Whether it’s a big social event, a family wedding, or a romantic occasion on the horizon, we all want to find the perfect dress to complement life’s important occasions. When browsing Luxetire, it’s not hard to find styles that are sophisticated and elegant, but you may still have that nagging doubt: Will it look good on me?
Most women agree that to find a dress that will give a flattering silhouette, you need to take your body type into account. While every body is unique, most women fall into one of five beautiful forms: hourglass, rectangle, apple, triangle, and athletic. In this guide, we will walk you through the types of dress that suit each body type, so you can look and feel your very best at your next big occasion.
Choosing the Right Dress For Your Body Type
Choosing the right dress is about understanding how to accentuate the best features of your body type. It’s not about rigid rules, but finding go-to styles that celebrate your proportions and imbue you with confidence.
Key considerations we’ll explore include balance, proportion, and focal points.
Best Dresses for Hourglass Figures
In a classic hourglass figure, the bust and hips are of roughly equal size, with your silhouette tapering to a well-defined waist. To make the most of this flattering body type, focus on dresses that accentuate your waist and curves. For example, many Joseph Ribkoff dresses are perfect for hourglass figures.
Dress styles to focus on include:
-
Fit and flare dresses: These styles feature a cinched waist before flaring to accentuate your contoured form.
-
Wrap dresses: This flattering style accentuates your curves and waist for an elegant silhouette.
-
Sheath dresses: Form-fitting sheath dresses follow the body’s natural silhouette. Look for styles that highlight the waist. Perfect for work and formal occasions.
-
A-line dresses: With a more fitted bodice, clearly defined waist, and an elegant flare towards the hem, A-line dresses create balance and accentuate your curves.
While not a complete no-no, be cautious with loose or boxy dresses that lack definition. Consider cinching them with a belt or layering with a cardigan or sweater buttoned at the waist to create the definition you’re looking for.

Dress Styling for Rectangle Builds
Also known as a straight body type, the rectangle build is one of the easiest body types to style in dresses. With relatively uniform measurements and straight waistlines, you can look good in a wide range of styles. The key to looking your best is to choose styles that balance your upper and lower body and provide a little extra definition at the waist.
The following are particularly flattering for rectangle body types:
-
A-line dresses: To help define the waist, choose A-line dresses that slightly cinch at the waist, providing extra definition. We offer a number of Frank Lyman A-line dresses that would be perfect for this purpose.
-
Flared dresses: Dresses with a slight flare can help to balance out broader shoulders, creating an elegant silhouette.
-
Wrap dresses: The diagonal lines of wrap dresses accentuate curves and create the illusion of a more defined waistline.
Cinching your waist with a belt can also help to create a more defined silhouette in athletic builds. Styles to avoid include shapeless dresses that could make your body look straighter than it actually is.
Perfect Dresses for Apple Body Types
Apple body types tend to have a rounder midsection, a less clearly defined waist, and slimmer legs. The most flattering dress styles for apple body types draw attention to the upper or lower body, with belts also being useful for providing extra definition to your waist.
These styles can help apple body types accentuate their best assets:
-
Empire-line dresses: This classic design features a fitted bodice that ends just below the bust, accompanied by a gathered skirt. This timeless look is perfect for elegant eveningwear.
-
Straight-cut dresses: To balance and elongate an apple body type, avoid tight-fitting dresses with tapered hemlines, and choose straight-cut dresses in flowing styles.
Wrap dresses can also work well for apple-shaped body types, as long as they skim the midsection and do not cling too tightly. Patterns and textures can also draw attention away from the midsection.
Dresses to Suit Triangle Body Types
Traditionally known as the pear-shaped figure, this body type features a smaller bust tapering down to slightly wider hips and thighs. The key to creating a flattering silhouette is accentuating the upper body. Details on the bodice, scarves, statement jewelry, and embellishments draw the eye upwards and create balance.
The following dress styles help draw the eye toward the upper body:
-
X-line dresses: Featuring a fitted bodice and flared skirt, X-line dresses create balance by drawing attention away from the hips. A-line dresses are another great choice that creates a similar effect.
-
Tulip dresses: With flattering, fitted designs that follow the natural contours of the body, tulip dresses can work well for pear-shaped bodies as long as they feature a slight flare to create the necessary balance.
Styles to avoid for pear-shaped bodies include straight-cut and dropped waist dresses. These styles disrupt the balance between the upper and lower sections of the body, creating a square or bottom-heavy appearance.
Dresses for Athletic Builds
Sometimes called an inverted triangle, women with an athletic body type tend to have shoulders that are slightly wider than their waist or hips, and often rock great legs. Again, balance is the key, so try to draw attention to the lower half of your body with dress styles that add some volume to your hips and legs.
Some styles that are perfect for athletic builds include:
-
Ruffled and pleated dresses: With lots of volume below the waist, these styles do a great job of drawing the eye away from the upper body and creating a defined waistline.
-
Sleeveless dresses: If you’ve got toned arms, show them off in sleeveless dresses that perfectly complement athletic body types.
-
Square neckline dresses: Perfect for women with an athletic build and a larger bust, the square neckline creates a flattering look. However, avoid strapless dresses or spaghetti straps if you have a bigger bust.
Time to Find Your Perfect Dress
Whatever your body shape, the key to choosing a flattering dress is accentuating the right areas. Every body shape can look stunning when you understand the styles, shapes, and fabrics that work best for you.
At Luxetire, our curated collection of Franky Lyman and Joseph Ribkoff pieces features a range of dresses in various styles and sizes. Explore our new arrivals to find the perfect dress for your next big event.
Every Dress Style and Who Should Wear Them: Best Dresses For Your Body Type
Whether it’s a big social event, a family wedding, or a romantic occasion on the horizon, we all want to find the perfect dress to complement life’s important occasions. When browsing Luxetire, it’s not hard to find styles that are sophisticated and elegant, but you may still have that nagging doubt: Will it look good on me?
Most women agree that to find a dress that will give a flattering silhouette, you need to take your body type into account. While every body is unique, most women fall into one of five beautiful forms: hourglass, rectangle, apple, triangle, and athletic. In this guide, we will walk you through the types of dress that suit each body type, so you can look and feel your very best at your next big occasion.
Choosing the Right Dress For Your Body Type
Choosing the right dress is about understanding how to accentuate the best features of your body type. It’s not about rigid rules, but finding go-to styles that celebrate your proportions and imbue you with confidence.
Key considerations we’ll explore include balance, proportion, and focal points.
Best Dresses for Hourglass Figures
In a classic hourglass figure, the bust and hips are of roughly equal size, with your silhouette tapering to a well-defined waist. To make the most of this flattering body type, focus on dresses that accentuate your waist and curves. For example, many Joseph Ribkoff dresses are perfect for hourglass figures.
Dress styles to focus on include:
Fit and flare dresses: These styles feature a cinched waist before flaring to accentuate your contoured form.
Wrap dresses: This flattering style accentuates your curves and waist for an elegant silhouette.
Sheath dresses: Form-fitting sheath dresses follow the body’s natural silhouette. Look for styles that highlight the waist. Perfect for work and formal occasions.
A-line dresses: With a more fitted bodice, clearly defined waist, and an elegant flare towards the hem, A-line dresses create balance and accentuate your curves.
While not a complete no-no, be cautious with loose or boxy dresses that lack definition. Consider cinching them with a belt or layering with a cardigan or sweater buttoned at the waist to create the definition you’re looking for.
Dress Styling for Rectangle Builds
Also known as a straight body type, the rectangle build is one of the easiest body types to style in dresses. With relatively uniform measurements and straight waistlines, you can look good in a wide range of styles. The key to looking your best is to choose styles that balance your upper and lower body and provide a little extra definition at the waist.
The following are particularly flattering for rectangle body types:
A-line dresses: To help define the waist, choose A-line dresses that slightly cinch at the waist, providing extra definition. We offer a number of Frank Lyman A-line dresses that would be perfect for this purpose.
Flared dresses: Dresses with a slight flare can help to balance out broader shoulders, creating an elegant silhouette.
Wrap dresses: The diagonal lines of wrap dresses accentuate curves and create the illusion of a more defined waistline.
Cinching your waist with a belt can also help to create a more defined silhouette in athletic builds. Styles to avoid include shapeless dresses that could make your body look straighter than it actually is.
Perfect Dresses for Apple Body Types
Apple body types tend to have a rounder midsection, a less clearly defined waist, and slimmer legs. The most flattering dress styles for apple body types draw attention to the upper or lower body, with belts also being useful for providing extra definition to your waist.
These styles can help apple body types accentuate their best assets:
Empire-line dresses: This classic design features a fitted bodice that ends just below the bust, accompanied by a gathered skirt. This timeless look is perfect for elegant eveningwear.
Straight-cut dresses: To balance and elongate an apple body type, avoid tight-fitting dresses with tapered hemlines, and choose straight-cut dresses in flowing styles.
Wrap dresses can also work well for apple-shaped body types, as long as they skim the midsection and do not cling too tightly. Patterns and textures can also draw attention away from the midsection.
Dresses to Suit Triangle Body Types
Traditionally known as the pear-shaped figure, this body type features a smaller bust tapering down to slightly wider hips and thighs. The key to creating a flattering silhouette is accentuating the upper body. Details on the bodice, scarves, statement jewelry, and embellishments draw the eye upwards and create balance.
The following dress styles help draw the eye toward the upper body:
X-line dresses: Featuring a fitted bodice and flared skirt, X-line dresses create balance by drawing attention away from the hips. A-line dresses are another great choice that creates a similar effect.
Tulip dresses: With flattering, fitted designs that follow the natural contours of the body, tulip dresses can work well for pear-shaped bodies as long as they feature a slight flare to create the necessary balance.
Styles to avoid for pear-shaped bodies include straight-cut and dropped waist dresses. These styles disrupt the balance between the upper and lower sections of the body, creating a square or bottom-heavy appearance.
Dresses for Athletic Builds
Sometimes called an inverted triangle, women with an athletic body type tend to have shoulders that are slightly wider than their waist or hips, and often rock great legs. Again, balance is the key, so try to draw attention to the lower half of your body with dress styles that add some volume to your hips and legs.
Some styles that are perfect for athletic builds include:
Ruffled and pleated dresses: With lots of volume below the waist, these styles do a great job of drawing the eye away from the upper body and creating a defined waistline.
Sleeveless dresses: If you’ve got toned arms, show them off in sleeveless dresses that perfectly complement athletic body types.
Square neckline dresses: Perfect for women with an athletic build and a larger bust, the square neckline creates a flattering look. However, avoid strapless dresses or spaghetti straps if you have a bigger bust.
Time to Find Your Perfect Dress
Whatever your body shape, the key to choosing a flattering dress is accentuating the right areas. Every body shape can look stunning when you understand the styles, shapes, and fabrics that work best for you.
At Luxetire, our curated collection of Franky Lyman and Joseph Ribkoff pieces features a range of dresses in various styles and sizes. Explore our new arrivals to find the perfect dress for your next big event.