Dresses to Wear to a Party

Embrace your curvy lines with a party dress that shows off the good while hiding the not-so-good. Look for a party dress that celebrates your bosom without letting it fall out. Consider anything with a portrait, scoop, V-neck or halter neckline and full, knee-length skirt. You can also wear spaghetti straps, as long as the straps are sturdy enough to hold you in. Avoid belted or pleated waistlines if you're self-conscious about your tummy. Flattering waistlines include dropped or princess.

Dressing a petite frame means sticking with tailored lines. Oversized or overly dramatic party dresses tend to drown your petite figure and make you look like a girl dressing up in mommy's clothes. Any fitted neckline will do, from ballet to strapless, and any skirt will do, from fitted to flared. The hem should fall no longer than just above the knee. Any skirt longer than that will cut your legs too short. The waist also needs to remain fitted and smooth. Any large breaks, such as a belt, will chop your small figure into too many chunks and make you look shorter.

Look for a party dress with a loose skirt and an eye-catching bodice if you want to even out your pear body shape. Fitted skirts hug that pear bottom too tightly, making the shape stand out even more. A flowing skirt, mid-thigh length or longer, softens your hips without hiding your curves. Any top with a little drama, such as a ruffle around the neckline or a jeweled pendant at the breastbone, adds interest to your thin upper body. Drawing attention to your torso helps take attention away from your hips, which helps balance your appearance.

Focus on lengthening styles when it comes to finding the perfect party dress for an apple figure. V-shaped necklines work wonders to minimize your bust and make your torso appear longer, as do dark colors. A short skirt with a bright color or pattern not only shows off your legs, but also helps draw attention away from your heavy top. Look for defined waistlines, preferably ones that cut a little high and cinch around the narrowest part of your stomach, to break up the apple shape and help create a slimmer silhouette.