How to Choose the Right Dress Shape for Your Body: A Guide to Feeling Confident and Comfortable

Choosing the right dress shape can feel like an overwhelming task for many women. The fashion world offers endless styles and trends, but the real secret to finding the perfect dress is understanding what shapes make you feel best in your body. This guide will help you discover dress shapes that not only fit but also make you feel confident and comfortable.

1. Highlight What You Love, Camouflage What You Don't

Most women have areas of their body they loves to show off and areas they prefers to downplay. Identifying these areas on your body and using them as a guide can help you find the right dress shape. When looking at a dress, ask yourself what areas of the body it draws attention to, and which it hides. Does it align with what you're trying to highlight on your body?

In general, form-fitting, sheer, or detailed areas of a dress will draw attention, while looser areas with more texture can help camouflage.

For example, an A-line dress draws attention to the waist while providing more coverage for the hips. This is due to the tight waist and flared skirt at the hips. If you’re concerned about your stomach, ruching (a textured gathering of the material) across the area can help camouflage the belly. Think about what you want to highlight and what you'd prefer to minimize, then choose dress shapes that complement those goals.

2. Try a Test Run: Discover What Works

The best way to figure out what shapes work for your body is by experimenting. Take a day to try on dresses from your closet or hit the shops. As you try on different styles, pay attention to how different parts of your body feel in each one. Analyze the dress in these sections, see which elements work well on your body and which don't.

For example, you might notice a cap sleeve feels unflattering or tight, while a flutter sleeve creates a more slimming effect on your arms. The more you explore different dress elements, the easier it will be to spot which details enhance your confidence and which don’t.

3. Don't Forget the Fabric

The shape of the dress is crucial, but don’t overlook the impact of fabric. The same dress shape can look and feel completely different based on the material. A close-fitting sheath dress will cling to every curve when made from a thin, stretchy jersey, while a heavier fabric like tweed will offer structure, revealing less of the body's natural contours.

As you explore different dress shapes, remember to try them in different fabrics too. If a shape didn't work in one fabric consider giving it a try in different fabric type before giving it the boot.

4. One Size (or Shape) Doesn’t Fit All

Even when you’ve identified shapes that generally work for your body, it’s important to remember that not every dress in that shape will fit or flatter the same way. Dresses are unique and small difference can have an impact. Once you’ve found general shapes that work for you, use them as a starting point to make shopping or designing your custom dress easier—but stay flexible and open to new styles or modifications that might surprise you.

Conclusion

Finding the right dress shape is all about understanding what makes you feel your best. By focusing on what you want to highlight, experimenting with different styles, paying attention to fabric, you can discover dress shapes that not only flatter your figure but also make you feel confident and beautiful.

At Right Side Out, we’re here to help you create custom dresses that fit your body and personality perfectly. Reach out to explore styles and shapes that make you feel fabulous!