Interesting observation, BL. I have tried over the past 10 years to find a short summer dress without success. I have football shoulders, flat bum and broad hips. One day, last summer when browsing downtown, I found a white summery dress with large black polkadots, on sale, with mandarin collar, princess shaping and flared skirt. It fit!!!! I have received so many compliments on it even from strangers walking on the street.
As I twirled in front of a friend, she noted that most women's clothes today have no shaping especially for the bosom area. There is a pile of fabric that is supposed to fit everyone, often with a belt or elastic. Now because my clothes last forever, I am willing to spend a little extra for clothes that have darts or shaping. They are out there but hard to find.