A maxi dress is the high point of evening choices. The floor-length flatters any figure, is always elegant and the perfect choice for formal events. But not every maxi dress is an evening dress. Keeping an eye on the right fabrics is key: Chiffon, satin and silk are made for after-dark, while cotton and jersey are more of a daytime choice, for example for the next garden party. Colours and patterns allow for more freedom of choice, but the most popular picks come in unicolour: Black is a style perennial, as are midnight blue and ruby red. Long sleeves, sheer or in delicate lace, are as popular as off-the-shoulder or one-shoulder cuts, short sleeves or dainty straps. It is all up to your personal preference (and maybe the season). While floor-gracing gowns look best on tall women, high heels do the trick for those of us with shorter legs.

Most women are unhappy with their tummy. We think: Curves are beautiful and women with a fuller middle should be able to dress just as elegantly as women with a flat tummy. Luckily, there are many uniquely beautiful evening dresses that agree with us and will convince you too. Fluid fabrics that fall loosely down your silhouette are what you want to look for when dressing a fuller mid-section. Evening dresses in empire cuts, A-line or the contemporary cocoon cuts do the trick. Just make sure the dress is not too snug at the waist. Wrap dresses are true miracle workers. Wrapped in all the right places, they simply conceal a fuller tummy under the loosely draped fabric. But always remember: Your evening dress shouldn’t conceal, but showcase what you are proud of. Have stunning legs? Wear short frocks! Do you love your slender upper body? Accentuate it with colour. Your décolleté is where it’s at? Make sure you pick a neckline that does your cleavage justice.

A not-so-well-kept stylist’s secret for wide hips: Wear dark and slimming colours from the waist down and accentuate your upper body with patterns and striking colours. An obvious don’t: Trying to conceal your hips with flared or too billowy evening dresses — this often makes your hips appear even wider. Choose an evening dress with a close, but not too snug fit that falls loosely down your hips and derrière. If you prefer to balance your wider hips with a defined upper body, look for ruffles, asymmetric necklines or one-shoulder dresses. These direct the attention to the upper body and bring balance to your silhouette.

Your shoulders, hips and waist are all roughly the same width? This means you have a straight, boyish silhouette. When dressing your body type, avoid trying to create a slimmer waist. The only exception to that rule: Illusion dresses. These feature a combination of darker and lighter panels to create the optical illusion of an hourglass silhouette. Alternatively to these miracle workers, work your straight silhouette with matching straight cuts. Or simply move your waistline up with an empire dress. Curves can also be created at unexpected places; one-shoulder dresses are the perfect way to add a curvy element to your upper body.

If you are blessed with a larger chest, be proud of your assets and do not try to conceal them. Evening dresses that are cut to your figure or draped at the neckline fit your body type best, never pick designs that restrict or flatten your bust. Elegant dresses with a V-neck elongate your upper body and neck and create a feminine and classy décolleté. If you are worried about your bust appearing too large, avoid ruffles, flounces or valanced detailing at the upper body. The wrap dress is your perfect choice. The ultra feminine cut is a true miracle worker for fuller chests: The V-neck elongates your upper body, puts the focus on your décolleté and streamlines your curves. Careful with empire dresses, babydolls or halter necks, they make your bosom appear even bigger.

A lot of women do not want to show their upper arms in evening dresses. If this feels familiar to you, no reason to despair. More and more designers think up evening dresses with long sleeves. Cut from sumptuous lace, long sleeves are supremely elegant. But sleeves do not have to be full-on to make you feel more content. Short sleeves or cropped sleeves can be just as effective, simply make sure the sleeves do not end at the fullest part of your arms. Found your dream dress, but it only comes in sleeveless? Pick a matching bolero or stole to drape loosely around your arms.

When it gets cold on the evening, you will be grateful to have brought a stole along that matches your evening dress — or a fine silk shawl that is large enough to cover your shoulders and arms. Choose your scarf in the same colour as your dress or stick to the same colour scheme but play with different shades.

The perfect companion to your evening dress? A clutch! Embroidered with lace, embellished with rhinestones or wrapped in satin — for your big entrance on the evening there cannot be too much shine or sparkle. A clutch in neutral hues, such as nude, rose or black matches most evening dresses. Especially glamorous are versions in gold or silver, just make sure your jewellery stays in the same tones.

Some invitations ask for specific headgear. A fascinator is the most royal of headwear, exuding British chic and gaining more and more popularity on the mainland. Open-air summer weddings love fascinators for daytime outfits. Align your headgear and your clutch in colour to create a sophisticated and harmonic look.

Even though seemingly invisible, what’s underneath your evening dress is important for it to develop its full appeal. Choosing the right underwear or shapewear is essential. There are some general rules for picking the right underwear for your dress: Leave the embroidery, lace or rhinestones. Opt for seamless or moulded bras instead, they stay invisible under fine fabrics. Bras with removable straps are the ideal choice, because you can adjust them individually to your dress, for example, wearing only one strap under a one-shoulder dress. Elomi are experts in bras that stay in position and provide support and shape even without straps. If you wear a close fitting dress that sits tightly around your curves, shapewear is the ideal helper to make you feel even more fabulous. Spanx set the bar with different versions that define and slim stomach, hips, thighs and upper body. Wear black under a black evening dress. For all other colours, nude shapewear is a better choice.