What Dress Style Is Right for You?

Women typically fall into one of four body-shape categories: pear, hourglass, apple, or athletic. Certain dress styles work better with each one of these body shapes. Here are some tips for buying a dress according to your body shape:

The Pear Body

• Choose: A-line, maxi, and shift
• Avoid: Short hemlines and shapeless dresses

The Hourglass Body

• Choose: Narrow neckline dresses, tube dresses, and mermaid dresses
• Avoid: Oversized dresses and baby doll dresses

The Apple Body

• Choose: Midi dresses, flowy dresses, and A-line dresses
• Avoid: Dresses that don’t accentuate the waist

The Athletic Body

• Choose: Halter dresses, wrap dresses, and asymmetrical dresses
• Avoid: Shapeless dress styles and dresses with excessive fabric