Peplum dresses

For this style, be aware of the kind of peplum you choose on the dress. The potential problem with a peplum dress is that it sits on a very close line for being mistaken for a frilly decorative drapery seen on curtains and bed sheets. A peplum dress must be structured, streamlined and flattering to your body type. If the peplum is too large or ambitious in its shape, it can look too costumey and comical.

Subtle accents of fabric on either sides of the waist also qualify for being a variation in the peplum dress.

Remember the rule of thumb: don’t look for obviously structured peplum dresses that would cut your body in two horizontal halves. Slight drapes, overlapping and tapering of fabrics around the waist are also cousins of the peplum family.