How to Pick the Right Dress for Your Body Type

I typically don’t wear dresses to work.  However, for whatever reason, dresses have kind of been my go to recently.  I’m finding them to be easy to wear and comfortable.  Part of the reason might be attributed to the fact that I have figured out what style is figure flattering on my body type.  Think camouflage the mid-section, bootie and minimize my large chest…phew that’s a lot of camouflaging!  HA

Practical Fashionista 

In this brief video, Practical Fashionista describes how to pick a holiday dress for your body type.  In reality, the holidays aren’t that far away, yet her tips are perfect for picking a dress for any occasion…

Were you able to identify your body type?  The hour glass was my body type for years until I hit my 50’s.  Now I think I’m a triangle.

My Recent Dress Purchases

This dress works on my body type (think triangle) because it camouflages all of my problem areas (mid-section, booty and large chest).  I’m comfortable wearing dresses right above the knee.  The statement necklace and cold shoulders draw the eye up towards my face and away from my problem areas.  Once I figured out that this style of dress was figure flattering, I knew to look for others with the same silhouette.

As you can see, this dress has the exact silhouette as the dress above.  It’s figure flattering because it hides what I consider my problem areas.  Additionally, it has POCKETS!  Who doesn’t love pockets?!!  This material usually causes me to not try it on as I’m fearful it will cling in all the wrong spots.  However, if it’s slightly heavier, it doesn’t cling at all!  Phew!

TIP

If you watched the video, you know statement jewelry pieces draw the eye upward.  Both necklaces came with earrings and were purchased on Amazon.  If there’s something specific I know I want and don’t want to drive all over looking for it, Amazon is always my first go to for searching.  The prices are usually great and with prime I get delivery quickly!  That’s a total win in my book!

Shop the Dress (a Similar Look):  New York and Company

You’re probably noticing the pattern of the same silhouette in all three of these examples but I thought it worth sharing especially since all three are varying material.  This dress is far more casual and can be worn without leggings.  I wore it without in Punta Cana.  The material is like a sweatshirt type material and it has a small zipper in the back.  Other selling points were the POCKETS and the SEQUINED lettering GLAM…happy dance!  I think this can be dressed up or down and worn multiple ways, which are always good selling points!

Shop the Dress:  on sale for $24.97 at New York and Company

This denim dress is figure flattering because it flows away from my body yet has some structural interest:  bare shoulders, ruffled top, hem line cutouts and I can’t forget to mention comfort!!  Although I would never wear this to work, it’s perfect for summer days and evenings.  By the way, while I absolutely adore those sandals, I was ready to either be carried or crawl home.  Sometimes I sacrifice comfort for cute, but I think I need to give these away.  Size 9.5…any takers?  HA!

Shop the Dress (a similar look):  on sale for $19.97 at Carson’s

This beauty grabbed my attention because all of the amazing details, which you might have heard me describe on FTF’s Insta Stories.  Love the colorful embroidery, the grommets around the neck and sleeves, the tassels and it has POCKETS! The denim material doesn’t cling and as Lori would say it covers “my sins”!  This dress could also be worn over leggings, jeggings and will easily transition into fall.  I’ve actually seen this dress in several locations.  I purchased it at Steinmart.

This dress is made of what I’d consider tee shirt material.  It’s very soft.  Initially I was concerned that it would be too clingy, but it’s not.  The blue coloring is ombre and goes from a darker to lighter blue.  While it hits right at the knee, I felt more comfortable pairing it with white leggings for extra smoothing underneath.  It can be dressed up like shown.  I wore it to work; but it can be thrown over a swimsuit and worn to the beach.  It’s loose enough that it doesn’t draw attention to any of my flaws.  The lines of faded color along the sides also slim and draw your eye vertically.

That about sums up my recent dress purchases.  Do you have any tips for dress shopping?  Please share your tips and favorite spots to shop!

SHOP THE LOOK: