There are a staggering amount of dress styles available to women. The rich history of dress design can be overwhelming for the less fashion-conscious, but having a confident understanding of the popular styles will help you ensure that you have a look tailored to any situation you find yourself in. Here are some of the more popular design trends in women’s dresses.

Wrap Dresses

The hourglass figure is one of the most coveted profiles, but it doesn’t take a specific body type to achieve it. Since it’s tied at the waist or back and wrapped around, it helps distinguish the waist in a way that can create a slimmer profile and create a V-shape look that emphasizes the waist. A wrap dress is ideal for enhancing curves and looks especially great with athletic body types.

Bodycon Dresses

With their skintight design, bodycon dresses require some confidence. But the way they flatter your figure is an inspiring excuse to wear one. These dresses are typically made of a stretchable material so they can fit more naturally to your body, and they’re an especially flattering choice for women with natural hourglass figures. Bodycon dresses are great for showing off your body, and variants are available that are suitable for everything from corporate events to a night out on the town.

Strapless and Off-the-Shoulder Dresses

If you’re looking to show off your shoulders, you have a few options available to you. Strapless dresses show a lot of confidence because they rely on your natural curves to maintain the shape of the dress, but you can also go with an off-the-shoulder option if you aren’t trying to invest in a look that shows off both of your shoulders. The asymmetrical look of the latter does a great job of creating an eclectic aesthetic that will stand out from the typical dress design.

Minidresses

When the miniskirt - which is designed to extend just around 10 centimeters off the butt - was first introduced, it was a scandal. Now the minidress is an expected part of the wardrobe for many women. If anything, the skirts on minidresses have become shorter, but they’ve also become an appropriate choice for both casual and professional wear. 

Maxidresses

The maxidress is one of the best choices for a casual dress, but the fact that the hem can touch the floor gives it a far more formal appeal than it would otherwise have. Whether you’re looking to hit up the pool or go to an office event, the maxidress provides an easy way to dress up that adapts well to a wide variety of different scenarios. Maxidresses are ideal for when you just want something to throw on, but they’re also usually simple enough that they can be accessorized in a variety of interesting ways - so you can stretch it out and get more use out of a single dress.

Evening Gowns

You shouldn’t be wearing an evening gown that often, but it’s definitely something you should have in your wardrobe. As a counterpoint to casualwear like maxidresses and rompers, ballgowns are long, extravagant, and designed to leave an impression. And while all ballgowns exude a certain sense of elegance, they come in a variety of different styles so you can find something that matches your figure and your sensibilities.

There’s a right dress for any situation, but what form it takes depends on the scenario as well as your sense of style and personality. Understanding the differences between these different types of dresses will help you improve the versatility of your wardrobe and be able to easily find a good look for any situation you find yourself in.