10 Trendy Dresses for Curvy Women

4. The Stretch Sheath. If you still love the elegant body-contoured fit and knee length of a tailored sheath, try a semifitted style now. Look for a stretch fabric like ponte or scuba that skims over curves rather than shows your lunch, and bust darts or princess seams to improve fit over the bosom and hips. A thicker knit like the Old Navy Plus-Size Secret-Slim V- Neck Sheath Dress ($48, oldnavy.com), the Boden Bronte Jersey Dress in Firecracker ($98, boden.com/us) or the Eloquii Flare Sleeve Scuba Dress ($100, eloquii.com) keeps its shape and yours.

Boden Sweatshirt Dress in Flocked Zebra, A New Day Women's Easy Fit Turtleneck Knit Dress, H & M Sweatshirt Dress

Boden, Target, H&M

5. The Relaxed Short Shift. If you love the coverage of boyfriend jackets and big sweaters try this short, straight dress style. It's best in cozy fabrics like fleece, French terry and knits that move and suggest the body beneath. Wear it as a daily throw-on kind of dress or a tunic (FYI: this is a big strategy now for certain styles) and look for comfy wide or raglan sleeves and slouchy necklines as on the Prologue Women's Elbow Sleeve Turtleneck T-Shirt Dress in black ($28, target.com), Boden Sweatshirt Dress in Flocked Zebra ($98, bodenusa.com), the Gap Vintage Soft Raglan Sweatshirt Dress ($70, gap.com) The loose vertical lines with no break make this an ideal choice for short torsos with ample curves.

H & M Wide-cut Dress, Loft Lou & Grey Signature Softblend Lite Cowl Swing Dress, Who What Wear Women's Plus-ize Short-Sleeve Collared Mini A-Line Dress in Green

H&M, Loft, Target

6. The Swing Dress. If you loved baby doll, trapeze or empire dresses in your past you just might be a candidate for this one. It's a supersized A-line that really highlights spectacular legs and hides everything else. Be realistic: Sometimes weight ups and downs or belly bloat aren't cooperating and this is a stylish solution if your legs are still amazing and you choose a just-above-the-knee length (no super-minis please!). Be sure it's fitted through the shoulders, arms and bust before letting loose, like the Loft Lou & Grey Signature Softblend Lite Cowl Swing Dress ($70, loft.com), Old Navy Plus-Size Jersey Swing Dress ($33, oldnavy.com) and the Who What Wear Women's Plus Size Short Sleeve Collared Mini A-Line Dress in green ($37, target.com) size X to 4X ).

A New Day Women's Plus-Size Floral Print Long Sleeve V-Neck Midi Shirtdress, H & M Dress With Tie Belt, Old Navy Waist-Defined Floral-Print Tie-Neck Plus-Size Midi

Target, H&M, Old Navy

7. The Boho Winter Midi. If you love downtown artsy style, vintage clothes and the romantic look of long flowing floral dresses, this longer dress is sophisticated enough for work or parties. Look for long bell or funnel sleeves to make it graceful and non-seasonal. A dark background floral or animal print or a rich color — berry, burgundy, mustard or jade — like the H&M Dress With Tie Belt ($35, hm.com/us), a New Day Women's Plus-Size Floral Print Long Sleeve V-Neck Midi Shirtdress ($30, target.com), Ava & Viv Women's Plus-Size Floral Print Long Sleeve V-Neck Midi Dress ($30, target.com) — works well with black winter shoes and bags.

8. The Favorite Wrap. If you love a waist-making wrap top or dress, this iconic style is a stronger-than-ever dress silhouette that's never going out of style. The combo of crisscross top and A-line skirt is now available in knee and midi lengths in classic jersey, like the H&M V-Neck Wrap Dress ($40, hm.com/us) and Old Navy Fit & Flare Faux-Wrap Plus-Size Dress ($43, oldnavy.com) and in more structured styles such as the Who What Wear Short Sleeve V-Neck Wrap Front A-Line Midi Dress ($45, target.com). Choose a faux wrap to gently shape a full, rounded middle, a real wrap for more definition if your waist is still there or hanging on, a jersey in knee or midi length for a curvy look, fabrics like faux leather or cotton in a midi for a sharper silhouette.

H & M Calf Length Shirt Dress, Prologue Women's Plus-Size Long Sleeve Crewneck Essential Midi Dress, Zara Buttoned Dress

H&M, Target, Zara

9. The Extreme Black Dress. If you love the edge of black turtlenecks this type of dress is super-trendy but in a covered-up-fashionable not frumpy option. Show your curves modestly or go to the other extreme and opt for a fit-and-flare style like the Zara Buttoned Dress ($40, zara.com/us), H&M Calf Length Shirt Dress ($70, hm.com/us) or Prologue Women's Plus-Size Long Sleeve Crewneck Essential Midi Dress ($25, target.com). Let your shoes, hair and makeup steal the show.

Old Navy Waist Defined Tie-Neck Plus-Size Dress, Prologue Batwing Short Sleeve Turtleneck A-Line Midi Dress, Gap Print Peasant Sleeve Smock Dress

Old Navy, Target, Gap

10. The Blouson Dress. If you always semi-tuck your tops and like a roomier fit to tees and blouses, a dress with a defined waist that softly billows just above to camouflage what we call a “muffin top” is your best bet. Look for styles with an elastic waist or drawstring or a relaxed shape that belts and blouses like the Prologue Batwing Short Sleeve Turtleneck A-Line Midi Dress ($28, target.com), Gap Print Peasant Sleeve Smock Dress ($70, gap.com), Old Navy Waist-Defined Lace-Trim V-Neck Dress ($45, oldnavy.com) or Old Navy Plaid Waist-Defined Tie-Neck Dress for Women ($35, oldnavy.com).

For more beauty and style tips for women age 50-plus, check out The Makeup Wakeup: Revitalizing Your Look at Any Age by Lois Joy Johnson and Sandy Linter.