Fashion Week may be the arbiter of trends, but nowhere else is it more evident that not all women are created equal. What works on stick-thin, amazonian supermodels won't necessarily work on us mere mortals. But that doesn't mean the pear-shaped or ample-bosomed among us still can't have great style. Here, we take one wardrobe essential—the dress—and reveal how to wear it no matter what your shape or size.
Hourglass
Lucky you, you were born to rock a LBD. Don't let covetable curves overshadow a slim waistline with a tunic or otherwise amorphous dress, which can mistakenly make you look wider. A body-conscious cut will accentuate your assets. But keep it classy by adding a few vertical inches to your look, either via a knee-length hemline or high neckline. Designers' favorite new fabric for spring is neoprene: the stuff of scuba divers has been reimagined as ready-to-wear and looks especially flattering in the form of multicolored, printed shifts that fit hourglass figures like a glove.
Pear-Shaped
For women with classic "child-bearing hips", evening out one's proportions is a lifelong sartorial struggle. What fits on top is too tight on bottom; what fits on bottom is too loose on top. Dresses complicate matters further, but fear not, for there is a solution - think mix-and-match bikinis. High-waisted pencil skirts are at once timeless and on trend. Pair one with a bust-enhancing top, such as a silk button-down blouse that when tucked in, looks voluminous up top. If you're brave, try a bustier style on for size. Either way, elongating your lower half will result in a seamless look from head to toe.
Top Heavy
What some women lack in cleavage, they make up for in a derrière like Rihanna's. And vice versa. If you fall into the latter category, a dress with a flared skirt is your new best friend. This style often features a fitted bodice with cap sleeves, which fans out into a feminine flare, with or without pleats. As such, eyes are drawn not to your chest (finally!) and instead to your runway-worthy legs. To avoid looking like a fairy princess, opt for a monochromatic number.
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