How to Choose a Formal Dress for Your Body Type
How to Choose a Formal Dress for Your Body Type
Whether it’s a wedding, a prom, a fundraiser, a business gala or simply just a party, formal events are exciting to attend and plan for.
If you’re worried about what to wear, follow these tips that can help you find the perfect formal dress for your body type.
Find Your Best Option for Your Body
Figuring out what dress to wear from all the options available in stores and online could drive anyone nuts. It’s always a great idea to know what body type we are so we can always choose dress cuts that flatter us the most.
Let’s talk about common body types: hour glass, pear, athletic, and apple.
Hourglass:
Hourglass figures have defined waists and accentuated hips, the best dress cuts are V-necklines, open necklines, cinched-in waistlines, and form-fitting tops.
Pear:
If you have a thinner upper body and larger hips and thighs opt for a strapless top, fitted open neck, V-neckline, and A-line or full skirt.
Athletic:
Athletic builds are slightly more narrow in the hips than in the shoulders. They tend to have waists that are not well-defined and broader shoulders. If this is you, try A-line dresses with thick straps, halter tops, dresses with ruching. Try a dress with a cinched midsection as well.
Apple:
Apple body shapes carry their weight in their midsection and usually have a shorter, undefined waist and slim legs. The best dresses for you are belted styles, drop-waist dresses, swing dresses, dresses with an embellished top or an empire waist. Other great options are !-line dresses, wrap dresses, and dresses with full skirts. Show off your legs too!
What About Fabric?
Soft fabrics are popular for formal dresses, and it’s not difficult to figure out why. Softer fabric feels good on the skin. It also folds and drapes in a way that most body types are flattered by it.
When you are searching for the perfect formal dress for your event you might want to consider not buying the trendiest and most current style.
Although this may seem counterintuitive, there are several excellent reasons for this. Firstly, nothing dates faster than a trend. The money you spend on your dress will be wasted.
Secondly, trends are often based on having luck with a single look and not buying a look that actually suits your body or personality.
Enjoy the Chance to Dress Up
Formal events are one of the few places where more is more. “Sort of” formal is a silly concept – given the chance to go all-out, why wouldn’t you?
The expression “go big or go home” has never been more true than when it refers to formal events.
Once you have identified the perfect formal dress, you can look forward to a well-put-together look that turns heads and leaves you feeling glamorous.
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Add a few well-considered accessories to the mix, and you are good to go!
If there’s one hack to walk away with, let it be the following. If your dress is intricate or busy, tone down the accessories.
The plainer the dress, the more room for experimentation with accessories you have!
As always, it’s all about balance.
Do you have tips on how to choose a formal dress for your body type?
Let me know, til then—cheers m’deres!
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Nancy Polanco is a freelance journalist, lifestyle content creator, and editor of Whispered Inspirations. She is a proud Mom to Gabby and Michaela and partner and best friend to Darasak. Having worked as part of a health care team for almost a decade, Nancy is happy to be back to her passion. She is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY’s Parents, and an Oprah Magazine Brand Ambassador.