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The ultimate guide to buying a new dress
Shopping for an on-trend wedding, formal, work, casual or party dress online? Here's the advice you need to do it right and make the perfect purchase.
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Spoiler alert: it’s easier than you think.
Finding dresses to fit a particular woman could almost be considered a science. Heck, even the pros don’t get it right every time. (We’ve all been witness to red carpet fashion fails, am i right?)
Lucky for you we’ve put together a simple formula and from here on out it’s going to be a walk in the park finding that dream dress - especially since we've named a couple of stores here that get it bang on time and time again. When beginning your search, there are a few things to take into consideration: what’s the occasion and is there a dress code? Do you prefer synthetics or natural fabrics? Finally, the key to achieving best-dressed status? A well-fitting dress that suits your body shape - a gal’s got to flaunt her best assets!
Whatever your needs may be, finder.com.au has compiled the best dress buying guide - even for the most seasoned shopper.
Best online retailers to buy dresses:
These local and international retailers all have a wide selection of dresses to spend your time trawling through. Remember to check out each return policy before shopping up a storm in multiple sizes.
- All Saints
- ASOS
- Autograph
- Beginning Boutique
- BNKR
- Boohoo
- David Jones
- Dissh
- Dotti
- Esprit
- Etsy
- FarFetch
- Forever New
- Free People
- General Pants
- J.Crew
Types of dresses | Shop by occasion
Here's your directory to what occasions call for dresses and where you can shop for that perfect fashion piece.
Guide: how to shop for dresses by occasion
- Everyday shift dresses are great to wear in the office, for social outings or when you're running errands. These could 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.
Wedding dresses
Guide: Where to buy wedding dresses online
Bridesmaid dresses
Free People
Sail Away Dress, $249
Guide: Where to buy bridesmaid dresses
Cocktail dresses
Guide: Where to buy cocktail dresses
Party dresses
Guide: Where to buy party dresses
Evening Dresses
Nordstrom
'Annabelle' Convertible Tulle Column Dress ($378.61)
Guide: Where to buy evening dresses
Formal dresses
Work dresses
New Look
Black Stripe Jacquard Mini Dress, £27.99
Festival dresses
Races dresses
David Jones
Guide: Where to buy spring racing dresses
Types of dresses | Shop by style
Here's your directory to the different types of dresses based on style. If you slowly fill your wardrobe with a collection of well-fitting dresses you'll always be the best dressed.
Everyday dresses
Casual and free, these are the dresses you can wear anywhere from work to the beach.
LBDs
A must for any girl's wardrobe. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to Little Black Dresses. Pick a style that works for you and wear it like a BAWS.
Maxi dresses
Maxi dresses can be worn day or night and seem to make everyone look elegant. Despite their length, they don’t discriminate against the vertically challenged. For the shorter figure, long lines and dainty prints won’t make you look overwhelmed by the amount of fabric. A belt around the waist can help break up the fabric and make legs look longer or shorter, depending on your needs.
Guide: Where to buy maxi dresses online
Bodycon dresses
The ultimate figure-hugging dress, bodycon (short for body conscious) dresses are for those wishing to flaunt their curves. The important thing to keep in mind is that they shouldn’t make you feel self-conscious about your body. They should make you love your figure. Wear it in black or wear SPANX underneath to make you look slimmer, or colour block with panels to highlight your waist.
Mini dresses
Want to flaunt them legs? It doesn’t matter if you’re tall or short, if you have legs you want to rock, a mini dress will do the trick. Petite figures can make their legs seem longer in a mini by wearing nude heels. Mini dresses come in a variety of lengths, so experiment to get it right. Generally, try not to make the dress end at the widest part of your leg or it won’t be as flattering.
Shopbop
Dixie Mini Dress, $358.28
Shirt dresses
Shirt dresses are long shirts that work as dresses. The biggest downside of shirt dresses is that they are relatively shapeless, so they won’t flatter shape without the addition of a belt. They tend to suit women with larger busts. Wear it without a belt for a casual look, or add a belt to find your figure. As shirt dresses offer a lot of camouflage, it’s best to keep your accessories down to a minimum around them.
New Look
Blue Check Roll Sleeve Shirt Dress, £24.99
Peplum dresses
Small waists and big shoulders love peplum dresses. They flare out below the waist, which helps to balance out wider shoulders, while the shaped waist adds that feminine touch. Petite figures can benefit from peplum dresses,as they gives the waist a “place”, making everything below it seem longer.
New Look
Lost Society Navy Peplum Dress, £20.99
Swing dresses
Popular in the 1940s and 1950s, swing dresses are loose-fitting dresses with wide skirts. They are sometimes referred to as smocks. Typically, swing dresses aren’t worn with belts, so they don’t have much shape. They’re particularly good for curvier figures as they can hide rather than hug the figure. Bold block colours are a classic look, while bold prints can make for a summery look.
New Look
Black Deep V Pinafore Swing Dress, £17.99
Shopbop
Alex Perry Cloque Swing Mini Dress
Curvy and plus size dresses
Though not exactly a "type" of dress, plus dresses often have their own space on shop websites and are dedicated to showing off the assets of the curvier woman with on-trend, fashionable attire.
Shift dresses
Like shirt dresses, shift dresses are long and shapeless. They are a classic and work-friendly look and are often sleeveless. Small waists and petite figures can benefit from tighter shifts, while curvier figures can look for dresses with darts or shifts with A-line skirts to complement their figures.
A-Line dresses
As its name suggests, A-line dresses are small up the top and push out at the bottom. Curvy bodies can benefit from A lines, as it accentuates the waist. On the flipside, petite and boyish bodies can benefit from A lines, as it gives them a more “feminine” curve below the waist.
New Look
Melanie A-Line Zip Front Dress, $99.99
Wrap dresses
Wrap dresses add layer and depth to your look while also giving you some breathing room around the waist. Essentially, they “wrap” around your body and either clip or tie around the waist. They come in both long and short lengths and work well on the curvy and/or busty woman to flatter the silhouette without hugging the body too much.
New Look
Sophie Stripe Strapless Wrap Dress, $119.95
Dissh
Mari Wrap Maxi Skirt, $69.90
Sheath dresses
Sheath dresses hug the body while still giving the tummy a little room to breathe. They suit shorter legs, as they tend to fall above the knee or at mid-thigh. Since they draw attention away from the waist, they’re also good for anyone trying to hide a tummy.
Nordstrom
Illusion York Beaded Sheath Dress, $373.14
Types of dresses | Shop by make
Love a specific fabric? Or are you an ethically inclined shopper? Look below for inspiration to suit your lifestyle and preference.
Denim dresses
Dresses made from natural fabrics
Esprit
Stripe Dress in Coral, $69.95
Esprit
Wool Blend Sweater Dress, $119.95
Esprit
Structured Knit Black Dress, $99.95
Searching for cheap dresses online? We know a few:
Cheap dresses
How to achieve best dressed status #101
Dress sizes
Let’s start from the beginning, get to know your size. For the perfect measurements, reach for your tape measure and pen and paper. Jot down your bust, hips and waist and see where you fit on the table below. Keep in mind that size varies brand to brand and also internationally. When it comes to retailers that offer free returns, sometimes it’s best to shop a few different sizes and return what doesn’t work.
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 |
Determine the shape of your body
Generally, women's body shapes are grouped into one of five 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 identify your body shape.
- Pear-shaped bodies mean that the woman has a wider lower body compared to her upper body, the hips are wider than the shoulders. Dresses that fit this shape should emphasise the women's shoulders, torso and stomach.
- Strawberry-shaped is the flipside to a pear-shaped body. The woman generally has a broader chest, wide shoulders and narrow waist. Look to dresses that emphasise the lower part of the body.
- Rectangle-shaped bodies are when the hips and shoulders are approximately the same width. 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.
Highlight your best assets
Remember when we said you need to flaunt your assets. That’s what we’re talking about here. What do you like about your body? What don’t you like so much? There’s a few tricks you can employ to shop dresses that will show off your best assets and play down the features you don’t want to highlight. For all the women out there loving their pins, it’s a no brainer you need to be rocking a mini dress.
The flipside, if you’re looking to play down your height a maxi dress can create the illusion of being shorter. Specific patterns on dresses such as stripes can also work in your favour, consider how these can influence the woman's unique body features. A general rule of thumb being vertical stripes will lengthen your legs. Hey, legs 11!
The best deals in fashion
Did we mention we have a range of coupon codes you can use to get discounts off your order? Look out ladies, we’ve got you covered.
Bonds
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50% off everything
Score 50% off dresses, casual wear, shoes and more at boohoo. T&Cs apply.
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20% off your orders
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Score 30% off certifiably comfortable clogs and flats at Crocs. T&Cs apply.
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Get up to 50% off selected footwear, apparel and more at adidas. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
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Popular Womens Clothing & Accessories coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2020 | 30% off training gears | TRA**** |
| 1 Apr 2020 | 55% off almost everything | NGA**** |
| 1 Apr 2020 | $10 off orders over $40 | FAS**** |
| 30 Mar 2020 | 55% off everything | NGA**** |
| 30 Mar 2020 | Extra 12% off site-wide | FIN**** |
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