By The evening dress is the most elegant item in a woman’s wardrobe. Dresses can also reveal a lot about a woman, her style, and the event she is attending. However, among the many types of cuts, styles, and colors, it is important to find the perfect evening dress that makes you feel like a queen. Stylists can spend weeks developing a vision for a celebration, as it is not an easy task. This guide will help you find your perfect dress.
Popular Styles
There are many stylish evening dress styles. Designers create unique designs in different shapes and styles each season. Therefore, every woman will be able to choose her perfect style. The most popular styles are:
Bodycon – a form-fitting stretch fabric that emphasizes the curves of the body;
Empire – a high waist cut, located below the bust;
Sheath – a tight model below the knees made of thick fabric with short or long sleeves, often used for formal events;
Mermaid – a style that fits the body to the knees;
A-line – a dress with a flared skirt;
Cocktail – a dress made of light, often bright fabric, mid-length, designed for parties and informal events.
How to Choose a Dress Based on Body Type?
When choosing a dress, it is important to consider your height and figure features. The dress must fit the body perfectly, accentuating the strengths and hiding the weaknesses. Styles that look good on one woman may not necessarily suit another. Here are the appropriate options for each body type:
Apple. Women whose shoulders and upper body are wider than their thighs and legs should choose styles that visually lengthen the body and hide the waist area. Suitable options include Empire style with a high waist, styles with closed shoulders, and sleeves. A narrow V- or U-neckline is recommended. Apple-shaped women usually have long, slender legs. They look beautiful in dresses that are flared towards the bottom, which visually „rounds“ the thighs and slims the waist.
Pear. Ladies with hips wider than their chest should choose styles that emphasize the upper half of the body. Suitable options include Empire dresses with open shoulders, models with a deep V-neck, and neckline embellishments. The best choice is an A-line dress 3-5 cm below the knee. To balance the proportions, a two-piece dress (skirt and corset) with a dark bottom and light top is recommended.
Hourglass. In an hourglass-shaped figure, the bust and hips have almost the same width, separated by a thin waistline. The goal is to emphasize the natural curves of the body. Almost everything looks beautiful on an hourglass. For a stunning effect, choose models with an emphasis on the waist, a deep V-neck, and tight-fitting styles that flare slightly at the bottom.
Rectangle. Girls with a rectangular body type are usually slender and do not have pronounced curves – the hips and waist are approximately the same width. To add curves, choose multi-layered products with frills, basques, and other decorative elements. This body type suits tight-fitting floor-length dresses that emphasize the legs, as well as A-shaped styles ending 3-5 cm above the knees. A deep neckline should be avoided in favor of a top without straps.
Inverted Triangle. Ladies whose shoulder width and bust line are wider than their thighs should choose a cut that adds volume to the lower part to balance the proportions. This can be achieved with a flared skirt, drapery, or ruffles, as worn by celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, and Demi Moore.
Note! Stylists advise not to overload the image with bright accents when creating a spectacular evening dress. If a woman cannot boast long legs, she can wear a dress with an open back. If showing the legs, the upper part should be simple.
Choosing a dress that suits her figure, a woman will feel comfortable, confident, and attractive. Some styles – A-line and V-neck – are universal, as they suit most body types and styles.
Choosing a Dress for a Full Figure
Women with curvaceous figures are advised to choose evening dresses with a simple design, without unnecessary details, and preferably in dark shades without patterns. Styles that reveal the body should be avoided – deep cuts, deep neckline, open shoulders, and short hems.
Fashionistas with large breasts are advised not to wear items without back support, as bras without back support will not provide adequate bust support, which can cause discomfort. Long A-line silhouettes and multi-layered styles that hide figure flaws are suitable for full-figured ladies.
Length Selection
Evening dresses are available in various lengths:
- Short (mini) – ending above the knees;
- Medium length (midi) – just below the knees;
- Long (maxi) – with a hem at the ankle or to the floor.
It is advisable to choose the dress length based on your height. For short women, it is better to avoid a long train or fluffy skirt, as too much fabric will visually shorten the silhouette. Mini, mermaid, or maxi styles with a small slit in the thigh are recommended to elongate the figure. Long styles with high cuts look especially impressive on tall ladies.
Important! To make your legs appear slimmer, it is better to choose styles with a hem ending at the thinnest part of the legs – up to or slightly below the knee or to the ankle.
When selecting the length, also consider the formality of the event. For formal celebrations (opera visits), long dresses are more appropriate; for more casual events (parties, birthdays, proms), short cocktail options are also suitable.
How to Combine Color?
Dresses come in a wide range of colors. But no matter how beautiful they may appear on the catwalk, hanger, or in photos, they do not always complement one’s complexion. To ensure the dress harmonizes with your appearance, consider your skin tone, eye color, and hair when choosing a color. The wrong color can make a woman look pale.
Contrasting, dark shades are suitable for light skin: dark blue, burgundy, green. Dark skin goes well with a light outfit. This technique can help you significantly narrow your options when shopping and speed up the process. You can take photos during the fitting and compare them to choose the best option.
Classic colors – black, white, red, gold – look good on any lady. But the dress color is also chosen based on the shape, dress code of the event, and the season. For example, it is not customary to wear black or white to a wedding. Floral prints are suitable for spring-summer, while saturated colors are better for autumn-winter.
What Fabric to Choose?
The look of the dress depends a lot on the fabric. While light fabrics are common for summer models, for evening wear, thicker materials that fit the body and emphasize the curves are used – silk, satin, cotton, nylon, velvet, lace, knitwear. Silk is considered the most elegant, but also the most expensive option.
The overall look of the clothing depends on how the fabric fits the body. Some fabrics are thick and structured (tulle), while others are soft and form-fitting. Therefore, the fabric must be suitable for the body type. Slim girls can choose materials with a light texture (chiffon) that add volume, while full-figured ladies should choose dense materials that hide irregularities. Lace dresses in pastel colors look elegant and help to hide large bust volumes when the bottom is made of plain fabric.
Note! One size does not fit all for evening dresses. The dress should fit the figure perfectly, not be too tight or too loose. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a product that corresponds to your actual size at the time of purchase.
