Body type: Pear
Characteristics: Narrow shoulders and wider hips. Typically will shop for two different sizes between the top and bottom.
Goal: Add width and attention to the upper half while de-emphasizing your bottom portion.
Dress Dos: Find a neckline that frames your face like a portrait cut or off-the-shoulder style. Adding some details, such as beading or a horizontal band, will also do the trick. The bottom should be simple and clean. The popular A-line cut creates a lovely silhouette with minimal materials.\
Dress Don’ts: Anything that draws your eye down towards your midsection. A good example of this is a dropped waist with boxed pleats or heavy folds or bustles. Any details or special features on the skirt portion will highlight your bottom half. And as much as your new hubby loves your curves, a mermaid, body-hugging style will augment attributes you may want to downplay. For the neckline, avoid cuts such as halter tops that close off this area. This style will only draw the eye in, thus creating further space between your top and bottom.
Body type: Inverted Triangle
Characteristics: Broad shoulders with narrow hips, or full-busted, wearing a smaller size clothing on the bottom.
Goal: To draw attention to your bottom and simplify your upper half.
Dress Dos: Go with a style that is simple and clean on the top but has ornate details such as sequins and beading, or texture such as lace, on the bottom. Gown styles that elongate your bodice and draw the eye down are perfect. Basque waistlines or dropped waists will flatter your hips and give the illusion of a waistline. A simple V-neck cut on top complements the ornate skirt below.
Dress Don’ts: Anything that will draw attention to the shoulders and bustline, including beading, sequins, busy cuts and swaths of fabric. Empire-style dresses are also a style to avoid, along with straight skirts.
Body type: Rectangle
Characteristics: Shoulders, waist and hips are fairly the same width.
Goal: Give the illusion of curves and shape.
Dress Dos: Find a sleek dress that skims and hugs without requiring you to fill out certain areas. A princess style gives shape to your boyish figure by creating a waist and hips.
Dress Don’ts: As mentioned above, any dress so structured you are required to fill out the shape will not be flattering.
Body type: Hourglass
Characteristics: Hips and bust are the same size with a defined waist.
Goal: Maintain a sense of balance between the top and bottom.
Dress Dos: Empire and sheath-style dresses are graceful and flattering, as they will follow your natural curves. Dropped waists will highlight your waist while a clean classic cut will mute your shape.
Dress Don’ts: Avoid having your bottom overwhelm your top half by being too puffy or too full. By using heavier materials and detailing, you can appear to be heavier than you are and over-accentuate your top, bottom or both.
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