Try on dresses with several different neckline styles including v-neck

Prom Dresses Guide Find The Prom Dress That Flatters Your Silhouette

Prom time is almost here and choosing from so many styles and shapes of prom dresses isn't easy. It takes time and patience to try on all those prom dresses, hoping to find just the right dress for your special evening. You should first find a prom dress that flatters your body type, or silhouette. Use the guide below to find out what type of body shape you have and which prom dress will best complement your shape.

Determining Your Body Shape

It's important to determine your body shape before you start shopping for prom gowns. Once you know which types of prom dresses will best suit you, you won't waist time trying on those that won't.

Are you Thin and Tall?

Here's a way to tell: Your body is straight and slender, has few or no curves, and your bust is average in size. Your height is 5' 6" or taller. If you meet these criteria, you'll want to buy a prom dress style that adds curves, shows off your long legs, flows gracefully to reveal your slim silhouette, and adds fullness to your chest.

Try on dresses with several different neckline styles including v-neck or an open neckline to see which looks best. Also, dare to try a dress with a cutout back. Some prom dress styles to consider are empire, sheath, ball gown, and a-line.

Are you mature bridal gowns Petite?

If you are 5' 3" or shorter with a small build and an average sized bust, you'll want a dress to complement the petite such as an empire, sheath or a-line prom gown. With a slit, you can make your legs appear longer. Or, you can look much taller by wearing a dress with a short hemline. The hemline might be ruffled, handkerchief, hi/low, or asymmetrical - whichever best suits you. There are also a-line and empire styles to take emphasis off your waistline if you are short-waisted. Your neckline could be sweetheart, halter, or v-shape.

Do you have an Hourglass, Pear, or Apple Shape?

With an hourglass shape, you are curvy with a medium-to-large sized bust. Your bottom is rounded and you have curvy hips. You can show off the curves with a sheath dress or de-emphasize them somewhat with a ball gown or a-line dress. To place more emphasis on the upper portion of your body, choose a dress with an embellished neckline.

With a pear shape, you are probably bottom-heavy, meaning your hips, thighs, and bottom are larger than the upper portion of your body. Choose prom dresses that flatter the upper half of your body such as a-line, empire, or ball gown dresses with a circular halter neckline. Or, a strapless dress might do the trick.

If your black white bridesmaid dresses body is apple-shaped, your mid-section is probably heavier or thicker than other parts of your body. Maybe your tummy is larger than you would like. Choose dresses that take the emphasis away from your mid-section. An empire gown might work best with this type of figure. An a-line dress can work well too if you have a bodice with boning to give it a slimming effect.

Are you Athletic? Do you have a Large Build?

If you are muscular, have broad shoulders, or a large bust, choose a prom dress that will give you a feminine shape such as a ball gown or empire style dress. The full skirt will immediately add shape at your waistline. With broad shoulders, you might find that trying to cover them with wide straps or sleeves will make them look even wider. Try on a few strapless prom gowns first. You might be pleasantly surprised!

If you have a large bust, be sure your prom dress offers proper support. Choose v-necks or halters and either an a-line or ball gown. To draw attention away from your chest, wear a prom dress that has eye-catching details at its hemline.

With a full figure, there are more styles today than ever in plus size prom dresses. Don't feel uncomfortable on your prom night by trying to squeeze into a smaller gown. Find a dress that fits your body size and flatters your figure.

More "Accentuating" Prom Dress Ideas

There are even more ways you can accentuate certain areas of your body. Prom dresses can also come with stylish features such as beaded panels, a fully beaded bodice, accordion pleating, a jeweled beltline, embroidery designs, sheer overlays, trains, and removable skirts.

Use these tips to get an idea of what style will work best for your body type before you start shopping. Check online to look at various styles and colors. Most online stores carry a variety of dresses including prom dresses, evening dresses, and bridesmaid dresses, so you'll have no problem finding just the right dress.

How To Choose The Right Wedding Dress For Your Body Type

Many brides-to-be spend hours flipping through the pages of bridal magazines in search of the perfect wedding dress. They may find several that they fall in love with, but it could be that none of them are the right dress for the bride. The fact is that not all dresses look great on every bride.

Choosing the best wedding dress is about how the dress looks on your body. All brides even those who are very thin have to keep this in mind. Choosing a dress from a picture is just not a good idea. Instead, you must try on gowns so that you can figure out which style looks best on you. Below are some of the most common styles of wedding dresses.

Sheath

This style of wedding dress typically falls away from the body. It is best suited to brides who are tall and slender.

Empire Waist

An empire waist wedding dress features a waistline that falls just below the bust line. This dress is a good choice for a bride who does not have a large bust. For shorter brides, it can add height.

Ball Gown

This very popular style of wedding dress is what many girls think of when they picture a princess gown. It has a full skirt and is wonderful for hiding imperfections around the hips or thighs.

Mermaid

A mermaid style wedding dress is very fitted and is a good choice for those brides who want to accentuate their informal wedding dresses curves.

There are hundreds of variations within each style of wedding dress. Once you determine the shape that looks best on your body, you will be able to start your search in earnest. For example, you may have to try on a dozen ball gowns before you find the one that is right for you.

Some other tips:

Try It On

Yes, try on that wedding dress even if it is nothing like what you imagined wearing on your big day. You would be surprised at how many brides end up falling in love with a dress that is much different from what they thought they wanted.

It doesnt hurt or cost anything to just try it on, and you just might find the dress of your dreams.

Dont Settle

Just because you always wanted a wedding dress of a certain style does not mean that you should get that dress even if it does nothing to flatter your body type. Conversely, do not be talked into a wedding dress that everyone else says is great on your body if it is not really what you want.

Keep looking until you find the perfect wedding dress that both flatters your body AND lives up to the picture that you have in your mind of what your wedding dress will look like.