Successful "Dressing"
I know it's still bitterly cold out, but that doesn't mean we can't think warm thoughts. Spring is right around the corner. Stores already have a bunch of things on sale and I've already made my shopping list. So, what's on it? Well, a lot of basic spring styles, but this season, I'm going to focus on adding more dresses to my wardrobe and think you should too.
A dress is honestly the easiest thing to put on. No thought and it's already an outfit. But what kind of dress do you look for? Well, knowing your body type helps, but aside from that, think about your great attributes - what do you want to highlight? Perhaps it's your great arms, shoulders, décolletage, the fact that you don't have cankles?!
One of the most flattering styles is the wrap dress. This has been around forever and for good reason! First of all, any time you define a waist, it's automatically sliming. Second, a wrap dress is great because of the nice V neckline that it creates - again, the most flattering neckline on EVERYONE.
It's also important to note that not all wrap dresses are the same. Some wrap higher or lower and many of them are just as flattering even if they are a faux wrap (it doesn't acutally "wrap", but instead slips over your head, yet still defines a waist).
A dress is also the perfect travel item and you can wear it with a flat, sandal, heel or tall boot in the fall. So many options and wrap dress looks great on each of the four body types as it highlights a waist for an hourglass and pear and helps create a waist for a rectangle and apple.
Another very flattering style is the empire-waist. This is a great style because it can camouflage hips, a stomach or a butt since it doesn't cling to the body. Instead, it falls gently from under the bust and away from the body. Furthermore, the wide hemline has a slimming effect on ankles and calves.
This style is perfect for a pear (especially the dress at the bottom right), but can also work for an apple or rectangle (like the dress on the left). It can be flattering for an hourglass as long as there isn't too much volume on the bottom. Also keep in mind, if you have a larger chest, then the straps need to be wide enough to fit a supportive bra. Plus, skinny straps can make large tops look even larger.
This style is perfect for anyone who is long-waisted (and therefore, shorter legs), as this style disguises where your legs actually begin and with the higher waist, helps create a nice long leg line. Remember, anytime you can add height (in an illusion or actually), then it helps balance out width. (This is why stylist always put women in "before and afters" in sky scraping heels!)
I know a lot of women feel that this style reminds them of their pregnancy days, but this still can be very flattering and the key to this is in the fabric. Something with some weight to it, helps it drape or fall nicely from the waist line and therefore not look so "poofy".
A halter style is also great and definitely more of a spring/summer style, yet perfect for those with broad shoulders, (like an apple and an hourglass) because it breaks up the top half of the body. A halter also draws attention to the now small amount of exposed shoulder and arms and therefore away from hips. However, this style can still work for a pear and rectangle depending upon the bottom half of the dress - if it's a A-line or "flowy", then it works - straight does not.
A halter dress can work for large or small busted women as it breaks up the large expanse of someone who's a bit busty and enhances the upper body of someone with a small bust.
Now, for the sheath dress. This shape can work for all of the four body types, but if it is more of a pencil skirt on the bottom half (like the picture at the left), then this is ideal for a rectangle and hourglass. However, an A-line on the bottom would work for each body type. For the top, the crewneck is the least flattering style, (unless you have a small chest), but a V, scoop, square or sweetheart neckline is best for everyone. Plus it's easier to accessorize with an open neck.
Remember, a dress is called a dress for a reason - it can look dressy and put together without even trying. It's always easy which is why there is such praise for the little black dress -- so who says you can't have one for day? Now is the perfect time to look for one that you love. All of these dresses can be found at Nordstrom.com, yet Banana Republic has a lot of dresses to offer this year and Lord & Taylor is always the best. If you need help, a professional opinion or want me to go to the stores for you, I am happy to help!