When you are asked to attend a special event or party for which you need to wear a cocktail dress it clear that you want to look your very best. After all, it is an evening that you are likely to look back at over the years. So, you really want to be able to enjoy looking at the photos, rather than ending up cringing at the way you looked.

Fortunately, looking good if you have a curvy figure is far easier than it used to be. There are far more retailers catering for this sector of the fashion market than there used to be. Just click the link to be taken to the website of just one retailer offers a great range of plus size cocktail dresses. As you can see there are literally hundreds of options available from this one retailer alone.

Understand your body type

Of course, that does not mean that you can simply choose any one of those dresses and be guaranteed to look a million bucks.  Far from it, you have to understand your body type and which styles of cocktail dresses are most likely to work the best for you.

The pear-shaped woman

If your lower body is bigger than your upper body, you usually fall into the pear-shaped body category. Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian are two classic examples of this body shape.

For you, the key to looking good is to place as much emphasis as possible on your upper body. Choose a dress which draws the eye to the neck area, or use some bold jewelry to do the job for you. If you want to skim over your curves go for an A-line cut, but if your aim is to show them off, choose a figure hugging dress instead. Try on both types and see which one works best for you.

The inverted triangle

If you have broad shoulders and a large bust, but relatively narrow hips you are likely to have an inverted triangle shape body. For you, v-neck cocktail dresses work particularly well. The V has the effect of narrowing the shoulders and drawing the eye downwards. Surprisingly sweetheart necklines can also help to make broad shoulders look narrower. Look for dresses that have some detail below the waistline. Again, this tends to draw the eye downwards.

Apple shaped women

If you do not have a well-defined waist there is a good chance you fall into the apple-shaped category. You will need to look for dresses that create a more defined waistline for you. Look at yourself in the mirror and identify the narrowest point of your upper body and find a dress that has a waistline around that area. In many cases, a dress that has a skirt which starts just under the bust is the best option.

Getting the fit right

Naturally, it is not enough to simply choose the right cut of dress. It needs to be a good fit too. The first step to making sure that you buy the right size is to measure yourself properly. This simple 2-minute video shows you exactly how to do so, just click the link to watch it.

What are your thoughts on choosing the right style of cocktail dress for your body type? Please share in the comments section below.

*Collaborative post.