how to choose your dress style

It’s time to sew a dress. Do you know how to choose your dress style and pick out what looks good on you?

One of my dresses  my husband always compliments me on. Every time I put it on, he tells me it looks so good on me.

And it’s not the fabric that makes it look good. It’s the style. There is one part that I don’t really like how it looks. But altogether, the dress fits and the style looks good on me.

I’m sure you have dresses like that too. I want to share some things I have learned and found helpful to decide what style looks good on me.

The ideas I am going to bring out are ideas to get you started to help you find your style.

How to choose your dress style : does it look good on me?

Have you ever looked at someone else’s dress and say, “Hey, I want to sew a dress like that!” And so you sew one just like that. But for some reason, it doesn’t look as good as you thought it would. Why is that?

Just because a style is “in” and “everybody” is wearing it, doesn’t mean I can wear it. And that it will look good on me.

Choosing a style that looks good on me and my body type, is so much better than sewing the “in” style and wearing dresses that just don’t suit my body type.

First of all, what dress do you get the most compliments on? Do you know what it is about that dress that brings out the compliments?

If it’s the style then you definitely have a place to start. What style is that dress? Do you like it on yourself too?

Analyze that dress or dresses that get compliments and figure out what parts of it look and feel good on you.

Next find a friend, family member or spouse and ask them. Try on the dresses ask them to be specific in saying what it is that looks good. Maybe there are just certain parts of the dress that better than others. Take note of each part that looks good.

the basics

Let’s start with the basic dress pattern styles and consider a few points to analyze for the best style.

And let’s begin with the bodice. Is there a style of bodice you like and feel good in?

There are several types like a plain bodice or a bodice with darts or princess seams. Also there are bodices that cross over each other like a wrap dress. Which of these do you tend to go for and which looks best for your shape? Do you like details added to the bodice?

The neckline shape is another thing to think about. Round, square, or V shape.

Also, do you like a dress style that has a waist seam or one that is one piece bodice and skirt? If yes to a waist seam does it look better a bit higher than the natural waist, at the natural waist or even empire waist?

And now for the skirt style. What skirt style looks best and what do you like? The basic skirts are flared, A-line, which is basically an “A” shaped skirt, and straight. Or what about if the skirt is gathered onto the waist? Or no gathers? What looks best? And what about the length of the skirt? Knee length, mid-calf length, ankle length? Again, just because a certain length is “in” doesn’t mean it will look good on me. 😉

Next is the sleeve. Do fitted sleeves look best or sleeves with gathers or pleats? With some kind of detail or plain?

Those are all things to look for and analyze to see what looks best and how to choose patterns moving forward.

How to choose your dress style : creating balance

After considering all those different basic styles it all comes down to creating balance. By choosing certain styles and finding what looks best you’ll see that most likely the styles that look best are the styles that create balance.

Creating balance is done by using the style of the dress to balance out the body shape. Each of us is a different shape and by saying we need to create balance I am not talking about hiding the body shape.

Here is an example. I am a triangle shape and I don’t feel like flared skirts look good on me. The wide skirt bottom just adds to the triangle shape or rather, adds another triangle, and makes me look more triangular.

And I just don’t like feeling like I am a “walking triangle”. Do you get the picture? The flared skirt adds to the bottom of the triangle and makes it more defined.

So if I use a skirt that is not as wide at the bottom I can balance out the triangle and make it less defined. By adding details to the bodice I can create balance as well.

Go ahead and find out what body type you are so that you know how to create balance and maybe understand why certain styles work or don’t work for you.

You can easily find out what body type you are by going to THIS blog and using the body type calculator.

And then experiment with different styles and see if you can create balance and find the style that looks best for your shape.

And remember, you are beautiful! 🥰

Wishing you fun and enjoyment finding your own style!

I would love to hear from you!

What styles have you tried and how did they work for you?