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Finding the Right Dress Shape

Which dress shape actually suits you?

Sketch of an A-line dress
Outfit photo, dress for men Outfit photo, dress for men Outfit photo, dress for men

In every shape and colour

Dresses come in every fabric, trim and colour imaginable. But by shape and cut, they really only fall into a handful of categories — and not every dress suits every figure equally. So knowing what you're actually looking at is extremely important, both for styling and for buying.

A-line, sheath, wrap dress...

Know the feeling? You go shopping, online or in store, and get completely overwhelmed by all the names and terms. Or you've found a new dress and have absolutely no idea how to describe it to friends. Maybe a few more or less flattering names for body types come to mind, the kind that crudely compare people to fruit and vegetables. So you'd like to know more dress types than just "the little black dress"?

What dress shapes are there?

Here's a list of the dresses you'll come across online and in fashion houses:

Every one of these dresses follows its own particular cut and shape. Just click a name to learn more.

A-line

What makes it stand out?

A-line dresses generally suit every body type. Depending on how it's constructed or trimmed, an A-line dress can conceal and cleverly hide problem areas.

The two-piece effect

A-line dresses often stand out through a defined waist or a visually attached peplum, giving the impression of a skirt and a separate top. If your waist is more athletic, a slim waist belt can reinforce or even create that effect if the dress doesn't already have a defined waistline.

Ideal for every body type

Drawing attention away from problem areas is the goal for men and women alike. That's why so-called "shift dresses" in a 60s/70s style work so well. Seams and decoration on the upper part of the dress also draw the eye away from tricky areas and ensure a great overall look.

Length matters

A-line dresses come both long and with a short skirt. The occasion determines the length — for a business meeting, the hem can end around the knee. For an evening event, a little longer is welcome. At cocktail parties, a dress that ends just above the knee is also well received.

Sketch of an A-line dress

Shopping tips for men

You can, for example, order A-line dresses from various labels at OTTO*. Pay attention to the cut of different fashion brands. A visit to BRAX* is also definitely worth it — you'll find a great selection depending on the season. I personally wear size 42 there, since 44 tends to run a bit big on me. Breuninger also puts together fashion tips for A-line dresses* on their own blog. A search at Hallhuber* for A-line dresses will show you sale items as well as the newest, and even upcoming, styles. It's worth it.

Bandeau

Sketch of a bandeau dress

Sheath dresses

What are sheath dresses?

The absolute classic among dresses. Since Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, these dresses have been world-famous for their elegance.

A basic for every closet

Sheath dresses are the perfect fashion basic. They deliver a professional look both on the big stage and in everyday business life, and can also be styled elegantly for the evening. The sheath dress is cut straight, sometimes lightly fitted at the waist, and falls to the knee.

Simple and clean

The sheath dress lives off its simple, but remarkably effective, cut. What defines the classic version is its narrow, figure-hugging fit with an emphasised waist, visually accentuated by a horizontal seam. The dress falls roughly to the knee and sits relatively high at the neckline. It has a straight, horizontal to slightly rounded neckline and no collar. Sleeves are either missing entirely or very short.

Good online shops for you

You can, for example, shop sheath dresses from various labels at Breuninger*. Pay attention to the cut of different fashion brands. You can also order and try on sheath dresses at Hallhuber*. Sizes go up to 44, which even in regular cuts already runs a bit big on me — meaning it's perfect for an elegant business look. You'll also find beautiful dresses at BRAX*, where I again wear size 42, since 44 runs a little large there too. That's a real advantage for an athletic male figure, and I can recommend the shop without reservation.

Sketch of a sheath dress

Which dress shape suits my body type?

And now for the real question: what's your body type? What proportions define you?
In fashion language, letters are the easiest way to describe your body shape.
The nicknames for these are borrowed from everyday things and aren't meant as an insult — so even if you're a "pear type," that's purely descriptive: narrow shoulders, wider hips.

There are the following types:

The A-type

The pear symbolises this type especially well: shoulders are narrow and slight, while the hips are wider and more pronounced. The dresses you wear should focus attention mainly on your upper body.

🛑 Avoid: stay away from dresses that fit tight around the hips — they only emphasise your proportions more clearly.

✅ Wear: anything with a pattern or an asymmetric neckline on the upper body! Emphasise your shoulder area and bring back the 80s with shoulder pads — they're in again, by the way.

The H-type

This shape is defined by a rectangle (much like the letter H itself). Your shoulders, hips and waist are all roughly the same width, so drawing a line around your body would trace out a rectangle. Focus above all on emphasising your body shape and curves — even exaggerating them a little. You can identify the H-type by these traits:

🛑 Avoid: stay away from dresses that add volume to your frame! Balloon dresses or oversized dresses do absolutely nothing flattering for your shape.

✅ Wear: A-line dresses, wrap dresses (fitted), empire dresses, and shirt dresses.

The O-type

The letter O is rounder than this shape technically calls for, but "zero shape" doesn't have quite the same charm. Here, the goal is mainly to draw attention away from the midsection and highlight your long, slim legs or your chest area — achieved mainly through deep necklines and calm, muted colours.

🛑 Avoid: stay away from tight-fitting dresses, like sheath dresses.

✅ Wear: muted colours and, ideally, wrap dresses, shirt dresses and empire dresses.

The V-type

Much like the A-type, only reversed — though we don't call it "reverse pear," we call it triangle type or V-type. Here, the shoulders are broad and the hips comparatively narrow. This is common among men, since they naturally tend to have a more pronounced shoulder and chest area — and no, we don't mean breasts specifically.

🛑 Avoid: make sure to visually elongate your frame. You already have a strong upper body and shouldn't emphasise it further — empire dresses, deep off-shoulder necklines, and dresses with thin or spaghetti straps are off-limits.

✅ Wear: the easy rule to remember is that anything with a V-neck suits you well! Halter-neck dresses or asymmetric one-shoulder dresses are also worth exploring. They visually elongate your upper body, balancing out the extra width with added length.

The X-type

This is the classic hourglass shape: broad at the top and bottom, narrow in the middle — the so-called "ideal proportions" of 36-24-36.

🛑 Avoid: cuts that add even more volume with lots of fabric, oversized styles, or overly small cocktail and mini dresses.

✅ Wear: sheath dresses, wrap dresses, and anything with a V-neck.