How To Find The Best Dress For Your Body Type

 Finding the right dress can take an age. With so many varieties out there, how can you find a stylish dress that compliments your body?

We always try to look our best. Whether that’s in the clothes we wear or simply how we apply our makeup, we know a good impression can be everything. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can’t seem to get the look we want. We see clothes in store that look great on the hanger, but not so great when you try them on! The main culprit is this; body shape. Finding the right style that suits your type is everything.

With a little help from Alterations Boutique, leading suit and dress alterations specialists in the UK, we bring you some tips for how to find the best dress, no matter what your body type is. Here’s how to do it!




How do I know what my body type is?


Everyone is different. We know this just by walking down the street and looking around us; no two bodies are the same. What we can categorise however, is our body shape. You’ve probably heard the words ‘apple’, ‘pear’ and ‘hourglass’ being thrown around, which are terms to describe how our bodies look on the outside. How can you identify yours?
Take a look in the mirror.

Where do you tend to gain weight? Are your thighs and bum bigger than your upper body, or vice versa? Are you perfectly in proportion from top to toe? Identifying your weight gain areas is the key to finding out your body shape. Give yourself the task of standing in front of the mirror in as little clothing as possible. The more clothing you wear can give you an inaccurate view of your body!

Look at your shape.

When you look at yourself in the mirror, focus on your torso. Look at your largest areas compared to your smallest areas. Which parts of your body are the narrowest? Take note of how your shoulders, waist and hips are in proportion to the rest of your features. When you have these memorised, you can start to research your body shape and how to best dress for it.
What are the most common body types?

For women, there are a number of different body type categories that we fit into. Depending on your category, you’ll be more suited to a particular style, which will highlight all your best bits and take attention away from larger areas you may want to conceal.

Apple shapes
Apple shaped women tend to have much broader shoulders, a bigger bust than other shapes and much smaller hips. More than likely, this shape will be more inclined to want to hide a tummy and show off their legs.

Pear shapes


Women owning a pear shape will have larger hip measurements than any other shape and are usually greater in size than the bust. Accentuating your shoulders and drawing attention to your upper body parts is your main goal here.

Hourglass shapes

The hip and bust are almost of equal size in an hourglass shape, with a small, narrow waist. This shape is deemed to be the most desirable for a woman!

There are, of course, many other body types, but usually, a woman can place herself in one of these categories. So, what next? Let’s find that perfect dress for our shape!

What dress will suit your shape?

Whatever your body shape, there’s the most perfect dress and style to suit you out there, which flaunts all your best bits. Here’s how to find your perfect dress to match your body shape!

· Apple shapes are ‘top-heavy’, so will look great in shorter dresses. Don’t be afraid to show off your legs! Avoid hiding them with long boots or skinny jeans and you’ll get a balanced look overall.

· Pear shapes look great in dresses which are fitted at the upper body and flare out towards the lower body. This is because it shows off your smaller half while highlighting your lower, curvier half in the right way. Decorative necklines and straps are also great to draw attention to smaller areas.

· Hourglass shapes rock the bodycon dress; they’re great for showing off those well-placed curves. Skater dresses, pencil skirts, you name it – hourglass figures can pretty much get away with anything!
If in doubt, visit a tailor!

You’ve looked at your shape and decided on your body type. You know what suits your body in terms of style, so here’s the next tricky step; getting the right measurements. You can attempt to get these yourself using a tape measure, but this can be difficult, especially when you’re on your own. Your best option is to visit a tailor or seamstress. They’ll be able to give you incredibly accurate and immediate measurements of your body, making the process of buying clothing in store or online a breeze!


This post was in collaboration with Alterations Boutique; leading suit and dress alterations specialists in the UK. For more information about their services or to make an enquiry, visit their website: https://www.alterationsboutiquemanchester.co.uk.

No comments