How to Choose the Perfect Dress for Your Body Type?

How to Choose the Perfect Dress for Your Body Type?

Choosing an outfit based on your body type can help you enhance your overall look and confidence. Whether you are a college student or a working mom, it’s essential to understand your body type and choose clothes accordingly.

In this post, we’ll guide you in choosing the perfect dress for your body type. Besides, we’ll help you understand your body shape for a better shopping and styling experience. 

Types of body shape

There are 5 most common body shapes which are:

  1. Hourglass Body shape 

Hourglass body shapes have balanced shoulders, busts, and hips. But the waist size is well-defined. Regarding numbers, if your waist size is 8 inches less than your other body parts measurements, you most likely have an hourglass body shape.

Icon of Hourglass Body Shape

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What to wear: Dresses with a defined waist, like a dark belt

Suitable neckline: Sweet heart or V neckline 

Try to avoid: Wide sleeves and necklines like boat or square 

  1. Pear body shape

This body shape is most common among women, giving vast styling options. The pear body type has a defined waist, smaller bust, and shoulders compared to hips and thighs. This body type is also called the triangle body type, the opposite of the apple body shape. 

Icon of Pear Body Shape

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What to wear: Balance the shoulders with the hips, draw attention upward

Suitable neckline: Square and Sabrina neckline 

Try to avoid: Skinny and tight bottoms

  1. Apple body type

Women with apple body shapes have wider shoulders and average to big busts. The weight is often distributed around the mid-section, with little or undefined waist. Looking at the numbers, if your shoulder measurement is 2 inches or larger than the hip or your bust measurement is 4 inches or more than your hips, you likely have an apple or inverted triangle body type.  

Icon of Apple Body Shape

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What to wear: Define waist, flared sleeves

Suitable neckline: Low V neckline, sweet heart, scoop,  

Try to avoid: Fitted sleeves

  1. Rectangle: all three are the same size

You might have a rectangular body shape if you feel your body has fewer or no curves. Your shoulder, bust, waist, and hip measurements are around the same. This body type is also called straight body shape due to little undefined waist and hip. 

Icon of Rectangle Body Shape

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What to wear: structured clothes with prints and texture

Suitable neckline: Round, V neckline, and scoop  

Try to avoid: Fitted and shapeless sleeves

  1. Oval body shape

Anybody with equal or about the same measurement in shoulder and hips, with a larger number in the chest and abdomen area, comes under an oval body shape. Such body types tend to have a waist wider than the hips. 

Icon of Oval Body Shape

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What to wear: flowy tops, faux wrap tops

Suitable neckline: V and scoop neckline 

Try to avoid: Horizontal strips print, waist length tops

Step-by-step guide to identifying body shape

As you know, there are different body types. Now, the question is how to identify them. Here’s a step-by-step guide to identifying your body shape:

Step 1: Take a measuring tape, pencil, and notebook

Step 2: Get dressed in something minimal 

Step 3: Ask your friend or your spouse to help you measure (you can do it yourself, too)

Step 4: Measure your shoulder, bust, waist, and hip as shown in the below picture

Chart to identify body shape

Step 5: Note down your measurement in the notebook 

Step 6: Search for a body shape calculator online. Here, we used Inchcalculator.com

Step 7: Enter your noted measurements into the body shape calculator

Image of Body Shape Calculator

Step 8: Click “Calculate” to instantly identify your body shape. 

Body Shape Calculator Result

This is one of the easiest methods to calculate the body shape. Be sure you stand straight and the tape is not dropping or slack while measuring.

How to choose the Perfect dress for your body type

Once you have identified your body type, choose the outfit. Here are 4 key points to consider when choosing a dress for your body type:

  1. Understand your body shape: Follow the steps above and identify your body shape to shop for outfits that showcase your features and add confidence to your personality. 

  1. Focus on fit over the size: Never stick to size. Although a size S A-line dress fits your right, the same size co-ord set might not give you the desired look. So, always check the fit of an outfit rather than going with the same size. 

  1. Consider fabric: Soft, flowing fabrics work well for an hourglass figure as they enhance the curves, while structured fabrics are good for apple shapes as they balance the proportions. Understand your body proportions and choose fabrics accordingly. 

  1. Prioritize comfort: Even a well-considered outfit can’t make you feel confident if you are uncomfortable. Therefore, always prioritize your comfort equally. 

3 dresses suitable for all body shapes

If you are still confused about choosing an outfit, here are 3 dresses from the Kaftanize collection that are suitable for all body types: 

  1. A-Line dress

The A-line dress is flattering for all body shapes. Its fitted hip and gradual flare towards the ground resemble the shape of uppercase “A,” giving it the name A-line dress. This outfit adds detail to your waist and balances out wide shoulders and hips, making it ideal for almost any body shape. 

Model wearing Kaftanize's Purple A Line Dress

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We at kaftanize bring you several unique, high-quality, modern A-line dresses to fit your style and needs. We have covered it for you, whether for a formal occasion or a casual day out. 

  1. Midi Dress

The biggest advantage of a midi dress is its length. They often fall between the ankle and the knee, making them a balanced outfit, neither revealing nor modest. The striking balance of this outfit defines the waist, makes your legs appear longer, and adds structure to your body. This makes the midi dress ideal for all body shapes and heights. 

Model Wearing Kaftanize's Silk Midi Dress

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  1. Flare Dress

A flare dress is also called a fit-and-flare dress. This dress is fitted at the top with a flowy flare at the bottom. They highlight the natural waistline and create a feminine silhouette by camouflaging the areas of your body. The flare dress goes well with all body shapes as the fitted upper area balances with flowy bottoms, creating a flattering silhouette. 

Pretty Lady wearing Kaftanize's Flare Cotton Dress

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Final Thoughts: Wear what makes you feel confident and comfortable 

Choosing an outfit isn’t a complex science. Choosing a fit that makes you feel confident about your body while staying comfortable is a matter. Besides the above tips, you can always take outfit inspiration from fashion influencers and celebrities with similar body shapes. Here, we suggested 3 dresses from our collection suitable for all body shapes. 

On top of this, our designers are sure to bring something for everyone. So, treat your body with love by choosing the best fabric and patterns made by Kaftanize!