Choose your dressing: for self-assured style, opt for this season's best dresses to conceal figure flaws, reveal strong shoulders or elongate your figure

Shape, March, 2005 by Kristina Ferrante Coleman

the halter dress

best for: showing off shoulders

* Top: Nicole Miller silk scarf dress ($430; at Nicole Miller, NYC, 212-343-1362)

* Middle: T-Bags halter dress ($185; at Big Drop, NYC, 212-988-3344)

* Bottom: Tocca "Yvette" halter dress ($224; tocca.com for store locations)

the plunge dress

best for: elongating figures

* Top: Luca Luca floral plunge-front dress ($2,500; available by special order at Luca Luca, NYC, 212-753-2444)

* Middle: Foley silk "Harlow" dress ($350; at Foley & Corinna, NYC, 212-529-2338)

* Bottom: Diane vonFurstenberg "Wes" dress in silk mesh ($275; at DVF The Shop, NYC, 646-486-4800)

the shirtdress

best for: concealing figure flaws

* Top: Michael Kors python-print jersey shirtdress ($1,100; at Michael Kors, Beverly Hills, Calif., 310-777-8862)

* Middle: Nicole Miller New York silk shirtdress ($178; at Lord & Taylor, 800-348-6940)

* Bottom: Tibi peacock shirtdress ($224; at Beanie Cecil, Wilmington, N.C., 910-762-6585)