25 Popular Dress Styles for Women (Clearly Explained!)
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Dress Styles for Women
It can be so confusing buying dresses online!
Why are dress styles for women so complicated?
There are maxi dresses and midi dresses.
Skater dresses and fit and flare dresses.
Babydoll dresses and mini dresses. What is the difference?!
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Dress Styles for Women
This dress style guide covers the following:
- 25 popular dress styles and dress types for women
- Best style dress for curvy women
- Best dress style for big busted women
- Flattering dress styles for older women
- Explanation of 25 dress types
In this article:
25 Popular Dress Styles for Women
Here is a list of the 25 most popular dress style names for women. Hopefully, this clarifies a few things for you!
1. A-Line Dress
An A-Line dress is fitted at the hips and flares out, resulting in an "A" shape. This style of dress looks great on women with a pear-shaped figure.
RELATED: Best Dresses for Pear Shape
2. Ballgown Dress
A ballgown dress is similar to a princess-style dress in that it has a fitted bodice and a very full skirt. You'll usually own see this style of dress for weddings.
RELATED: Cinderella Costume for Adults
3. Bodycon Dress
A bodycon dress is tight-fitting and typically made of stretchy material. This is a popular style for clubbing and for women who want to show off EVERY curve.
4. Boho Dress
A boho dress is usually white or cream and loose-fitting. Boho dresses have a romantic look and often have lace features.
RELATED: Best Boho Dresses on Amazon
5. Cocktail Dress
A cocktail dress can have MANY different styles. "Cocktail attire" is common for business events or classy parties. Cocktail dresses are less formal than formal dresses because they are usually knee-length or ankle-length.
6. Fit and Flare Dress
A fit-and-flare dress has a fitted bodice and a flared-out skirt. A fit-and-flare dress tends to have a slightly fuller skirt than an A-line dress. This style of dress also looks great on pear-shaped women.
7. Halter Neck Dress
A halter neck dress is sleeveless and has a band or tie to hold the dress up around the neck.
This style dress looks great if you have great arms that you want to show off.
8. High-Low Dress
A high-low dress is shorter in the front and longer in the back.
9. Kaftan Dress
A Kaftan dress is brightly colored, loose-fitting, ankle-length, and usually worn over a swimsuit.
This style of dress looks great on older women.
10. Lace Dress
A lace dress is just how it sounds. It is a lace dress!
11. Maxi Dress
A maxi dress is a full-length dress that hits right at the ankles. It's a popular style for summer dresses.
Amazon has a lot of GREAT plus size maxi dresses that women love.
12. Mermaid Silhouette Dress
A mermaid dress flares out around the knee and looks great on women with a curvy figures. It's also a common wedding dress style.
13. Midi Dress
A midi dress is a mid-calf length. There are casual midi dresses and semi-formal midi dresses.
RLEATED: Best Midi Dress on Amazon (Simier Fairy Dress)
14. Mini Dress
A mini dress is short and hits above the knee. It's a popular style for summer and beach vacation outfits.
A mini dress looks great on women with great legs to show off!
15. Off the Shoulder Dress
An off the shoulder dress is just that...off the shoulders! Off the shoulder dresses may be long (at the ankles) or knee-length.
16. Pencil Dress
A pencil dress is slim (like a pencil!) and usually hits at or below the knee. This is a popular style for work or going out, depending on the color.
RELATED: Best Work Dresses with Pockets
17. Peplum Dress
A peplum dress has an extra "frill" added at the waist for a distinctive look. This dress style looks great on pear-shaped and curvy women or thin women.
18. Pinafore Dress
A pinafore dress is usually worn over a white t-shirt or a turtleneck. It has thick shoulder straps and hits at or above the knee.
19. Sheath Dress
A sheath dress looks great on slim women. It hugs the figure without being too tight.
20. Shift Dress
A shift dress is relatively loose fitting (in contrast to a pencil dress) with a straight up-and-down silhouette. This style is great for work if you are slim.
This is also a great dress style for women with narrow hips.
21. Strapless Dress
A strapless dress has no sleeves or straps.
22. Sundress
A sundress is usually loose-fitting with spaghetti straps and a floral print or bright solid color. Sundresses are perfect for summer.
RELATED: Best Summer Dresses with Pockets
23. Sweater Dress
A sweater dress is knitted and is usually knee-length. Pair with tights and boots for a cute fall or winter outfit.
24. Tea Length Dress
A tea-length dress hits at the calves. It's a great length for wedding guest dresses (especially mother-of-the-bride dresses) and classy-looking outfits.
25. Wrap Dress
A wrap dress has a piece of fabric that ties at the waist. This style is great for creating the illusion of hips and curves.
Dress Styles Names – List of the 25 Dress Styles
Want a downloadable excel file with a list of all the dress style names?
Click the link below to download an excel spreadsheet.
Dress Style Names by Very Easy Makeup
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