Black Heart

dress: c/o glamorous, belt: vintage from the dandelion, gloucester, shoes: ebay

How beautiful is this dress from Glamorous? It is 100% my favourite item in my wardrobe- I don't tend to wear dresses that often but I want to wear this ALL the time. The lace detail is really pretty and it has an underskirt which makes the dress puff out a little bit making it more dressy and perfect for me for a more glam look. This dress retails at just £37.99 and don't forget you can enter GLAMOROUS20 at the checkout for 20% off.

Usually when buying dresses for special occasions I have to go to the shop to try before I buy to make sure that it fits and suits my figure; this usually ends up with me spending a fortune on something I could have picked up online for half the price (although with Glamorous I don't have this problem, both this dress and the dress I wore to my ball fitted perfectly!). The other day I was sent this article about how to buy dresses for your body shape and have found it really useful. Although I wouldn't put myself directly into the 'athletic' category I have quite a straight figure and definitely agree that dresses with a tight top and a-line or skater skirt suit my figure best- bodycon definitely isn't for me. 

Here's the article, do you think these tips are true for your body shape?

Party Dresses For Every Shape

It's party season and you want a new dress. You want to look the best you can, be the envy of your friends, but you don't know how to do it - sound familiar? Buying party dresses can be a challenge, but knowing your shape and what will suit you can really help navigate the mammoth task.

Pear Shaped

For pear shaped ladies, A-line skirts are definitely a blessing. They skim the hips, making the bottom half appear smaller and also highlighting your waist at the same time. A tighter top will show off your bust by drawing attention to it, creating the look of curves and a strapless dress (or one with narrow spaghetti straps) will accentuate your shoulders, balancing them out with you hips and improving your proportions.

Apple Shaped

Women who are apple shaped will suit a low scooped neckline as this will draw attention to the larger bust. Detailing or folds on the stomach of a dress will make it appear smaller. A wrap dress will also make you appear as if you have a waist, drawing attention to this area while clinching it in at the same time. Dresses with an empire line also flatter as the fabric skims over the stomach.

Petite

Petite women suit a tailored look, with fitted garments creating lines and making you appear taller and more in proportion. It would be better for a petite lady to choose a dress specifically made to petite proportions to ensure that the dress sits right.

Hourglass

You want to wear something that will clinch you in at the waist, highlighting it and showing it off to its full effect as it's your narrowest point. A scooped or v neck will highlight your bust and a dress that skims over your hips will make them appear smaller while still showing off your curvaceous figure too. Detailing around the neck will also draw attention to the bust.

Athletic

Fitted tops and A-line skirts suit an athletic figure, giving the illusion of curves. The dress itself is less important with this figure, whereas accessories are extremely important in adding that desired look of femininity to an outfit.

In the end, it's really down to what you feel most comfortable in that matters but hopefully these pointers will help you to be able to get it right first time so you're not wasting hours and hours trawling around the shops trying on endless dresses which fail to flatter your figure.