We’ve all been there: the dress that makes your best friend look like Megan Fox makes you look pregnant; your roommate’s cutest pair of shorts don’t do your legs any favors. But before you jump to the conclusion that you need to lose ten pounds or that you should never wear a bikini ever again, consider learning to dress for your body type. Revered French couturier Hubert de Givenchy once said, “The dress must follow the body of a woman, not the body following the shape of the dress.” His advice still rings true today. Bergdorf Goodman’s publicist Cannon Hodge, the voice behind one of my favorite Twitter accounts, @Bergdorfs, recently tweeted, “Identify your assets first. Then let the trends drift in.” The right silhouette can make you look like a supermodel, so dress for your body type and put your best foot forward.
What’s Your Body Type?
No two bodies are exactly alike, but most of us fall into a general body type. For the purposes of this guide, see which category sounds most like your body:
Curvy: You have a fuller chest and hips. Celebrity look-alike: Amber Riley.
Busty: Your chest is wider than your hips. Celebrity look-alike: Jessica Simpson.
Pear: Your hips are wider than your chest. Celebrity look-alike: Beyoncé.
Petite: You’re 5’2” or shorter. Celebrity look-alike: Mary-Kate Olsen.
Straight: Your body is narrow and athletic, without many curves. Celebrity look-alike: Cameron Diaz.
Are you pear-shaped but petite? Curvy and busty? It’s okay to fit into more than one category – if that’s the case, lucky you! You can probably wear a variety of styles well. Feel free to draw inspiration from more than one of the categories below. Read on to find the best shorts, bathing suits, and dresses for your body – plus one cute summer trend that was practically made for you!
Shorts
Curvy
Look for shorts that hit somewhere between mid-thigh and your knee. For the most flattering look, opt for shorts that skim over your curves, rather than drowning yourself in excess fabric or squeezing into a size too small. If you’re not comfortable showing a lot of leg, rock cropped jeans instead. Hitting just above the ankle, they’re a totally chic alternative to shorts. (Tip: If you’re worried that cropped jeans will make your legs look short, balance out the cut of the jeans with your favorite pair of heels or wedges. Your legs will look miles long!)
5” Chino Short, $43, J. Crew; Peach Scalloped Hem Cropped Jeans, $80, Topshop; Roll-Cuff Denim Bermudas, $30, Old Navy.
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Busty
Tiny, tight Daisy Duke shorts can make busty girls look like, well… Daisy Duke. To avoid looking too risqué, draw attention away from your chest with shorts in bold patterns and colors. You can pull off zany florals, hot pink, and pinstripes, so pick a pair with flair!
Geometric Shorts, $40, Gap ; Coral Shorts, $14, H&M ; Triple-Button Floral Short, $35, Delia’s.
Pear
Pear-shaped girls, have no fear! If you find the right pair of shorts, you’ll look forward to putting your gams on display. Look for shorts with moderate coverage – that means no super low-rise waists or two-inch inseams – in neutral colors for the most flattering look. (Remember the finger-tip rule from your middle school dress code? That’s your perfect length!)
G by Guess Kaytlin Bermuda Shorts, $40, G by Guess; Paper Bag Shorts, $25, H&M; Black Shorts, $33, H&M.
Petite
Shorts were made for your body type! The shorter your inseam, the longer your legs will appear, so try out short-shorts, tap shorts (loose, lingerie-inspired shorts, usually with inseams no more than two inches long), or even rompers if you’re feeling daring. (Remember to keep your look appropriate! Leave your tiniest shorts for the beach, please.) Clean, tailored lines without bulky pockets or cuffed hems are the chicest way to avoid overwhelming your small frame.
Laser Tap Shorts, $68, Need Supply Co.; FULL TILT Destructive Dolphins Women’s Shorts, $23, Tilly’s; Dot-Print Denim Shorts, $35, Delia’s.
Straight
Sculpt curves by playing with proportions: Tuck a fitted top into a pair of paper-bag shorts (high-waisted shorts that cinch and tie at the waist) or shorts with bulky pockets, create an hourglass figure with a waist-cinching romper, pair a loose crop top with high-waisted shorts in a contrasting color, or wear a loose, flowy top with fitted shorts.
Leopard Tie Shorts, $48, Nasty Gal; FULL TILT Ruffle Tier Romper, $23, Tilly’s; Crop Top, $12, H&M; Indigo High-Waisted Shorts, $38, Topshop.
Bathing Suits
Curvy
Treat your curves to a flirty, retro-inspired one-piece. These suits tend to offer great support up top and just the right amount of coverage on bottom, and they’re way cuter than your boring black one-piece. Slip into a retro swimsuit this summer and let the Marilyn Monroe comparisons come rolling in! Alternatively, some brands offer styles that slim and streamline your body. While these can be more expensive, the confidence boost you get from trying it on may be worth the investment.
Plus Size Retro Shirred Swimsuit with Underwire, $100, Lane Bryant; Retro Swimsuit, $68, Boden USA; Ruffled Halter One-Piece, $80, Jessica Simpson Collection.
Busty
Shop for swimsuit tops the same way you would shop for a bra. Look for tops that offer ample support, like halters or bra styles. (Avoid bandeaus, which tend to slip down on larger chests. You don’t want to ruin your day at the beach by worrying if your top is staying up!) Play up your chest by wearing details like ruffles, embroidery, or bright colors, or play it down with neutrals or dark colors in clean lines. You can wear a variety of bikini bottom styles, so feel free to experiment with everything from itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellow polka dot bikinis to cute boy shorts.
Halter top, ruched side low-rise bikini, $36, Venus; Sea Glow Sliding Halter Top and Low-Rise Sexy Bottom, $48 and $16, Victoria’s Secret; Underwire Top and Bikini Bottom, $17 and $12, H&M.
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Pear
Your ideal bikini bottom has high-cut legs (boy shorts and other low-cut legs cut you off at your widest point, which is never flattering) and enough coverage in back so you don’t feel too exposed. Side-ties and rings call attention to your hips, so avoid those styles. To balance out your lower half, look for push-up or padded tops.
Retro Push-Up Triangle Top and Matching Bottoms, $38 and $28, Victoria’s Secret; Classic Bandeau Top and Wide-Band Bottom, $46 and $40, Jessica Simpson Collection; Solid Bandeau Bikini Top and Solid Ruched Bikini Bottom, $20 each, American Eagle.
Petite
Beware of bathing suits with too much fabric; you don’t want to look like you’re swimming in your swimsuit! Look for a suit with high-cut legs to maximize your leg length and try a bandeau top to show off your shoulders.
Ditsy Floral Bandeau Bikini and Mix and Match Bottom, $17 each, Old Navy and White Side Tie Bikini Pant, $25 and $16, Topshop; Polka Dot Bandeau Bikini and Mix and Match Bottom, $16 each, Old Navy.
Straight
Athletic styles (like Speedo one-pieces) and bandeaus can make you look lanky, so stay away from those. Instead, embrace pretty patterns to create curves. Look for a pattern in proportion to your body size; petite girls can wear small-scale prints, while plus-size girls can go for big, bold prints. In terms of silhouettes, pair a halter top with a basic bikini bottom, or try an edgy monokini, which is a one-piece suit with cool cut-outs.
Floral Ruffle Bandeau Top and Floral Ruffle Bottom, $38 and $16, Victoria’s Secret; Ruffled Bandeau Swim Top and Ruffled Bikini Bottom, $20 each, Old Navy; Hello Kitty Monokini in Red, $30, Karmaloop.
Dresses
Curvy
Shift or sheath dresses work beautifully on your body. Look for tailored dresses with defined waists to highlight your smallest point. If your dress doesn’t come with a clearly defined waist, belt it for instant shape. Empire waists also work on your body; the raised waist skims over your stomach, which makes this silhouette an ideal option to emphasize a smaller waist. Pay attention to necklines: showing a little décolleté in a scoop-neck or V-neck can create a flattering, streamlined effect.
Short Sleeve Belted Sheath, $38, Macy’s; Floral Garden Party Sheath, $49, New York & Company; Mesh Yoke Sheath Dress, $35, YesStyle.
Busty
Open necklines, such as scoop-necks and V-necks, are perfect on busty girls, so stock up! The lines of these looks elongate your neck without showing too much skin. If you’d prefer to draw attention away from your chest, look for eye-catching details on the lower half of the dress, like a brighter or lighter skirt or embroidery around the hem.
Sparkle & Fade Knit Circle Dress, $32, Urban Outfitters; Floral Dress, $25, H&M; Yellow Frill Hem Dress, $48, Topshop.
Pear
Lucky you – 1950s-inspired dresses are back in style. This silhouette’s defined waist and flared skirt make your torso look tiny while skimming over your hips and thighs. Make sure the waist of the dress hits at your natural waist and the dress creates interest by the neckline. (Tip: If the top of your dress is plain, add a statement necklace to draw the eye up to your face.) Thanks to your small chest, you don’t necessarily need a supportive bra, so enjoy wearing strapless, spaghetti strap, or backless styles!
Orange chiffon frill dress, $40, Topshop; Bouquet of Posies Dress, $25, Forever 21; Coral Dress, $30, H&M.
Petite
Elongate your neck and torso with a V-neck and lengthen your legs with a hem that hits somewhere between mid-thigh and an inch above your knee. (Sure, short hemlines make your legs look long, but don’t forget there’s such a thing as too short!) Horizontal stripes will make you appear shorter and wider than you really are, but vertical stripes will make you look long and lean. Some brands offer petite dresses designed with your proportions in mind, so always ask a sales associate if a store carries petite sizes.
Surplice Knit Dress, $17, Forever 21; Sleeveless Striped Illusion Dress, $26, YesStyle; Pink Dress, $20, H&M.
Straight
Sheath dresses emphasize your lack of curves, so stay away from those. Instead, create depth and volume with draping, full sleeves, ruching, or ruffles. Wrap dresses are universally flattering; on your body, they give you a slim waist and add shapely curves. You also look great in “two-fer” dresses, which look like top-and-skirt combinations. These styles visually break up your upper and lower halves to create balance in straight body types.
Ruffled dress, $30, H&M. Ruffle Floral Print Dress, $23, Forever 21; Sunday Wrap Dress, $48, Nasty Gal.
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Summer Trends
Curvy
Go long! Take a break from miniskirts and experiment with a midi or maxi for summer. Depending on the style you choose, a longer length skirt can be totally boho chic or ladylike and refined, so take your pick! Long skirts showed up on the runways at Calvin Klein, Rodarte, and Chanel, so you’ll be in good company. These skirts can be dramatic statement pieces, so pair them with a simple white tee and your favorite sandals for a balanced look.
Loveappela Knit Maxi Skirt, $44, Piperlime; Crochet Maxi Skirt, $45, Delia’s; Tie-Dye Maxi Skirt, $23, Forever 21.
Busty
From tailored tangerine trousers at Jil Sander to slouchy aqua pants at Rachel Roy, brightly-hued pants are everywhere this season. Play up your lovely legs with skinny jeans in your favorite shade of the rainbow. For an extra summery twist, roll them up above your ankles and pair with embellished sandals.
Satinette Paperbag Capri Pants, $23, Forever 21; BDG Twill Ankle Cigarette Pants, $49, Urban Outfitters; Zip Trousers, $40, Zara.
Pear
Thanks to the revival of 1970s fashion, flared jeans are back in style. This silhouette is super flattering on your body because the flared legs balance out your broad hips. Be careful of taking this trend too far – pairing flared jeans with groovy halter tops and chunky platform sandals screams “costume party!”
Curvy Flare With Back Pocket Denim Jean, $20, Rue 21; Urban Renewal Naval Flare Jean, $49, Urban Outfitters; Paris Blues ’70s Stretch Flare Jean, $30, Alloy.
Petite
Summery whites are always in style, but wearing the shade head-to-toe is especially cool this season. This look appeared on the runways at Alexander Wang, Ann Demeulemeester, and Celine. Pair beachy white shorts with a white tunic for the ultimate beach babe look. While head-to-toe white might look too intense on lankier girls, it looks just right on you!
Tops: Blouse, $33, H&M; Slouchy Pocket Tee, $20, American Eagle; Tomboy Tee, $24, Madewell.
Bottoms: Shorts, $13, H&M; Utility Midi Short, $25, American Eagle; Skirt, $13, H&M.
Straight
Color blocking is an easy way to visually break up the lines of your body. This trend looks fantastic on your body type. Pick a few of your favorite strong hues and create unexpected combinations. (Coral shorts with a lilac top? Sure, why not?) Go Crayola-crazy like Dior and Issa (Kate Middleton’s favorite designer) this summer.
Tops: Yellow Scallop Button Shirt, $50, Topshop; Speckled Open-Back Tee, $20, Delia’s; Blouse, $33, H&M.
Bottoms: 3” Chino Short, $43, J.Crew; Adele Cotton Shorts, $43, J.Crew; Coral Skirt, $12, H&M.
Source
Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That’s Right for Your Body by Clinton Kelly and Stacy London