These days holiday party invites start rolling in come early November and instead of wallowing in sheer, what-to-wear panic, be prepared to dress your party best this season—no matter what your shape. Whether you're curvy, boyish, petite, or full-figured, we've got 9 red carpet-tested tricks that will ensure your look is both festive and flattering.
FULLER FIGURED: Try Anything-But-Shy Silhouttes Reaching for a sack dress might be a natural reflex, but a loose shape will only add pounds. Enhance your figure in a form-shaping sheath dress or a forgiving wrap dress. And black is not your only choice hue this season: Embrace navy, gunmetal gray, and Bordeaux—all of which are rich and slimming. Reward your newfound bravery with a bold accessory a la Christina Hendricks.
You can't go wrong with a simple LBD, but where's the fun in that? Show off your personal style with pleats, ruffles, and fringe galore—it's all about the placement, anyways. Pleats on the bias will show off your shape, not add volume, ruffles on the shoulder strengthen your stature, not overwhelm it, and fringe, as long as it's not in skirt form, is fair game.
Victoria Beckham's bone structure is not a requirement for this season's modern dress shapes. The focus on tailoring means that it's only a matter of choice (read: perfect fit), not constraint. A structured black dress with top and bottom slits and a strong cinched waist is a flattering and fun alternative to the ubiquitous flowy LBD.
One-shoulder LBD, bold chain mail necklace, Swiss dot tights, bangles, and a big bag—when you are a tiny thing like Sarah Jessica Parker you can simply get away with more. Over-accessorizing isn't a factor for you—at least not during party season.
Ladylike silhouettes like full skirts, sweaters, and below-the-knee hemlines would make any petite girl cringe, but this season "the rules" are begging to be broken. Take Rachel Bilson for example: Her peplum waist dress looks far more chic at such a demure length than it would as the more obvious minidress. The reason it still works on her tiny frame? Her tailor hemmed it right at the bottom of her knee—an inch further and her legs would have been lost.
The ladylike trend is the perfect way to show off your womanly décolletage. A plunging neckline adds sex appeal to this season's fuller, mid-length silhouette, while the corseted waist keeps your curves in check.
CURVY: Follow the Hourglass Road
The reason Beyonce looks like a Perfect 10 is part in thanks to her baby blue dress, whose pattern follows the ins and outs of her body road map—out at the shoulders, in at the waist, out at the hips and back in at the thighs. Take a cue from the gorgeous star and invest in a dress that follows your curves to a T.
Mix ladylike lengths and pretty lace with tailored tops and sexy see-through insets for a look at that is totally now—but fitted for you. Kate Bosworth showed off her toned top in a tight, fitted bodice, while her waist-enhancing skirt gave the illusion of ultra-feminine curves.
Kristen Stewart defied her tomboyish figure—and style—in a dress that is girly to the max. The ornate bow of the asymmetrical lace frock gave the illusion of a strong shoulder and the cummerbund-like belt created curves on her straight and narrow frame.
