Whether to wear out to dinner, out to lunch, or out to work, every girl needs super slimming curve flattering dresses in her wardrobe, cut from fabric with stretch, and in a shape that camouflages the bits you want to camouflage and accentuates those you want to show off these are dresses that will never let you down. Specific US designers are brilliant at this.
What you’re looking for when choosing a seriously flattering dress is the following:
Fabric with stretch, preferably an uncrushable matt jersey.
Details across the middle such as ruching, wrap or tie.
A V or wrap neckline will always be more flattering than round or boat neck on someone who’s curvy as well as it gives the illusion of a longer line.
Length - If your dress is the wrong length for you it won't flatter as much as it should and frumpy can be just round the corner. If a dress covers your knees pin it up an inch or so and you'll be amazed at how different it looks.
Print or plain? - a print will always camouflage more than a plain fabric, So if you're looking for a plain black or navy dress you have to look even more carefully, front and back, to make sure that it does everything you want it to.
Don’t pay too much attention to the length of these dresses here. Photographed on models taller than the most of us some of them look like mini dresses and others quite frumpy. Depending on your height you may need to have your dress shortened.
Favourite designers for this type of dress are Diane von Furstenberg with gorgeous silk jersey wraps – expensive but worth it – or Lauren Ralph Lauren whose dresses have finally made it across the pond to the UK and which are extremely flattering. You can wash most of them as well, an added bonus.
Phase Eight also specialises in figure flattering dresses, and look out for the arrival of other US based designers such as Adrienne Papell, JS Collections for eveningwear and Michael Kors for day dresses.
