Firstly look for a dress without a defined or seamed waistband. Forget the waistband detail, the peplum and avoid fit and flare dresses, they will almost always make you look wider and shorter. Fixed wrap dresses are more flattering than tie wrap. V necks will be the most flattering and lengthening.
Then make sure your dress has stretch in it. We’ve become so used to elastane and lycra that most of us have forgotten the day of the unforgiving stretchless dress. But there are still some around. So look for a small amount of stretch to make sure that your dress hugs and still smooths rather than restricts.
Dresses that are super-slimming need to be one colour or print from top to bottom, so avoid colour blocking where there is contrast in skirt or top and look for all over prints.
Look for a small amount of ruching or draping. A dress that is tight and very ruched will not flatter but a small amount of help is good, particularly over your middle.
Avoid shiny fabric. Cheap lace and satin with a sheen will emphasise the bits you don’t want emphasised. ‘Dry’ fabrics such as high quality jersey and lace are completely different and will work in your favour.
If you want a body-con style don’t buy a dress that is too tight. And a lining, even if it is front only, can make a dress look so much smoother and more slimming.
