I want to know which style wedding dress looks good on the different body types?
—Jennifer Y., Fort Worth, Texas

It's pretty easy to find a perfect wedding dress for everyone. In fact, the knowledge that I'm about to drop can also apply to bridesmaid dresses.

When all else fails, there's the A-line. An A-line dress (also known among the more condescending designers as the "princess") skims curves without hugging too tightly, highlights the good parts and, in essence, flatters almost anyone. Some guides warn that A-lines don't work for women who lack defined waistlines, but in practice, that's not always the case. Plenty of plus-sized gowns by JS Boutique and other designers feature an A-line silhouette.

The Oscar gowns were certainly pretty, but what really caught our eye were the dresses at the after-parties. We especially loved all the diagonal stripes, because the pattern is visually interesting and incredibly flattering for so many body types!

Thin stripes, like the black and gold ones running across Halle Berry's Marchesa, are ideal for creating an hourglass shape. They enhance the curves of the hip while making the waist appear smaller.

A chevron pattern, like the lines ending in a point on Jessica Stroup's Pamella Roland, can help camouflage a larger physique. The V-shape draws the eye down the middle of the torso, while an inverted V brings the focus up to the face.

Striped colorblocking, like the Carlos Obando gown Marisa Tomei wore to post-Oscar parties, is best for top-heavy and pear-shaped women. Just make sure the lighter color hits the areas you want to downplay and the darker shade lands on those you want to showcase.

Shop all of these options in the steal 'n' splurge gallery below!

Aside from a feathered slip-up, Kim Kardashian has truly transformed from a booty-poppin' party girl into a sophisticated lady. But at Y-3's fall fashion show this weekend, Kim gave cutting-edge style a try with a Maison Martin Margiela jacket (on the right). Forget the space-age, structured shoulders. I'm surprised the reality star had even heard of the avant-garde designer. Even more shocking? The look actually worked, thanks to the thick black belt that nipped Kim's waist, allowing her to still show off her hourglass shape.

Still, as much as I applaud Kim for trying out something new, I prefer her best in ruffles and goddess gowns. What about you? Consider the sexy, feminine and cutting-edge looks above, then vote in the gallery below!

Last year's colorblocking trend is still going strong. Black Halo, T-Bags and LaROK offer some of our favorite youthful, contrasting brights. But if you want a more sophisticated look, try a monochromatic multitone dress.

The subtlety of varying shades in a single color is mature, but still modern. I suggest buying one in spring's more understated hues: lavender or slate (bluish/gray). Any neutral will also work.

Just remember that the placement of the blocks will affect your body. A vertical split, like Molly Sims' Alberta Ferretti, elongates and adds height. A diagonal pattern, such as the one on Jamie King's Jason Wu, produces an hourglass shape. Shop both styles by clicking through the gallery below!

While promoting their new movie, The Spirit, in London last week, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes proved you can look sexy without being overtly suggestive. Instead of flaunting their cleavage, the curvy costars relied on '50s silhouettes to showcase their womanly figures.

Any body type can benefit from the cinched waist and full skirt of these retro-style dresses, especially pear shapes (it hides all your bottom-half problems). On the petite side? Follow Scarlett's lead and keep your frock above the knee. If you have more of an athletic build, stay away from Eva's off-the-shoulder neckline and wear V-necks, like the DVF splurge in the gallery below.

And don't forget fabulous footwear, like Scarlett's Brian Atwood stilettos with orange rosettes. We're happy to resurrect '50s dresses, but saddle shoes are best left in the past.

While promoting her new movie, Blindness, at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Julianne Moore demonstrated she has 20/20 vision when it comes to getting dressed. The wrap style of her Balenciaga gown flatters all body shapes, magically creating coveted hourglass curves. Plus, the redhead knows what colors work best for her complexion, and magenta is definitely included on that list.

Since pink is the perfect hue to support October's Breast Cancer Awareness, we're helping you shop similar wrap steals 'n' splurges in the gallery below. Be sure to head over to mystyle's Style Shout-Out gallery for more fashionable moments.

Every season, the little black dress gets a makeover. This fall, one of the most popular styles only has one sleeve. We've seen the single arm before (think Penélope Cruz circa 2000) and because it flatters most body types, we're happy to welcome it back. 

Toned petites like Jada Pinkett Smith benefit from belted styles, which create an hourglass shape. Mothers-to-be take pleasure in the comfort of stretchy Lycra, as seen with Naomi Watts in Calvin Klein. And full-figured women, like Queen Latifah, enjoy the slimming effect of asymmetry. (The silhouette forces the eye to move down and across the body and not focus on one point.) If you're self-conscious about your arms, you can achieve a similar slip-of-skin feel with an off-the-shoulder or split-sleeve dress.

Shop for the look in the gallery below. We found two dresses especially tailored for full-figured women.

Is the Desperate Housewives cast having an identity crisis? First, Eva Longoria Parker ditches Gabrielle's luscious locks for a suburban bob. Then, over the weekend, Marcia Cross—who is only a slightly less conservative dresser than her Bree Van de Kamp alter ego—opted for a pink David Meister that just oozes sex appeal.

The great thing about the actress' dress is that it actually works for many body types. A sheath highlights a long and lean frame like Marcia's or Charlize Theron's. But the stretch satin also beautifully hugs a woman's curves—just take a look at Sara Ramirez, who often wears Meister's magical frocks.

Need help finding a similar dress? Well, now our Style Shout-Outs will help you mimic the best red carpet looks, regardless of your budget. Check the fuchsia finds below: The steal is 50 percent off!

It's time to throw out the rule that only skinny girls can wear horizontal stripes. Sure, these thin lines add curves to Nicky Hilton's long and lean frame, but worn correctly, this trend can work for women who are bigger than a size 2. The trick is to make sure the horizontal stripes hit the places you want to stand out. Take inspiration from America Ferrera and Tia Mowry, who accentuate their busts with parallel lines, leaving the rest of the body full of zigzag and vertical patterns. An empire or cinched waist also helps ensure the desired hourglass silhouette.

Click through our gallery of steals 'n' splurges to shop stripe-savvy looks for your body type!

To the untrained eye, Natasha Henstridge (in Black Halo), Mischa Barton (in Mulberry) and Michelle Monaghan (in Bill Blass) appear to be wearing the most adorable blouses and high-waist skirts. But those hourglass figures were achieved by slipping into a two-in-one dress.

Click through our steal/splurge gallery to shop a version of Natasha's frock and more two-in-one dress options.

This summer the little black dress has been upstaged by the little white dress. Whether you're long and lean like Gisele Bündchen, pear-shaped like Ashanti or petite like Natalie Portman, we've got steals for every body type in our 10 LWDs for Under $99 gallery!

Just when we thought the bubble dress trend had popped, it burst back onto the red carpet. If you're an hourglass shape like Zooey Deschanel, in Christian Dior, or Jenna Fischer, in Gustavo Cadile, look for dresses with cinched waists and above-the-knee hemlines. Long-and-lean types like Charlize Theron, also in Dior, can wear a more voluminous skirt to add curves. Have a baby on the way? An empire waist bubble is a great maternity option and also works for apple shapes, as long as the hem is short. But if you're pear-shaped, steer clear because the silhouette will only make your bottom half appear larger. Instead, get a similar look with an A-line strapless.

Ever since Max Azria put Hervé Léger back on the style map, just about every star has stepped out in one of his skin-hugging creations. At last night's Whitney Contemporaries' Art Party and Auction in New York, which was hosted by the designer, we really got the chance to compare how the style looks on different body types. Pick the silhouette you think is most fabulous in these form-fitting frocks, then keep reading to learn who you chose.

Some stars have looked amazing in this season's floor-sweeping dresses. Others? Not so much. To guarantee you'll look fab in a long frock, check out mystyle's Maxi Dresses For Every Body gallery.

One drawback of an hourglass figure is finding a belt  that actually fits. Low slung belts are no problem—they can just rest on your hips—but this season it's all about accentuating the waist. 

When running errands at Target this weekend, I spotted this adorable patent skinny belt for $9.99. But even a size small was too big for my midsection. Disappointed, I kept walking, accidentally landing in the Girls section. There they were: belts that looked like they would actually fit! Sure, some had glitter, but there were stylish black patent ones, and colorful braided ones, too. The best part? They were all under four bucks. (You'll have to hoof it to catch this deal; the belts are not online.) While we don't usually condone dressing like a tween after your teens, if the belt fits, wear it!

Have you ever found an unexpected deal in an unexpected store department? Tell us about it by posting a comment.