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The Fashionable Housewife

The Fashionable Housewife

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How to Find the Best Evening Dress For Your Body Shape

Modified on February 5, 2019 at 8:40 PM

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When youโ€™re looking for the best evening dress, you need to keep several things in mind. The type of event will dictate the dress code, but you also want to make sure the dress looks good on you and fits your body type.

Picking the right type of dress adds balance to your natural body shape and choosing the right color will make sure that your skin and hair glow. Because there are so many different body types, from pear-shaped to hourglass, itโ€™s not an easy task sometimes.

The first step in how to dress for an evening event is figuring out your body type. Once you understand your body shape and what that means, you can find a dress that shows off your best features while keeping it appropriate for the occasion. Donโ€™t stress. The right dress is out there, just waiting for you.

Your Body Type

Sometimes identifying your natural shape is as simple as looking at your silhouette in the mirror. If youโ€™re still not sure what body type you have, you can measure your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips. These numbers will give you a better idea of where you are smallest and widest.

Use these numbers to help figure out what shape you are. Letโ€™s discuss some of the most common body types, and you will begin to see which dresses are best for flattering your best features and hiding your imperfections.

Apple Body Types

Apple body types have thin legs with wide mid-sections and upper bodies. Dresses that have defined waists look best on this shape because they give your waist definition. Plunging necklines, deep V-necks, sweetheart shapes, and off-the-shoulder styles will look fabulous on an apple shape.

Apple shapes have gorgeous legs, so cocktail parties are the perfect opportunity to wear short dresses to show them off. If youโ€™re attending a formal event like a black tie or holiday party, a ball gown with a full skirt will add balance to your shape.

Busty Body Types

Ladies with full busts should flaunt it. Not everyone is so lucky as to be blessed will a full bossom. Busty bodies have large chests and narrow hips. The key to looking gorgeous in the best evening dress is to emphasize your bust while balancing your lower body.

A-line dresses add flare to the lower portion of your body, making it look bigger. Mermaid dresses are also ideal for this body type because they naturally highlight your figure with a body-hugging bodice. The dramatic flare at the bottom provides the balance that your lower half needs while accentuating everything else.

If you have a busty figure, avoid high necklines because they make your chest look even more prominent. This draws attention away from your lower half, making you look top heavy. It throws off the balance you need to achieve to look fantastic in an evening dress.

Hourglass Body Types

Oh, to have an hourglass shape! This is easily the most desirable of the body types. You have voluptuous curves in all the right places. Your narrow waist is nestled neatly in between your bust and hips of equal width, creating a symmetrical curve that looks fantastic in anything you wear.

Show off your perfect silhouette in a figure-hugging style like a mermaid or bodycon dress. Open backs grab attention, as do high necklines that emphasize your hourglass shape. Try to stay away from loose or over-sized dresses that drown out your curves if you’re really looking for the best evening dress.

If you donโ€™t feel comfortable in anything form-fitting, feel free to wear A-line dresses, beaded dresses, ball gowns, or empire waisted gowns. These classic designs are traditional and timeless, and youโ€™ll look gorgeous and elegant, even though youโ€™re not drawing attention to any curves.

Pear Body Types

Pear shapes have a narrow upper body with wide hips and a more sizeable tush. Thereโ€™s a certain pop culture song that would say thereโ€™s nothing wrong with that at all. As a matter of fact, this body type is the easiest to balance with evening dresses.

When you are looking for the best evening dress, choose dresses that have a lot of extra details or embellishments at the top and a flowing skirt to mask your hips. Halter tops look great on pear shapes, which makes all of the other shapes jealous. Not everyone can pull off a halter.

Draw attention to your top half with beadwork, plunging bodices, and infinite detail. Stay away from body-hugging dresses and instead choose something with a loose skirt. You have the benefit of being able to rock attention-grabbing bodices to create a focal point that makes a statement.

Petite Body Types

Petite women are short with a slim stature. Block colors look great on petite women because they are eye-catching and make you look more voluptuous. Single-color gowns also look fantastic on petite women because they elongate the silhouette by drawing the eye to the length of the dress.

Petite women can also go for high-waisted gowns to add length to their legs or wear knee-length dresses to semi-formal events to show off their legs. Pair any dress you wear with heels to add height.

Slender Body Types

These athletic body types have rectangular figures with very little curve. Itโ€™s easy to use dresses to add gentle curves. Dresses that hug the hips and have narrow waists are great for creating a curvy figure. Mermaid styles, off-the-shoulder designs, and sweetheart necklines add something girly to your shape.

Youโ€™ll feel more feminine in something curvy than in a column dress that emphasizes your rectangular figure. Go for a cinched waist and a full skirt if you donโ€™t want anything too body-hugging because it will have the same effect.

More Dress Options

These are just a few of the most common body types. There are many more, as well as combinations of body types that have a few features from several different shapes. Everyone is unique, so itโ€™s impossible to find a one size fits all dress for each body type.

Know your measurements well enough to know what you should emphasize and what you should hide. The numbers donโ€™t lie, so measure yourself before you go shopping for the best evening dress, so you know what to look for. Balance your shape by hiding the area where your body is the widest and highlighting where you are narrow. If youโ€™re top heavy or bottom heavy, pick a dress that emphasizes the other half and creates balance.

If you are hesitant, mermaid dresses look great on almost everyone because they quickly and naturally create an hourglass shape. They hug where you need it and flare where you want. You can look great in a mermaid dress with very little fuss.

If youโ€™re still unsure about how to find the best evening dress, narrow your options down to your favorite colors, the type of event, the time of day, and the location. Most evening dresses are long, but from there, take your pick of any of the styles that emphasize your best features, and have fun!

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Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on February 5, 2019 at 12:25 PM
Filed Under: Dresses & Skirts
Tagged With: apple shape, Body Shape, Body Shapes, Body Type, body types, bodycon dress, bodycon dresses, evening dresses, evening gown, Formal, formal dresses, formal wear, hourglass shape, petite shape

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

Disclaimer

The Fashionable Housewife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for blogs and websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We alsoย participateย in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission on purchases made through our links. There is no extra cost to you! For more info, please see our Disclosure & Privacy Policy.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! Iโ€™m Sarah-Jean. Iโ€™m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

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Whether you have a laptop or a desktop pc, being able to adjust your desk at the push of a button and stand for a while is absolutely essential to working long hours at a computer. 

This bicycle chair is designed specifically for this desk and a great way to keep your body moving. You could also use an under desk treadmill like @superun_fitness for even more flexibility! ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ

Just because you have to work at a desk all day doesnโ€™t mean you need to be out of shape. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

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Our new @kingofchristmas 7.5' Queen Flockยฎ Artificial Christmas Tree is absolutely amazing! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

The kids couldnโ€™t be happier so I have no regrets putting our tree up before Thanksgiving. ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ’๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

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The bins hold a surprising amount and I love how solid and sturdy this is. Perfect for organizing toys at kid eye level. Itโ€™s also great for seasonal home decor! ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚

Whatโ€™s your favorite piece of furniture in your house?! 

Tell me in the comments! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

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An often-overlooked element to planning your perfe An often-overlooked element to planning your perfect hiking outfit is finding the perfectย minimalist backpack! 

You donโ€™t want to be weighed down by an oversized, clunky backpack that boasts all the bells and whistles but delivers nothing more than unnecessary muscle strain. You want a backpack that is minimal on the outside, functional on the inside, and sustainable all around. Waxed canvas is always a top choice for me!

Iโ€™m obsessed with this backpack from @hellodayowls ๐Ÿ˜

It has that perfect boho minimalist look that I love, in the perfect color for fall. This has become my go-to handbag for autumn. 

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Canโ€™t wait to go again next year! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿปโœจ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

#summertime #familytime #familyadventures #motherhoodunplugged #childhoodunplugged
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This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t believe my oldest son is 13 and outside helping dad do home projects like building a new deck. ๐Ÿคฏ Seems like yesterday he was in his walker on this back deck and it looked a lot better ๐Ÿ˜‚

Thankful that @homedepot has great prices so we could finally afford to do this home reno project! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐ŸŽ‰

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hereisourhomeschool #motherhoodthroughinstagram
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I asked him if he could stay 12 for one more year but he didnโ€™t like that idea. ๐Ÿ˜’ Was worth a shot, right? 

Scroll for the outtakes ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

This kid blows me away daily and makes me so proud to be his mom. I donโ€™t have enough words to describe how much I love this child. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Drop a comment and wish this boy a happy birthday! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‚ 

#homeschoollife #homeschoolfamily #momlife #momlifeunfiltered #momlifeunplugged
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Work from home? You need @flexispot_official The Work from home? You need @flexispot_official 

Their standing desk and exercise chair is a GAME CHANGER!! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

Whether you have a laptop or a desktop pc, being able to adjust your desk at the push of a button and stand for a while is absolutely essential to working long hours at a computer. 

This bicycle chair is designed specifically for this desk and a great way to keep your body moving. You could also use an under desk treadmill like @superun_fitness for even more flexibility! ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ

Just because you have to work at a desk all day doesnโ€™t mean you need to be out of shape. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

Motherhood and working from home is hard. FLEXISPOT makes it easier. 

Check out my blog and search โ€œFLEXISPOTโ€ for more info!!

Comment and tell me how many hours a day you spend sitting! Be honest! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #workfromhome #athomeworkouts #athomefitness #fitmoms #fitmomsofig
If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, go for it!! 

Our new @kingofchristmas 7.5' Queen Flockยฎ Artificial Christmas Tree is absolutely amazing! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

The kids couldnโ€™t be happier so I have no regrets putting our tree up before Thanksgiving. ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ’๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

Follow my shop @fashionablewife on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!

#liketkit #LTKSeasonal #LTKHolidaySale #LTKHoliday #kingofchristmas 
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/4n9gW
Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom from @guidecraft_official !!

The bins hold a surprising amount and I love how solid and sturdy this is. Perfect for organizing toys at kid eye level. Itโ€™s also great for seasonal home decor! ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚

Whatโ€™s your favorite piece of furniture in your house?! 

Tell me in the comments! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#homedecor #momlife #homeorganization #playroomorganization #playroomdecor #homedecorideas #fallhomedecor
An often-overlooked element to planning your perfe An often-overlooked element to planning your perfect hiking outfit is finding the perfectย minimalist backpack! 

You donโ€™t want to be weighed down by an oversized, clunky backpack that boasts all the bells and whistles but delivers nothing more than unnecessary muscle strain. You want a backpack that is minimal on the outside, functional on the inside, and sustainable all around. Waxed canvas is always a top choice for me!

Iโ€™m obsessed with this backpack from @hellodayowls ๐Ÿ˜

It has that perfect boho minimalist look that I love, in the perfect color for fall. This has become my go-to handbag for autumn. 

Perfect for all our outdoor adventures, hiking in the mountains, exploring the woods with my kids, and everything motherhood throws at me! ๐Ÿฅพ ๐Ÿง—๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐ŸŒฒ 

Learn more about this bag on my blog ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#backpacking #outdoorfashion #wildandfreemama #mountainmama #motherhoodjourney #minimalfashion
I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ Take me back to a bett I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Take me back to a better place ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿป summer time at @storylandnh !! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t wait to go again next year! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿปโœจ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

#summertime #familytime #familyadventures #motherhoodunplugged #childhoodunplugged
What they remember about their childhood is in you What they remember about their childhood is in your hands ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodrising #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodintheraw
This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t believe my oldest son is 13 and outside helping dad do home projects like building a new deck. ๐Ÿคฏ Seems like yesterday he was in his walker on this back deck and it looked a lot better ๐Ÿ˜‚

Thankful that @homedepot has great prices so we could finally afford to do this home reno project! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐ŸŽ‰

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hereisourhomeschool #motherhoodthroughinstagram
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