Finding the perfect prom dress has a lot to do with selecting the ideal gown style for your body shape.   There are many different shapes and sizes to women’s bodies, and they often fall into the following categories:

?         Athletic

?         Hourglass (curvy)

?         Round waist and narrow hip

?         Straight

?         Pear shape (with defined waist)

?         Pear shape (without defined waist)

Have a look at the following descriptions of these body types and consider the dress styles that will be perfect for your body.

If you are Athletic, you have:

?         Shoulders - wide

?         Bust - medium-full

?         Waist - relatively straight

?         Hips - narrow

?         Buttocks - small

?         Legs - long and shapely

Dresses that will suit you are a strapless sheath style or a dress with simple straps.  Strapless dresses will display your beautiful shoulders, and accentuate your bust.  A fitted body will show your feminine curves.  A slit in the front will hint at your shapely legs.  Simple straps work because it is a classic look that will suit your figure, leaving your shoulders open.  A trumpet shaped skirt will give you a stylish alternative to the standard straight and narrow shape.

If you have an hourglass or curvy figure, you have:

?         Overall delicate structure

?         Bust - pronounced

?         Waist - well defined

?         Hips - curvy

?         Buttocks - protruding

?         Legs - shapely

The dresses that will suit you are a strapless sheath, or a halter top.  Strapless dresses will display your beautiful shoulders, and accentuate your bust.  A fitted body will show your feminine curves.  A slit in the front will hint at your shapely legs. A halter top is a classic look that will be especially flattering to your figure, with the open back and deep halter neckline displaying your great bone structure.  The fitted skirt will show off your narrow waist, and define the curve to your buttocks.

If you’re round waisted and narrow hipped, you have:

?         Neck - wide

?         Bust - medium to large

?         Rib cage area - wide

?         Back - roundish

?         Waist - thick

?         Hips - narrow

You’ll want to wear lower necklines, drop waists, as well as sweetheart necklines and empire cuts.  The lower neckline and sweetheart neckline will lengthen your neck and accentuate your bust.  The waist should be pretty fitted so that you’ll have shape.  A drop waist will lengthen your torso, making you look slimmer.  A very high empire waist will also provide form. A flared skirt will lengthen and balance out your figure. 

If you’re straight formed, you have:

?         Shoulders and hips - equally wide

?         Bust - average

?         Rib cage - large

?         Waist - undefined

?         Bottom - flattish

?         Legs - slender

An A-line dress is ideal for you, since open shoulders will soften your form and make you look more feminine.  Your body can be lengthened if it is fitted with an empire waist.  The A-line Itself will give your thighs some volume, to accentuate curves.

If you are pear shaped with a defined waist, you have:

?         Neck - slender

?         Shoulders - small

?         Bust - small

?         Rib cage - narrow

?         Waist - narrow and well-defined

?         Hips - wider

?         Thighs - full

A-line dresses are just what you’re looking for.  It will make you look thinner and straighter since it has a straight cut and lower neckline.  The waist can be fitted without being too tight.  A flared skirt will fit your hips and thighs while making them appear slimmer.  Empire waists are also very flattering, since the wider neckline keeps the eye moving horizontally.  It also smoothes out your waist and makes your bust line appear fuller. 

If you are pear shaped without a waist, you have:

?         Shoulders - narrow

?         Bust - small

?         Waist - full

?         Hips - wide

?         Thighs - full

And empire-line dress will be beautiful on you since it gives you a more narrow waist and fuller seeming bust line.  A slightly flared skirt will make room for your hips and thighs, and look slimming.  You may also consider an A-line dress to give you shape, hide your thighs, and give you an overall lengthened look

There’s a dress for everyone, as long as you know what you’re looking for.

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