Prom season is right around the corner, and that means you have to start searching for a dress. Your senior prom is one of the most magical nights of your life, and you deserve to have a dress to match.
But choosing the perfect dress isn’t easy. To start, you have to ask yourself a lot of questions. What kind of dresses do you like? Do prefer typical prom dresses or the style of homecoming dresses? Are you looking for long prom dresses or short prom dresses?
Prom dresses come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Before you can pick out one for yourself, it’s important to know all the different kinds you can choose from. Not every dress is going to look the same on every person. That’s why trying plenty of them on and finding which kind you like will ensure you find the perfect dress. If you do your research and give yourself plenty of time, finding the perfect dress for prom will be a piece of cake.
To make things a bit easier, here’s what you might want to consider before picking one out, as well as a few of the different styles prom gowns come in to give you some ideas.
Things to Consider
Before you set foot in a department store or click “add to cart”, you need to think carefully about what you want out of your dress. The main things you’ll want to consider are your personal style, your figure, and your undertones.
Your Personal Style
Your personal style is the most important part of choosing the right prom dress. If you don’t like your dress’s aesthetic, then why would you want to wear it? Before you begin your search, identify your preferences for a few different elements.
- Type. The dress type is an essential factor of your personal style. Do you prefer mermaid or v neck? A high low dress or ball gown flare? Ask this question and your choices will slowly start to shrink. The smaller the number of options you have, the easier it is to pick your final dress.
- Color. Do you prefer warm or cool colors? Vibrant or toned down? Black prom dresses or white prom dresses? Having an idea of the colors you like will help narrow down your choices even further helping you get closer to your decision.
- Pattern. Do you want a simple solid dress? Do you like lace, stripes, or beaded prom dresses? Just like color, knowing the patterns you prefer will make your pool to choose from smaller.
- Accessories. If you have a favorite pair of earrings you’re planning on wearing, you should factor that into what dress you will choose in the end.
When shopping for your prom dress, personal style means more than anything else. Find elements that you like until you are left with nothing but the best.
Your Body Type
While you can wear any dress you’d like, it’s true that some may highlight your figure more than others. There are so many different body types, but the four most general ones are pear (carrying weight in your hips), apple-shaped (carrying weight in your abdomen), hourglass (small waist in proportion to the rest of your body), and athletic (muscular). Every body type has flattering features that you’ll want to draw attention to. Learn how to highlight your curvy hips, muscular arms, or killer legs with the right style of dress based on your body type!
- Pear. Look for off the shoulder, strapless, belted or wrap dresses. These will balance out your smaller top half with your curvier bottom half.
- Apple. Search for high low, v neck, strapless, and short prom dresses to show off your legs.
- Hourglass. Drawing attention to the waist will make you look your best. To achieve this, try looking for fit and flare and mermaid dresses.
- Athletic. Most if not all dresses will look good on your frame, especially two pieces that show off your toned stomach.
Now that you’re aware of different body types and the dresses that flatter them, go find the perfect prom dress!
Your Undertones
You might want to pick a dress depending on your skin tone, hair color, or eye color. The benefits of doing this are that you have a dress that compliments your features and is pleasing to the eye. Considering your undertones is a crucial part in deciding what prom dress to get.
If you’re not sure whether you’re warm toned or cool toned, take a look at your wrist. If the veins look blue or purple, you have cool undertones. If your veins look an olive or green color, you have warm undertones. Finally, if your veins look like something in between (blueish-green), then you have a neutral undertone.
If you have cool toned skin, sticking to colors like blue, purple, and green are going to look the most flattering on you. For warm skin, there is a range of dress options like red, yellow, and pink prom dresses. Once you have your undertones figured out, you can go about finding the right prom dress for you.
Dress Styles
In the buyer’s guide above, we mentioned quite a few different dress styles like mermaid dresses and high-low dresses. If you aren’t already familiar with them, it’s time to get caught up. Here are some of the most popular prom dress styles you should know about before you start shopping.
Long Sleeve
Long sleeve dresses are pretty self-explanatory. However, these dresses can be worn for multiple reasons. If you live in an area where the weather is cold during prom season, a long sleeve dress might not only look fashionable but be practical as well. Also, another great reason to wear a long sleeve dress is if you’d like to bring attention to your torso. Long sleeve dresses are often overlooked for other styles, but if you want to stand out then a long sleeve dress is just for you.
Mermaid
Mermaid dresses are characterized by how they’re tight and form-fitting. The dresses cinch at the waist before flaring out at the bottom. They complement many figures by bringing attention to curves and slimming down the waist. It brings someone’s eyes to all the right places when looking at you. No matter the color or style, wearing a mermaid dress is bound to make you look absolutely fantastic.
Two Piece
Two pieces are an option if you prefer sexy prom dresses. While covering up what you’d like, they still show a bit of midriff. Two pieces can vary depending on each piece’s style. The tops can range from halters to bandeaus and plenty of other styles. The bottoms are usually either short or long, but if you want something extra, a side slit is an option. If you want all eyes on you, walking into prom with a two-piece dress is a sure way to do that!
High Low
The high low is a style that’s a staple among dresses for prom. These dresses are said to give off a playful and youthful vibe. If you’d like to look taller, high lows might be the right dress for you. By exposing your legs in the front and having a long piece of fabric hanging in the back, the illusion of height is created. High lows are a good option if you want a versatile dress you can wear to other occasions, such as homecoming or a wedding.
V Neck
V neck prom dresses offer a sophisticated and high fashion look. If you want to draw attention to your neckline or make your chest more prominent, a V neck will do just that. With the focus being on your upper half, they are great if you’d prefer to not have your bottom emphasized. Wearing a V neck dress to prom is the best way to be adventurous on your special night. If you want to look like you just stepped off of the runway, then a V neck dress is a good choice for you!
Cut Outs
If sexy prom dresses are your thing, a cut out dress might be up your alley. Cut outs are exactly what they sound like – dresses with slits of fabric cut out of them, usually on the sides. By showing off a little bit of extra skin, these dresses are sure to draw attention.
Look and Feel Your Best
Choosing the perfect prom dress can almost feel impossible. With so many styles, how can you know which one is right for you? The key is to find a dress that you like the look of, and that looks good on you. If you find a dress that’s good enough for prom, the stressful process of searching for will pay off.
Now that you know all you need to know about prom dresses, it’s time to choose the one that’s right for you. If you’re ready to start shopping, check out our prom dress collection!
