Easy Summer Dresses for Every Body Type

Looking for the perfect dress for your silhouette can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack in today’s shopping climate.  There are endless options online, limited options in stores, and overwhelming inspiration on social media.  But as the weather gets hotter and hotter, there is nothing better than an easy, breezy dress so the search is well worth it!

To make the dress search successful, you must first know and understand your unique body type.  This is the first step I take with my Style Coaching clients to ensure we find them dresses that flatter them, function for their lifestyle, and ultimately make them feel great!

Here’s what you need to know to decipher your unique body type:

• Have a friend measure around the widest point of your shoulders, bust, natural waist and hips.  The measuring tape should fully go around your body. (Side note: It’s easier for a friend to accurately take them.)

• Compare these measurements to see your natural balance and proportions.  Refer to the 4 body types below to learn your lovely silhouette. 

• From there, shop the dress options below or use the dresses as a template to successfully shop for yourself!

A very important component of knowing your body type is understanding that not every dress is right for every body, and that’s okay!  As women, it can often feel like we need to change our bodies to fit into current styles or what others are wearing.  The reality is clothes should fit our bodies, not the other way around.  The goal of understanding your beautiful body type is to empower you to shop and dress with ease and confidence, knowing the right silhouettes for you and the ones to avoid too.

Let’s dive into the 4 main body types and find you easy dress options that you’ll live in all summer long!

1. The Hourglass woman has a naturally balanced silhouette.  This means that her shoulders and hips are roughly the same measurement, and her waist is around 10” smaller than her shoulders and hips.  The goal is to maintain the balance and avoid any boxy or shapeless dresses.  This mean avoiding dresses with too much volume in the shoulder area or the hip area.  That can quickly throw off her balance and hide her beautiful silhouette.

Dresses with a defined waist of some sort are always best on her frame to accentuate where she is smallest.  A belt can be a great addition to a dress to give it more shape too.

An hourglass can do a-line dresses, as well as sheath style dresses.  It allows for options and to select whatever she feels best in!

The Rectangle woman’s 4 main measurements are all roughly within 10” of one another with shoulders and hips that are about the same measurement.  This creates a straighter effect with her silhouette.  In the wrong dresses, it can often lend itself to a boxier feel.

The goal for a rectangular body type is to create the illusion of a waist.  This can be achieved by adding interest to her shoulder and hip area to make the waist appear more defined.  Interest simply means a puffed sleeve detail complimented by an a-line skirt on a dress.  Or an empire waist with an a-line flare.

Belts or sashes on dresses typically aren’t a rectangle’s friend.  But princess seamed bodices and wider smocked waistbands that feature an a-line skirt on the dress can be fabulous.

The Inverted Triangle woman has lovely broad shoulders and slimmer hips.  In the wrong dress, she can feel “top heavy” or too broad up top.  For her inverted triangle body type, she does best in dresses with a defined shoulder seam and no shoulder interest.  Basically she wants to prevent any added bulk to her top half.

She looks fabulous in a dress with an a-line skirt that creates the illusion of her top and bottom half looking balanced.  She can have fun with different length dresses, depending on her height and what she feels most comfortable in.

The Triangle woman has a slimmer shoulder and bust line with curvier hips.  In the wrong dress, she may feel “bottom heavy”.  The goal is to add interest up top to balance her beautiful curves on the bottom.  She can achieve this balance by selecting dresses with collars, puffed or interesting sleeves, or a fun color or print.

She would want to avoid any dresses that are too fitted on the bottom, so a-line is her friend.  An always chic shirt dress is a great option for a triangle!

Dresses are a “one and done” staple in a woman’s wardrobe that allow for ease in dressing and instant polish!  They can be worn for the ball park, running errands, lunch with friends, work, special events and more…the options are endless!  And bonus points for dresses that can be dressed up or down to take you through your day with ease.

I encourage you to shop the options above or look for similar options that suit your style, body type and budget to round out your dress wardrobe.  And remember to use your body type knowledge for future shopping endeavors to make life a little easier!