How to Choose a Dress for Your Body Type

Body type is the most useful starting point for picking a dress — and the most over-prescribed. Here is the short version: figure out which silhouettes you photograph well in, and stick to those silhouettes across colour and occasion. Body "type" is just a shortcut to the silhouettes that are statistically more likely to work.

Hourglass

The hourglass figure (bust ≈ hip, defined waist) photographs strongest in fitted bodices that follow the waist — corseted couture, mermaid skirts, deep V-necklines, wrap silhouettes. Avoid drop-waist or shift dresses that hide the waistline.

Pear

Pear-shaped figures (smaller bust and shoulders, fuller hips) balance best with structured tops and clean A-line skirts — off-shoulder, beaded bodices, structured shoulders. Avoid trumpet or mermaid silhouettes that emphasise the hip.

Apple

Apple-shaped figures (fuller midsection) look strongest in empire-waist gowns and V-necklines that draw the eye upward, paired with a flowing A-line or column skirt. Avoid clingy bias-cut over the midsection.

Petite

Petite frames look strongest in column or sheath silhouettes (which lengthen the line), high-leg slits, and proportional embellishment. Custom hem at no extra cost ensures the dress doesn't pool at the floor.

Plus-Size

Plus-size figures look strongest in pieces cut to actual measurements (not sample-size with a panel sewn in). BLINI's custom-size at no extra cost solves this — every dress, every size, same atelier, same price.

The Universal Rule

Cut beats trend. A trendy silhouette in the wrong cut photographs worse than a classic silhouette in the right cut. Custom-size means the right cut is available on every dress.