Glossary

Sheath Dress refers to a type of dress which features a figure-hugging silhouette with a defined waist; usually without a Belt or waistband. Often mid-calf or even shorter (but not m ini) dress works well in sleeveless styles on well-toned bodies.

Moreover, a Sheath Dress refers to a close fitting dress suitable for cocktail parties or formal events. The sheath may have darts at the breast and curve slightly inward at the waist in order to suggest the form and curve of a woman's body. Most describe the sheath dress as worn without a belt, but there are now some modern sheath dresses that are belted, and in fact may feature a slightly higher, almost empire waist before providing a bit more generous coverage of the hips, stomach and legs.

Many women with not soperfect figure believe and some fashion experts suggest that the sheath should only be worn by women with perfect figures, but some fashion experts also believe that actually the reverse is true. A figure-fitting dress tends to be a great choice for women with a little more curve, since it accentuates the female lines, promoting a very feminine look. Provided the Sheath Dress fits properly, or they are cut so that the curve in the waist opens to a more generously sized skirt, offering ease of movement and a little less hugging of the figure, the Sheath Dress may just be the most flattering look whether the woman is a size 2 or a size 22.

Even if the shape of a woman is not exactly perfect, the slight curves and darting in the sheath tend to emphasize an hourglass shape. On bigger women, the Sheath Dress can be very stylish. However, women who are concerned about their tummy size but wanted to wear a Sheath Dress may need an extra help by using body shaper, control top panties or Spanx.

Author's Note: Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni are both fans of Sheath Dresses. Michelle Obama actually made the Sheat Dress popular again.

My favorite! The Sheath Dresses of David Meister