-neck lines

Dresses to Avoid:
Keep upper body minimalistic and bring all patterns ruffles to the bottom.

Being self-aware can solve a lot of your shopping nightmares even if you are shopping online. You at least are capable of knowing beforehand that whether the dress would suit your body type or not. Also, not looking good in a certain dress does not necessarily mean that you are out of shape or disproportionate, therefore, you should be able to work around things and always be cognizant of the fact that there is a glove for every body type.