Body Shape Guide - How to Dress For Fabulous

Body shape dilemmas? Here's your ultimate summer guide to dress your body for major head-turning attention. Whether you're curvy like Amy Schumer, athletic aka Cameron Diaz, petite like Meghan Markle or hourglass like Kim Kardashian, making the most of your body shape is easy with some simple style rules.

Apple Body Shapes

Firstly, if you're an apple shape, you carry weight on your middle with slim arms and legs. So we say, flaunt your best bits and draw attention away from your tummy – a short dress will accentuate those pins whilst a scoop or V-neck will draw the eyes upwards away from your middle. Empire line dresses are great for flattering the apple body shape as they draw a line underneath the bust, skimming over wider waists and lengthening the body. Tunic dresses are another superb choice for apples; their structured shape covers up an undefined middle whilst high hemlines and sleeveless styles are great for showing off lithe limbs.

Skimming inches

caption from left: Goddiva belted dress in Champagne; Gina Bacconi maxi print in navy and Vanessa Horne in red are great choices for the curvy figure. Dresses with a colour block centre and black edges are a great choice for skimming inches off your middle. In conclusion for apple shapes, adding a belt can transform apple to apple core in an instant or choose dresses with a fuller skirt to create the illusion of a smaller waistline.

Pear Body Shapes

So, let's look at pear shaped women. Pear shapes are typically wider in the hip with extra weight on the bottom and thighs. Often pear shapes have a smaller bust. Goddiva's lace asymmetrical hem is perfect for evening wear glamour if you are fortunate enough to have a pear shape figure (bigger on the hips than your upper body). Or try the Ariella gold sequin maxi dress to show off your slender top half in a fitted silhouette. A strapless midi dress with a flared skirt is a wise choice – it will add focus to your top half and take emphasise away from your lower half. And finally, don't forget large collars, lapels and sleeves with eye-catching detail also draw attention to your top half, as will accessorising with statement necklaces, earrings and neck scarves. caption: From left Goddiva; Gina Baconni and Ariella - all perfect styles for pear shapes

Hourglass

Caption: Club L London Bardot dress; or perhaps try the Nadine Merabi dress and a Goddiva dress are great for hour glass divas Well, ladies with an hourglass figure are curvaceous with a tiny waste, statuesque legs and an ample cleavage. Think Kim Kardashian creating a temperature spike in her form-hugging dresses. Those girls heading to prom or a ball (try collections such as Jora and Dynasty). These are great for showing off a tiny waist and covering up wider hips. Or try adding hugging frocks and pretty tea dresses to show-off your womanly curves. Any fitted dress or skirt suits an hourglass figure. Honor Gold have a perfect selection of dresses to wow. Finally, if nothing else is working, try a pencil skirt from Closet London or even Nadine Merabi - but remember the pencil skirt flatters the most. Emphasise your tiny waist by adding a belt to dresses.

Athletic

Maybe you've been blessed with an athletic figure? This means you have a slender shape, often tall with broad shoulders. Sometimes, you could have a small bust. Simply rejoice if this is your shape as most dresses look great on you. You've been blessed with an athletic silhouette - how lucky are you! Most jumpsuits and body-fitting dresses will look amazing on you.Try our Ariella jumpsuit or if you are hankering for something a little more Va Va Voom try Nadine Merabi to grab your fancy.

Athletic Body Shape

caption: Gatsby Lady Dress in red; Adrianna Papell dress in Champagne and Ariella strapless jumpsuit make great outfits for the athletic silhouette. Opt to show off in mini fitted styles…you'll suit the Club L selection of caped suits with trousers. As an aside, did you know A-line skirts are great for creating curves and balancing out broad shoulders? Whilst a Peplum style dress (the ones with the frill on the knee) will add shape to a slender frame. So, in summary for athletic shapes, create the illusion of a bigger bust with a cowl neckline, or accessorise with chunky, statement necklaces for a similar effect. You can refine broad shoulders with a scoop or v neckline.

Petite

So, what if you're a slender frame? Petite women are generally shorter and slighter all over - sometimes the standard size of dresses just look too big and may overwhelm. However, petite women look great in fitted or semi-fitted dresses to show off their slim frame. Clothing with vertical lines – not necessarily stripes, this could be in the detailing - will create the illusion of height. But try dressing head to toe in one colour such as this Closet London dress will elongate the body. Maybe, choosing summer's favourite vibrant, bold patterns rather than ditsy floral print will make you seem taller too. High heels are the easiest way to add stature to a petite frame. In summing up advice for petitie women, keep your outfit on-trend with summer's favourite wedges or heels with concealed platforms. Caption: Club L London; Kalayci London and Closet London - all help give petite women a few extra inches

Tall

So, just so we're clear, we class tall as over five feet eight, so hold onto your hats ladies. We've created a fabulous selection of dresses just for your body shape. Opt for long floor-sweeping dresses to make a statement. Or simply choose a midi style - that way it's neither too long or too short. Keep accessories simple. caption: Paper Dolls Little Mistress dress in aqua; Nadine Merabi Stella Dress (above) and the Goddiva floral tea dress make for eye-popping outfits for tall women (over Five feet eight)

Curvy

Celebrate your curves - you've got it girl! Show off your bodyshape with confidence. If you need a little extra help causing heads to turn (let's face it you might not even need this shape guide advice). A firm favourite is the wrap dress, which will accentuate your curves by pulling you in at the middle. The Goddiva chiffon maxi dress with a belt is perfect for this body shape. Fifties inspired silhouettes will cinch in your waist and show off those curves. And maxi dresses are great for creating the illusion of height and skimming off inches. Choose a black dress for its super-slimming effect.

Look for details

caption from left: Goddiva belted dress in Champagne; Gina Bacconi maxi print in navy and Vanessa Horne in red are great choices for the curvy figure. If you're curvaceous, look for details such as an embellished neckline to draw attention upwards, away from your middle and up to your cleavage. Or try out the sports luxe trend with full-length zips to elongate your body. Body control underwear is amazing at creating a slimmer silhouette. Draw emphasis to your waist with a belt. Finally, we would suggest showing a hint of skin with detailing like sheer lace sleeves, which are great for concealing upper arms.