You’re at your local mall searching for the perfect dress to wear for an impromptu date night with your husband. You think you’ve found the right one: a little black number hanging beautifully on the tall mannequin near the front of the store. After finding your size, you try on the dress and look in the dressing room mirror. The perfect LBD that looked so great on the mannequin isn’t the perfect dress for you. You thought black would be slimming, but the dress completely swallows up your small frame instead. Breathing a sigh of frustration, you leave the dressing room to find other options and think to yourself, I don’t even know where to begin.

Finding a dress that fits your body perfectly can be difficult. We all have areas of our bodies that we want to highlight and others we’d rather hide. Thankfully, thanks to the large number of online r there are plenty of options when it comes to finding a dress style to fit your unique body type. Here are a few tried and true styles to inspire you the next time you’re on the hunt for the perfect dress.

If your body is long and straight try…

A dress that will create the illusion of curves. Your tall and thin frame creates envy among women wherever you go because you pull off practically anything. The fit and flare style of the London Style Collection Sleeveless Dress from JCPenney will define your waist and the curved white lines will create the illusion of an hourglass shape. Don’t think you can wear horizontal stripes? Think again. The striped print on the Prepare and Contrast Dress from Modcloth will draw attention to all of the right places.

If your body is smaller on top and larger on the bottom try…

A dress with a flowy skirt and a fitted top. Lucky girl. You can wear daring tops that women with big busts only dream about. Draw attention to your upper body with a pretty design like the lace pattern in this Eliza J Lace & Faille Dress from Nordstrom. The high waist and light and airy skirt will create balance between your top and body halves. The Perceptions Short-Sleeve Knit Dress from JCPenney is another great option. This belted polka dot dress fits snugly on top but allows plenty of room for movement on the bottom. The best part: it’s machine washable. Say hello to your new favorite daytime dress!

If your body is larger on top and smaller on the bottom try… 

A dress with a V-neck top and fitted waist. If you want to create an hourglass shape, while it may seem a little odd, wear a top that shows a little skin so you draw attention away from your chest. A V-neck top is like an arrow: it points down so you can showcase your smaller features like a little waist and great legs. This Pretty Perusing Dress from Modcloth is perfect if you want to wear something more conservative for day while the Peace and Client Dress in Chevron (from Modcloth), with its black top, printed bottom, and bright red belt, is a great choice for dinner or drinks.

If your body is curvy all over try…

A dress with a fitted waist, caplet sleeves, and an A-line skirt for a more conservative feel or a form-fitting dress for a look that highlights your curves. You’ve got the curves. All you have to do is decide how you’re going to show ‘em off. With its caplet sleeves and pretty lace details, the Ruffle Chiffon Dress from Torrid is the perfect mix of sweet and sexy. Pair it with a blazer for work or add a pair of sandals for a pretty brunch look. Want to really show off your body for a night on the town? This Maggy London Tie Dye Print Crepe Midi Sheath Dress from Nordstrom will do the trick. The panels on the front draw the eye in and down, making you look longer and leaner. The midi length keeps this body-con dress still mom-appropriate.

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