Best Party Dress

A dress is the perfect choice for your holiday celebrations. To help you find the best dress for your body shape.


To Look Thinner Overall: A shift-style dress that hugs your body under your breasts. To look slimmer overall, you want to focus on your already-slim parts. For nearly every woman, that's the area around the ribcage, right under the breasts. Look for a shift with a seam or shirring across this area; the horizontal line the seam or shirring creates will draw the eye to this slim area. Your shift should have a skirt that's cut on a narrow A-line, to skim hips and buttocks. Up top, try a sloping V-neck to add the illusion of width at your shoulders (which will, in turn, make your torso seem even narrower).


To Look Taller: A dress with an empire waist and a fluttery skirt. An empire waist -- one that ends just under your bust, and from which the fabric of the skirt of your dress flows -- draws the eye upward, giving your body the illusion of height. Empire waists can be tricky to wear, though; that's why you want to choose one with a fluttery skirt that's not too full (a full skirt can make you look pregnant) that falls to the knee -- no higher! The skirt should softly show the shape of your hips. Pair with high heels for an even longer, taller effect.


To Create Feminine Curves: A halter dress with a soft bias-cut skirt. Whether you want to play up an already-curvy body or make curves where there usually are none, a halter dress with a bias-cut skirt does it for you. The halter draws the eye upward to your cleavage (it can even help create cleavage if you're lacking -- simply wear a push-up, strapless or convertible bra underneath). And a bias-cut skirt skims and flows over your bottom half, gently rounding out hips and giving the illusion of a curvier derriere.

To Balance Your Wide Shoulders: A dress with ruffled or soft, chiffon short sleeves and a skirt with movement. Wide shoulders call for soft fabric to slightly cover them; leave them bare or topped with spaghetti straps and you'll likely look like a linebacker! Instead, choose a dress with chiffon short sleeves, which will glaze over shoulders and soften their look. Balance your shoulders out on the bottom with a skirt that moves and is not too clingy. A handkerchief skirt or a full skirt cut on the bias will help achieve this look.