Raise your hand if you used to play dress-up. Raise the other if you still do. It’s no secret that women have the tendency to amp up the ante when it comes to dressing up for events and occasions. And ever since cocktail dresses came to popularity, girls everywhere have ditched the long and heavy trains of yesteryear for fun and funky knee-length substitutes that obviously allow more movement. However, how sure are you that the cocktail dress you’re wearing is the right choice for you? We’ve come up with the ultimate guide to help you pick the perfect piece based on your body shape, including suggestions from our own selection of designer cocktail dresses.

Apple

Women under this body shape tend to carry most of their weight on the waist area. Their thighs are slender and their chests are noticeably larger than their hips. Celebrities like Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Hudson, and Catherine Zeta-Jones belong to this category.

Apple-shaped girls should be on the lookout for cocktail dresses which highlight the legs and accentuate the waistline, like this A-line evening cocktail dress with a short hemline from Tarik Ediz. Sexy cocktail dresses like this deep-V number from Jovani also give the illusion of an elongated figure.

SCALA - 48524ML Dress in Navy, $258.00	Terani Couture Two-Piece Stylish Ribbed Cutout Cocktail Dress 1711C3044, $308.00

Banana

Banana-shaped gals like Taylor Swift and Cameron Diaz have hips and busts that measure the same, hence the rectangular frame. To accentuate the curves on athletic and straight figures, choose a style that is heavy on pleats, ruffles, or embellishments either on the top or on the bottom half to make either part appear larger, like this Scala cocktail dress. You can even pull off this unique cocktail dress from Terani, because side cuts also help create smaller proportions.

Pear

Are your hips your greatest asset? Pear-shaped ladies like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez have hips and thighs which are noticeably bigger compared to the top half of their bodies. Women under this category should focus on accentuating the shoulders to take the attention away from the lower half of the body, so it’s best to stick with cocktail dresses with plunging, sweetheart, or scoop necklines–like this piece from La Femme. Cocktail dresses which flare below the waistline, like this Alyce Paris number, also help in balancing out the proportions.

Hourglass

Ever looked in the mirror and noticed some similarities with Scarlett Johansson or Beyonce? If yes, you are one of the lucky few blessed with an hourglass figure. Women whose busts and hips measure the same and have small waists can go crazy with crop tops, wrap cocktail dresses and form-fitting cocktail dresses. Try out these gems from Tarik Ediz and Jovani which do a great job at highlighting the curves. 

Looking good doesn’t take a lot of effort as long as you dress smart. Be mindful of what works and what doesn’t and you’ll be sure to turn heads once you step out in a killer cocktail dress!