20 various types of dresses according to their silhouettes and styles!! A complete guide for all fashion lovers

1. Sheath/Bodycon dresses

• silhouette: body fitted tapered dress

• fabrics: woven, knitted, non-woven

• occasion: strictly formal, conferences and meetings

• best suited for: curvy hourglass body shape

  

  A side panelled shift dress

2. Shift/ Box dresses

• silhouette: straight fit with minimal detailing

• fabrics: mainly woven, non-woven, lace looks cool

• occasion: formal and casual both

• best suited for: any body type
  

  

3. A-Line dresses

• silhouette: shaped till waist and then flaring both sides in an inverted 'V' or 'A' structure

• fabrics: woven, knitted, non-woven

• occasion: Anytime

• best suited for: hourglass/ pear shaped/ petite body types
  

4. Trapeze dresses

• silhouette: freely expanding in A-line structure from beneath the armhole

• fabrics: both woven and knitted

• occasion: strictly casual, spring-summer day wear, pool parties and so on

• best suited for: any body shape
  
  

5. Empire line dresses

• silhouette: shaped till bust with/without elastic and flaring down below it

• fabrics: mainly woven; crepe, georgette & chiffon give the best fit

• occasion: party wear, casual wear, perfect for beach/ resort wear

• best suited for: straight/ petite body types; comfortable as a maternity wear
  

  

6. Peplum dresses

• silhouette: A shift dress with an extra layer of frills attached at the waist line. It definitely hides your few excess inches at the waist and hip level

• fabrics: both woven and knitted

• occasion: formal wear, office parties, college re-unions and so on

• best suited for: hourglass and pear shaped body types
  

7. Shirt dresses

• silhouette: A shirt look alike dress with collar/ cuff/ placket/ belt/ cuff/ pockets etc. Can be sleeveless or with sleeves

• fabrics: mainly woven; cotton, chambray, denim etc

• occasion: Anytime

• best suited for: straight, hourglass and petite body types
  

8. Dungarees/ Pinafore dresses

• silhouette: Any shaped casual dress with gallus/ suspenders

• fabrics: strictly woven, mainly denim, corduroy etc

• occasion: strictly casual, friends outing, fun party, picnic and so on

• best suited for: straight figures
  
  

9. Sun/ spaghetti dresses

• silhouette: can be short, long, straight or flared but definitely with spaghetti straps, best for the peak summer seasons

• fabrics: woven and non woven, lace, mesh and brasso look cooler

• occasion: strictly casual, best as a resort wear, beach wear, sun bath events and so on

• best suited for: straight and petite body types. If you want to flaunt your collar bones go for it!!

  

  A long sun dress

  

  A short sun dress

10. Asymmetric dresses

• silhouette: as the name suggests, a dress with an asymmetric neck/ hem lines, a one-shoulder dress is also an asymmetric dress 

• fabrics: woven, knitted and non woven

• occasion: Any occasion as per the look/ fabric/ embellishments

• best suited for: all body types as per the structure of the dress

Dress with asymmetric hem line

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  Dress with asymmetric neck line

11. Trench dresses

• silhouette: Trench coat look alike dresses with front double column button openings and a waist belts

• fabrics: woven only; thick cotton, corduroy, suede and so on

• occasion: both formal and casual wears, best for Autumn/winter season

• best suited for: all body types
  

12. Tunic dresses

• silhouette: short/ medium straight fit dresses quite similar to shift dresses

• fabrics: woven and knitted

• occasion: strictly casual, college going, lazy parties, shopping etc

• best suited for: straight and petite body types
  

13. Bandage dresses

• silhouette: A body fitting sheath dress with several layers of fabric attached in a horizontal or criss-cross manner

• fabrics: mainly woven

• occasion: both formal and casual; semi casual; official dinners and cocktail parties etc

• best suited for: hourglass shaped body types
  

14. Kaftan dresses

• silhouette: A loose fitted dress with flared sleeves sometimes stitched till the hem line

• fabrics: mainly woven; flowy fabrics like georgette, crepe, chiffon, rayon etc give the best fit

• occasion: casual parties, day outings etc

• best suited for: All body types
  

15. Butterfly twist dresses

• silhouette: A body hugging tapered dress draped with a twist of the fabric either at the waist or shoulder or side

• fabrics: only knitted

• occasion: formal and casual both;cocktail parties, dinner etc

• best suited for: slim, straight and hourglass shaped body types 
  

16. Popover dresses

• silhouette: A dress with an extra layer of top hung over the base dress and attached at the shoulder

• fabrics: both woven and knitted

• occasion: formal and casual both

• best suited for: All body types
  

  

17. Strapless dresses

• silhouette: As the name says, a dress without any straps, yet tight below the arm level to hold it right

• fabrics: both woven and knitted

• occasion: party wear

• best suited for: All body types as per the structure of the garment
  

18. Kimono dresses

• silhouette: A dress with kimono style sleeves, i.e without seam

• fabrics: both woven and knitted

• occasion: formal and casual both

• best suited for: All body types
  

19. Cowl dresses

• silhouette: A dress with front/ back/ side cowl (falling pleats of the fabric cut in bias)

• fabrics: both woven and knitted; light weight flowy fabrics like jersey knits, rayon, crepe, satin, silk, chiffon etc

• occasion: party wear, red carpet events and so on!

• best suited for: hourglass shaped body types

A front cowl dress



A back cowl dress

20. Hooded dresses

• silhouette: dresses with hoods attached to it

• fabrics: both woven and knitted

• occasion: strictly casual, perfect for both spring/summer and awtumn/winter seasons

• best suited for: all bodytypes