41 Different Types of Western Dresses Revealed

Indian Fashion industry has gone through various changes in haute couture and certainly achieved great milestones. With the influence of western culture, we are way past the era of wearing only ‘OUR’ traditional outfits and have happily embraced the western styles of dressing. From the ‘Angrezi’ people we have now introduced beautiful dresses, gowns and what not.

If dressing up is your style mantra and you love reading about fashion, let’s perhaps talk about every piece of dress that you have ever come across or adorned on an evening party.

Here we get to you your personal guide to different western dress styles that have been through the fashion world and let you choose which one fits best for your wardrobe and dressing style. Go on and find one for yourself!!!

41 Different Types of Western Dresses for Various Occasions

1. Tube/Bandeau Dresses
2. Sheath Dresses
3. Blouson Dresses
4. Tunic Dresses
5. Pencil Dresses
6. Asymmetric Dresses
7. Trench Dresses
8. Bandage Dresses
9. High-Low Dresses
10. Empire Waist Dresses
11. Bodycon Dresses
12. Skater Dresses
13. Maxi/Long Dresses
14. Midi Dresses
15. Mini Dresses
16. Kaftan Dresses
17. Shirt Dresses
18. Off Shoulder Dresses
19. Sweater Dresses
20. Tie Detail Dresses
21. Peplum Dresses
22. Party Dresses
23. Backless Dresses
24. Fringe Detail Dresses
25. Pop over Dresses
26. Baby Doll Dresses
27. A-line Dresses
28. Layered Dresses
29. Lace-Up Detail Dresses
30. Denim Dresses
31. Dungaree/Pinafore Dresses
32. Cape Dresses
33. Fit & Flare Dresses
34. Shift Dresses
35. Slit Dresses
36. Spaghetti Dresses
37. T-shirt Dresses
38. Tulle Dresses
39. Tuxedo Dresses
40. Tweed Dresses
41. Wrap Dresses

1. Tube/Bandeau Dresses

These can be very tricky as they need a perfect fit at your bust, else you are doomed.

Like a Bandeau, these do not have sleeves or straps and fit at your bust going straight down like a tube.

Style Tip: To look you best, invest in a good adhesive bra or a strapless demo bra with the dress. You can also go for a bodysuit to stay comfy and safe.
Body Types: Hourglass or pear shaped women
Occasion to wear at: Weddings, Cocktail parties, Formal brunches or dinners
A complete No for: Straight figures, very slim women
Best Brands: Nelly, Nordstrom, Nastygal

2. Sheath Dresses

Sheath dresses are very commonly mistaken to be shift dresses, yet there are subtle differences.

It falls relatively lower than the knees and is usually unadorned and plain. We see a lot of business women and political women wearing sheath dresses.

Body Types: Hourglass women, Well-toned curvy women
Occasion to wear at: Strictly formal-Interviews, conferences etc.
A complete No for: Plump women, Rectangle shaped, Apple shaped
Best Brands: Ralph Lauren, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Koovs, Elle, Miss Chase, Forever21, The Vanca 

3. Blouson Dresses

Blouson dresses have a string, closure or a belt at the waist usually causing the torso part for the dress to blouse. The hem then falls straight and is usually body hugging.

If you wish to create volume at the upper part of your figure alone, this one is a decoy in your wardrobe.

Body Types: Hourglass, Triangle Shaped women
Occasion to wear at: Workwear, Cocktail parties, Formal brunches or dinners
A complete No for: Straight figures, women with less curvy hips
Best Brands: Koovs, Vero Moda, Only, Eavan

4. Tunic Dresses

Straight like a tunic, you cannot expect curves with your ins and outs in a tunic dress. Tunic dresses are simple and a subtle choice if you just don’t feel like dressing up today!

Style Tip: Pick up a nude shade and hang out with a denim open shirt.
Body Types: Any body type
Occasion to wear at: A lazy casual day out
A complete No for: Straight figures, very slim women
Best Brands: Forever21, Lifestyle, Code, Ginger

5. Pencil Dresses

These are narrow and straight like a pencil with a tightly tailored hem falling at or below the knees.

Style Tip: Pencil dresses work like mirrors to your body structure. Wear them if you are very confident you won’t be the laughing stock!
Body Types: Slim and well-toned body types, Hourglass, Pear shaped
Occasion to wear at: Office wear, Formal dates, Interviews, Cocktail parties
A complete No for: Apple shaped women, Plump figures
Best Brands: StalkBuyLove, Forever21, FabAlley, Nordstrom, Koovs, Dorothy Perkins 

6. Asymmetric Dresses

Any dress that has an asymmetric hemline falls under this name. Due to its asymmetrical flare, you can adorn this one on an extremely casual day or find a good embroidered piece for a prom night!!

Style Tip: Make sure the frilly hem of the dress fits well with your body type. Too plump women can avoid these.’

7. Trench Dresses

Have you been wondering what to do with your trench coat in the summer?? Well, pick it up and wear it as a trench dress.

Trench dresses are made from light cotton fabrics similar to trench coats and come with huge buttons and a belt.

We would put them in the casual platform as they can be wrinkly and subtle.

Style Tip: Wear a trench dress with formal shoes at your office and make a fashion icon out of you!!!
Body Types: Rectangle shaped, Women with less curves
A complete No for: Too curvy women
Best Brands: Nordstrom, Marks&Spencer 

8. Bandage Dresses

Yes, the name is peculiar but the dress is similar to number of bandages woven together. It is tight, body hugging (bodycon) dress that has layers of fabric joined together that run criss-cross over the body.

Body Types: Slim and petite women, Hourglass, Rectangle shaped women
Occasion to wear at: Semi-formal
A complete No for: Plump and heavy busted women
Best Brands: Ginger, Forever21, Nastygal, Van Heusen

9. High-Low Dresses

Asymmetrical, the hem of the dress is higher from the back and lower from the front. Anyone of you can wear them, the occasion being strictly as per the dress you pick.

Best Buy at: Elitify, Koovs, Nastygal

10. Empire Waist Dresses

An empire waist dress fits perfect at your bust and flares down straight. Made in fabrics like satin and silk, it usually has no flare and is flowy.

Style Tip: Go with a pair of rugged boots with one these.
Body Types: Rectangle body types, Apple shaped, Pear shaped
Occasion to wear at: Casual or formal as per design
A complete No for: Straight figures
Best Brands: Nordstrom, Nastygal, Chemistry

11. Bodycon Dresses

Tight-fitted, stretchable and body-hugging, these dresses edge across your curves making your body shape very obvious. Kim Kardashian adorns a lot of these!!

Usually made of lyrca or blended polyester it fits tight at the bust and the hip area.

The hem lengths vary-Upper thigh, mid-thigh or knee.

Style Tip: Make sure you wear a well fitted bodysuit whenever you choose to wear this one.
Body Types: Strictly Hourglass figures
Occasion to wear at: Evening party, cocktail party, Office wear
A complete No for: Rectangle body types
Best Brands: Only, StalkBuyLove, Forever21, FabAlley, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Chase, The Vanca

12. Skater Dresses

These have been modified from skater skirts usually worn by girl who skate. Skater dress is frilly below the waist and accentuates your waistline as it fits there.

The dress is usually short and hems above thighs.

Body Types: Apple Shaped, Slim and rectangle figures
Occasion to wear at: Evening party, Casual Getaways
A complete No for: Short women, Pear Shaped women
Best Brands:StalkBuyLove, Forever21, FabAlley, Nordstrom, Miss Chase, Vero Moda, Next, Only, Dorothy Perkins

13. Maxi/Long Dresses

If you rising tall and wearing short dresses makes you feel exposing, Maxi dresses are made solely for you. While shorter women might look too petite, maxi dresses flow with your figure and look mouth gapingly hot.

Body Types: Apple Shaped, Slim and rectangle figures
Occasion to wear at: Evening party, Casual Getaways
A complete No for: Short women, Pear Shaped women
Best Brands: StalkBuyLove, Forever21, FabAlley, Nordstrom, Alia Bhatt For Jabong, Harpa, Miaminx, Only, Next, Lara Karen, Dorothy Perkins, Mayra 

14. Midi Dresses

There might be blogs that just loath the concept of a midi dress, but we can bet you can pull a midi dress just as successfully as any other.

A midi generally ends somewhere between your knees and mid-calf.

Style Tip: If you want to look slimmer, choose a dress that ends at the slimmer part of your legs.
Body Types: Tall women, Pear shaped, apple shaped women
Occasion to wear at: Casual wear, Travel, Evening parties, Casual dinners
A complete No for: Too short women
Best Brands: StalkBuyLove, Koovs, Abof, Forever21, Harpa, Miss Chase, Miss Bennett London, Femella, Dorothy Perkins

15. Mini Dresses

Flaunting your legs is easiest when you step into a gorgeously fit mini dress. The dress usually has a hem a lot above your knees and can have any sort of flare below the waist.

Body Types: Hourglass shaped women, Short and petite women
Occasion to wear at: Casual wear, Beachwear, evening outings
A complete No for: Women with log legs
Best Brands: Ginger, Koovs, StalkBuyLove, Femella, And, Only, The Vanca, Miaminx, Dorothy Perkins, Next, Alia Bhatt For Jabong, Faballey, United Colors of Benetton 

16. Kaftan Dresses

A kaftan fits loose and is usually made in flowy fabrics with flared sleeves. Usually worn with leggings or a palazzo, you can go in a different lane and convert it into a Dress going without any contrasting bottoms.

These are super comfy and best suited for a casual lazy day out.

Style Tip: Go with statement jewellery along with a kaftan dress to get into the ‘Sufi’ mood.
Body Types: Pear shaped, Apple shaped or women with weight
Occasion to wear at: Beach wear, Pool parties, Sufi evenings
A complete No for: Very thin, rectangle shaped women
Best Brands: Koovs, Abof, Harpa, Next

Recommended Read: 3 Types of Kaftan Dresses for Glamorous Look

17. Shirt Dresses

Going for a super bowl match with your besties or boyfriend? Anything sporty or adventure filled, put on a shirt dress and there you are.

Shirt dresses are just long shirts; usually denim or cotton based and fall straight on you.

Style Tip: These are meant to be less curvy, so expect yourself to be boyish once you are in them. Do not accessorise much.
Body Types: Rectangle, Hourglass, Slim and petite women
Occasion to wear at: Beachwear, Poolside parties, Travel and trek
A complete No for: Pear shaped women
Best Brands: Ginger, StalkBuyLove, Alia Bhatt For Jabong, Koovs, Femella, Chemistry, Eavan 

18. Off Shoulder Dresses

If you like giving your skin some show, step into an elegant off-shoulder dress.

These bare your collar bones and shoulders, with sleeves either across your arms or no sleeves at all.

Style Tip: When going for such a dress, you can try any bold neck piece to flaunt your collar bone area.
Body Types: Women with flaunting collar bones/beauty bones
Occasion to wear at: Weddings, Formal parties, Opera parties
A complete No for: Flat chested women, Women with broad shoulders
Best Brands: StalkBuyLove, Nastygal, Koovs, Miss Chase, Yepme, Rose Vanessa, Oxolloxo, Liebemode

19. Sweater Dresses

Perfect for a day out, sweater dresses are usually made in the same knit fabric as sweaters and are body hugging. These cling tight to you and are stretchable with a coarser fabric.

Style Tip: Pair a plain sweater dress with a statement belt for perfect chic looks.
Body Types: Hourglass or pear shaped women
Occasion to wear at: Travel, casual wear, shopping sprees
A complete No for: Straight figures, Apple shaped women
Best Brands: Forever21, Koovs, Marks&Spencer

20. Tie Detail Dresses

You can make any dress of yours into this one. All it needs is a contrasting fabric belt that you tie along the waist or your bust. Using a tie generally gets attention to your waist and makes the upper torso look heavier.

Style Tip: Use an embroidered or an embellished tie to get a completely fabulous outfit.
Body Types: Hourglass, Triangle, Slim and petite women
Occasion to wear at: Any occasion
A complete No for: Women with heavier waistline
Best Brands: TheStyelSyndrome, Koovs, Nastygal 

21. Peplum Dresses

If you have some extra inches at the waist, this is a dress you must invest in. Peplum dresses have a frilled ruffle attached at the waist over a narrow skirt that extends till the knees.

Body Types: Pear shaped, Hourglass shaped, Rectangle shaped
Occasion to wear at: Workwear, Formal dinners, Client meetings
A complete No for: Less curvy women
Best Brands: Ralph Lauren, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Miss Chase, Faballey, Pretty Secrets

22. Party Dresses

These are extremely formal, shimmery and can have versatile designing on them. These are steamy and exposing.

Strapless, sleeveless or even cut sleeves you can have them designed any way.

Body Types: Any body types as per dress style
Occasion to wear at: Party wear, Disco nights
Best Brands:  Koovs, FabAlley, Forever21, Vero Moda, Lifestyle 

23. Backless Dresses

A backless dress can be any type but usually has no back or come with a slit closure.  The absence of a back makes it steaming hot and gets you a whole lot of attention.

Body Types: Slim women with attractive backs
Occasion to wear at: Weddings, Dates, Disco nights
A complete No for: Women with flabby backs
Best Brands: Ginger, StalkBuyLove, Koovs

Recommended Read: 8 Types of Bras to wear for backless dresses

24. Fringe Detail Dresses

Fringes are extra fabric pieces attached to your dress or protruding through it. A fringe dress has a lot of fringes attached to any part like the sleeves or the bust area. They increase the overall volume, so be careful with that.

Body Types: Hourglass, Pear shaped, Rectangle body types
Occasion to wear at: Prom nights, Birthday parties, Disco nights
A complete No for: Apple shaped, plump women
Best Brands:  Forever21, Koovs, StalkBuyLove

25. Pop over Dresses

We have been noticing them in Cannes and what not but never knew about them. In this dress, the top part usually has an extra flowy fabric or silhouette that actually pops out of the whole outfit, hence the name. 

Body Types: Slim and tall women, Rectangle shaped
Occasion to wear at: Formal gatherings like weddings, concerts
A complete No for: Women with weight issues in dressing up
Best Brands: Koovs, Nordstrom, Ralph Lauren 

26. Baby Doll Dresses

These dresses were originally designed as nightgowns- loose fitting, sleeveless and flowy from the bust. These give a young, girly and steamy at the same moment look to an overall you, hence named as a baby doll dress.

Style Tip: Braid your hair in a messy way and go on with junk jewellery.
Body Types: Women with well-toned busts
Occasion to wear at: Strictly casual
A complete No for: Broad shoulder, heavy busted women
Best Brands: Forever21, Nastygal, Nordstrom

27. A-line Dresses

Like an ‘A’, the dress is narrower at the top and flares towards the hem. Since they sit tight at the waist, you need to be very careful with your waist size before going for this one.

Style Tip: A-line dresses are a quick choice when you need to rush up dressing for sudden plans.
Body Types: Pear shaped, Hourglass shaped, Slim petite women
Occasion to wear at: Best for any time
A complete No for: Apple shaped, plump women
Best Brands: StalkBuyLove, Forever21, FabAlley, Nordstrom, The Vanca, Chemistry

28. Layered Dresses

Similar to what they sound, layered dresses have sheer fabric layers over the main dress.

The extra fabrics can have front or side slits and adds volume to the overall outfit.

Style Tip: Always choose a dress that has contrasting layers to the fabric, else the layers would overlap.
Body Types: Hourglass, Rectangle body types, very slim petite women
Occasion to wear at: Casual parties, Beachwear, Pool parties, Travel
A complete No for: Apple shaped, Pear shaped women
Best Brands: Koovs, Nastygal, Kazo, Mast & Harbour,  Deal Jeans

29. Lace-Up Detail Dresses

Body Types: Anyone as per dress style
Occasion to wear at: Prom nights, Karaoke Nights, Pubs/Discos
Best Brands: Nastygal, Ginger, Code, Lifestyle, Forever21, Nelly, Koovs

30. Denim Dresses

Dating back to the 90’s, denim dresses are crafted in denim. These usually look good when they are unadorned and unembellished.

Style Tip: Keep it simple and team the dress up with canvas shoes or loafers.
Body Types: Any body types
Occasion to wear at: Casual parties, Beachwear, Pool parties, Travel
A complete No for: Stout figures
Best Brands: Ginger, StalkBuyLove, Koovs, Chemistry, TopShop

31. Dungaree/Pinafore Dresses

Dungarees were jeans (denims) usually worn by people doing physical work that had a bib attached to the trouser part. The modern world has a version for the girls as well with the trousers substituted by a skirt. 

Style Tip: Wear a cool pair of sneakers along with the dress and go out for clubbing or so.
Body Types: Women with heavy busts or hips
Occasion to wear at: Sport occasions, Adventure, clubbing, golfing
A complete No for: Flat chested women
Best Brands: Ginger, Forever21, Koovs

32. Cape Dresses

Capes are long and fall through your body like hoods. Originally, capes were worn over an outfit, but now we see them attached to dresses as well.

Capes make you look virtually taller and slimmer, making it a worth pick for someone fat and flabby. 

Body Types: Women with long legs and slim stature
Occasion to wear at: Parties, Casual meetings, Kitty Parties
A complete No for: Short and stout women
Best Brands: Koovs, And, StalkBuyLove

33. Fit & Flare Dresses

A fit and flare dress sits perfect at your waist and flare afterwards. The hem length can wary as per the dress. This dress is universally flattering and gives a curvy look to your overall stature.

Body Types: Hourglass shaped, Well-toned women with flattering waists
Occasion to wear at: Casual or formal occasions
A complete No for: Women with plump legs and waist
Best Brands: Dorothy Perkins, The Vanca, Chemistry, Miaminx, Harpa, Allen Solly

34. Shift Dresses

These dresses have an undefined waistline, are less curvy and do not hug the body very closely.

These can come up with any hem length, sleeves or sleeveless and mostly flatter the ins and outs of any body type.

Body Types: Anybody type
Occasion to wear at: Workwear, Party wear
Best Brands: Forever21, Koovs, The Vanca, Only, And, Next, Dorothy Perkins

35. Slit Dresses

These give a sure shot aura of sexiness. The dresses have long slit either in the front or on the sides making the legs look bare.

Style Tip: Flaunt a slit dress with high heels or stilettos to look tall and beautiful.
Body Types: Women with flaunting legs, Tall women
Occasion to wear at: Cocktail parties, Weddings
A complete No for: Women with very thin or fat legs, Short women
Best Brands: Forever21, Nastygal, Nordstrom, Koovs 

36. Spaghetti Dresses

These might be short or long, straight or flowy but have spaghetti straps, hence the name. These are an amazing pick if you want to make heads turn towards your collar bones and well-toned shoulders.

Body Types: Slim and well-toned shoulders
Occasion to wear at: Casual or formal occasions
A complete No for: Heavy busted women
Best Brands: StalkBuyLove, Forever21, FabAlley, Nordstrom 

37. T-shirt Dresses

Are you in no mood to dress on the day? Go around in super comfy T-shirt dresses and enjoy the hot summers.

T-shirt dresses are made out of T-shirts and are a little longer.  They fit loose and are great if you want to hide the flabs.

Style Tip: Wear them in hot summers and team them up with leggings during winters
Best Brands to Buy: Dorothy Perkins, Lifestyle

38. Tulle Dresses

Tulle is a lightweight, starched fabric made up of net and is usually used in designing ballet dresses. Tulles are now very commonly incorporated in skater dresses to make them look very young and fresh.

Style Tip: Pamper your looks with a statement tulle bracelet matching your dress.
Body Types: Hourglass shaped women
Occasion to wear at: Proms, Weddings, Bachelor parties, Cocktail nights
A complete No for: Stout and plump women (Apple or Pear shaped)
Best Brands: Koovs, Nelly, Nordstrom

39. Tuxedo Dresses

These have evolved from a tuxedo Men’s suit and given a perfect formal get-up for women. The dress has lapels and buttons looking like a blazer from the top and a skirt that might be attached or be separate.

Style Tip: The hem of the skirt is usually tight and body-hugging, hence women with broad hips must avoid these.

Body Types: Women with heavy busts or hips
Occasion to wear at: Sport occasions, Adventure, clubbing, golfing
A complete No for: Flat chested women
Best Brands: Nastygal, Nordstrom

40. Tweed Dresses

This dress gets its name from ‘Tweed’ which a closely woven, rough and flexible fabric. We see a lot of this fabric used in blazers and suits for men, but recently the fashion world has gone one step ahead with dresses.

Style Tip: The dresses are usually in gloomy shades, so contrast your accessories accordingly.
Body Types: Hourglass, Triangle, Slim and petite women
Occasion to wear at: College wear, Day outs, Casual occasions
A complete No for: Women with dark complexions
Best Brands: Forever21, Ginger

41. Wrap Dresses

The dress evolved from a wrap around, where the fabric or dress can be fastened around. The dresses can sometimes be tied already-A faux wrap dress.

Style Tip: The dress clings to your curve so have a careful look at you when you decide to get one.
Body Types: Hourglass, Pear shaped women
Occasion to wear at: Picnics, Travel, Evening parties
A complete No for: Plump women
Best Brands: Koovs, Forever21, First & I

Which were your favourite ones??? Go ahead and grab them all.

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