Buying a dress for someone else isn’t easy, especially when shopping online. Here are a few foolproof ways you can follow so you make the perfect choice.
Finding dresses that fits a particular woman is almost a science. There are a few things to think about such as the shape of the particular body you’re buying for, the strong and weak points of said body, as well as the overall style of the woman. Lucky for you, finder.com.au has compiled this dress buying guide for whatever your needs may be. Did we also mention we have a range of coupon codes you can use to get discounts off your order?
Dress sizes
As well as knowing what type and style of dress you should wear, knowing one’s size is also important. To get the perfect measurements, it’s always best to have a tape measure and wrap it around the largest part of one’s hips and also the smallest part. The table below defines dress sizes in Australia and their measurements.
Size
8
10
12
14
16
18
Bust
82 cm
87
92
97
102
107
Waist
63 cm
68
73
78
83
88
Hips
88 cm
93
98
103
108
113
Following the tips in this guide can help you feel confident in the dress that you choose. If you shop at the retailers featured in this guide you can also be assured you’re getting the best price, as we regularly scour the net for the most up-to-date coupon codes and promotions to pass onto you.
Best online retailers to buy dresses
Types of dresses
Plus-size dresses
North Collection - Sophie ColourBlock Dress - Navy
Autograph Fashion - Graphic Palm Print Maxi
North Collection - Malibu Smock Dress
Autograph Fashion - Stripe Dress
Long sleeved dresses
ASOS - Whistles Pearl Bodycon Dress
Beginning Boutique - Float Away Dress Navy
Catwalk88 - Floral Lace Skater Dress
TopShop - Boucle Sweater Dress
Gosh Celebrity - Kendall Dress by Pia Gladys Perey
ASOS - Bardot Lace Mini Dress
The Iconic - Fitted Sequin Dress
Charlie Brown - Bad Times Visionary Tunic
Cocktail dresses
Crossroad - Strapless Contrast Dress
The Iconic - Diamond Dress
The Iconic - Honey and Beau Sundance Dress
ASOS - X Front Pencil Midi Dress
TopShop - Mix Match One Shoulder Dress
Gosh Celebrity - Lovers and Collaborators Sass Net Dress
Charlie Brown - Light of Day Asymmetric Sequin Tunic
Freez - TeaBerry Trimmed Dress
Party dresses
Blooms Boutique - Cooper St Golden Legacy Dress
ASOS Sequin Top Skater Dress
The Iconic - Wild Thing Dress
TopShop - Lace Pleated Dress
Catwalk88 - Leather Look Dress
Gosh Celebrity - Peekaboo Mini Dress by Honest & Beau
ASOS - Party Type Embellished Ovoid Dress
The Iconic - Honey and Beau All Line Up Mini
Long dresses
Freez - Cut Away Maxi
The Iconic - Sunset Maxi
Gosh Celebrity - Honey and Beau Tropical Punch Maxi
ASOS - River Island Long Sleeve Embellished Maxi
The Iconic - The Day Job
The Iconic - Highland Maxi Dress
Topshop - Strappy Cami Maxi Dress
Freez - Honey and Beau Indiana Maxi
How to choose the best dress
Determine the shape of your body
Generally, women body shapes are grouped into five distinct categories: pear, wedge, rectangle, apple and hour glass. Each one of these categories have a corresponding dress design that fits perfectly. If you find a dress that looks good on a model or mannequin, don't rush to buy it until you determine for which type of body that dress is made, and if the person you are buying it for matches that type.
Pear-shaped bodies mean that the woman has a wider lower body compared to her upper body, which means that the hips are wider than the shoulders. Dresses that fit this shape should emphasise the women's shoulders, torso and stomach.
Wedge-shaped bodies look similar to a triangle. The woman generally has a broader chest, wide shoulders and narrow waist. Dresses that fit this shape should emphasise the lower part of the body.
Rectangle-shaped bodies mean that the hips and shoulders have approximately the same widths. Dresses should focus on the arms and legs to match this shape.
Apple-shaped bodies means that the back, ribs and shoulders are broader. Dresses should emphasise the midsection of the body to match this shape.
Hourglass-shaped bodies mean that the waist is tinier, while the shoulders and hips have similar proportions. Dresses should focus on the curves.
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Strong body points vs. weak body points
Each body has its own particular strengths and weaknesses. A dress may look very nice in itself, but if it does not hide the weak points of the woman's body and reveal the strong ones, than another dress may be more fitting.
Dresses can also be used to adjust body flaws. For example, if a woman is very tall, she may want to consider a long dress, as these dresses generally create the illusion of being shorter. Specific patterns on dresses—lines or bullets—can also adjust body flaws, so it's important to consider how the dresses' model will influence the woman's unique body features.
Shop dresses by occasion
If you slowly fill your wardrobe with different types of dresses that still fit your body type, then you’ll always have something to wear.
Everyday dresses are great to wear in the office, for social outings or when you’re running errands. These may include shirt dresses and long sleeve dresses. When you have plenty of casual dresses, it’s good to know you can wear them any day of the week.
Special occasion dresses are usually for formal and cocktail events. You would want to have some of these dresses on hand for weddings, parties or formal dinners. These may include long dresses, cocktail dresses and party dresses.
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