Sometimes, you might find yourself struggling to understand why a particular dress looks so flattering on your best friend but doesn’t suit you. The answer is pretty simple. It’s because every individual has a different body type. Once you become fully aware of your body type, you’ll be able to pick dress styles that look good on you. Below, we’ve listed five different body types and how to dress accordingly.

1. Apple-shaped body
If you have an apple-shaped figure, most of your body weight is concentrated above your hips. This makes your mid-riff look heavier than other body parts. So, whatever you wear should take the focus away from this part of the body and accentuate your strong areas. For instance, pick dress styles in which you can flaunt your legs. V-necks or deep necklines are also suitable as they can give an illusion of an elongated torso.

2. Hourglass body
Women with an hourglass figure have a well-defined waist and nearly equal bust and hips. Dress styles for this body type must highlight your waist and neckline. You can choose from wrap tops, peplum blouses, tops that have enough room around the chest area, or anything with a V, boat, or round neck. To keep the focus around your waistline, wear sleeves that reach your elbow. If you like to flaunt your arms, go for flutter or cap sleeves. Even tank tops would do complete justice.

3. Pear-shaped body
In a pear-shaped body, the butt and thigh areas appear bigger than the upper part of the body. But if you wear the right clothes, you can easily create an illusion of an hourglass figure. Pick clothes that strike a balance between your narrow shoulders and wide hips. You can also choose dress styles that help accentuate your lower body. Pants with wide legs, A-line skirts, ruffled tops, and patterned dresses are suitable options.

4. Rectangle-shaped body
If you are rectangle-shaped, your body is well balanced from your shoulders to hips. Your arms and legs are your biggest assets. So, whatever you wear, make sure they stand out. Layered tops or A-line skirts should be your top picks. You can also try dress styles that fill your lower body with volume and define your upper body.

5. Inverted-triangle body
Women with this body type have broad shoulders and little to no waist definition, giving an illusion of an inverted triangle. The best thing to do is widen that lower body and bring attention to the waist region. Stay away from skinny jeans and go for dress styles that add volume to the hips.

Once you know your body type, shopping gets a whole lot easier. You can pick dress styles that enhance your shape and give you that look you desire.