How To Find The Right Vintage Dress Styles For Your Body Type

We thrifters love to find fantastic vintage dresses, but the truth is sometimes they just don’t look flattering.  I know that even when I find a dress that looks fantastic on the hanger or mannequin, I have to try it on before I dare to buy it. That being said, I’ve also figured out over time what kind of styles look good on my body type, and there are some cuts that I won’t even bother to try on! Here is a quick peek into the general body types, and the dress styles that match them. What body type are you?

Straight

If you have a straight, athletic or boyish body add curves with a belt and cardigan. You could also add the illusion of curves by wearing a dress made with thick fabric that is gathered and drapes in ways that flatter your shape. Vintage lovers that want to embrace their boyish type should consider the ’60s mod look, or flapper style.

Hourglass

If you have an hourglass shape, you might want to show off your curves! A tight fitting dress with a belted waist and a bit of gather around the mid-section and hips is perfect. Your body shape also looks great in dresses with vertical paneling, a few vertical stripes, zippers or button lines, and anything that hugs your chest and hips.

Broad Upper Body, Narrow Hips

For women with a body shape that is heavier on the top than on the bottom, the key is to create an illusion of balance. This means finding a dress that will lighten your top half and add some volume to your lower half. A dress with some flair at the bottom is perfect. The A line dress in the photo is the perfect example!

Narrow Upper Body, Broad Hips

Audrey Hepburn is showcasing a great style for pear shaped bods. A wide boat neck, like above, will balance your shoulder to hip ratio. Other flattering dress cuts include dresses with V necks, ruffles around the shoulders and sleeves, or blousing around the bust and shoulders  that adds some volume. Add width to your top with horizontal stripes, prints, or bold eye catching colors, while keeping the bottom half of your dress dark. Avoid short, full skirts.

Full Waist

If you are thick around the middle, and wish to take attention away from your waist line try an empire waist dress or swing dress. Emphasize shoulders, cleavage, or legs. Swing dresses like the one above are great because the cut is loose and free flowing around your middle. The cold shoulder cut and crochet detailing around the neckline draws attention to your beautiful shoulders and face! Accessorize your dress with a bold necklace or earrings to draw more attention to your neck and face.

When you know what dresses work well with your body type, you can really save some time when browsing through dresses! Go into your favorite vintage shop with your best dress styles in mind, so that you come out with a treasure! What dress styles work best for you? Let me know in the comments below!