Style Tips
Style Definitions
Empire Cut - An Empire cut prom dress has a high waistline, generally beginning just beneath the bust and a long full skirt that flows from this waistline. The empire style camourflages a pear shape or thick waist and creates an illusion of height for short or petite figure.
Slinky - A slinky is a slim prom dress with little fabric detail that hugs curves and outlines the silhouette of your body. The slinky prom dress is perfect for sleeveless styles and tends to show off a well toned body. Slinky dresses are especially beautiful and graceful on tall, thin figures.
A-line - An A-line prom gown has a form fitted bodice that flares out from the natural waist to a full skirt. This type of gown features a seamless waist and may also be called a princess-cut gown. The gently flared style flatters most figure types and is especially useful for disguising large hips and thighs.
Tea Length - A tea length prom dress is a gown that is hemmed to end just at the shin. It has a fun, flirty appearance that is perfect for a slightly casual or more relaxed appearance at the prom. This dress style is ideal if your calves are your best feature or you have a tall. thin figure.
High-Low Gown - A high-low prom gown is hemmed long at the back. at the ankles or to the floor and just above the knee in the front. This trendy, new style creates a unique, sexy prom dress appearance. It is perfect for showing off long legs and an hourglass figure.
Ballgown - A ballgown is characterised by a very full skirt that begins at the natural waist and proceeds to floor length. the waist is seamed and may be styled in variuos shapes and designs. The ballgown style visually cuts the body in half and is ideal on average to tall figures.
Flattering Dress Styles for Every Body Shape
If you are like most girls, you probably have one or two features on your body that you love and wouldnt mind showing off, as well as one or two features that you would like to hide away. The absolutely wonderful thing about a well designed prom dress or bridal dress is that it can make your good features shine and your less desirable features dim in comparison. You know that not every celebrity has a perfect body, but you could almost never guess that fact when you see them in their evening gowns.
Why not take a lesson from the celebrities? If you have a feature you absolutely love on your body, take a look at the tips below to customise your dress to that feature. Your beautiful, flattering dress awaits you.
Curves - A sexy, curvy, Marilyn Munroe body merits some well deserved attention. To highlight your hourglass figure, choose a ballgown with a full skirt and a boned corset. The corset will flatter your waist and display your luscious hips and bust while the full skirt will hide any unwanted weight in the legs and thighs.
Small Waist - To highlight and draw attention to a tiny waist, try a belted prom dress with a sash or tie or a style with some detail around the middle. Any extra detail at your waist will draw eyes towards your tiny middle and away from less flattering features.
Great Calves - To draw eyes down towards your sexy, hard-won calf muscles, try a full skirted prom dress that falls just at the knee. This flirty dress style is trendy and popular for the season and will highlight the lower parts of your legs. An at-the-knee cut is also one of the most flattering dress cuts for women.
Sexy Back - If you have great, toned back muscles and want to show them off, try wearing a backless prom gown. Guys will hardly be able to look away from you on the dance floor while your strong upper body is delicately framed in a flattering gown. Be sure to invest in a stapless, backless bra (La Senza) so you have adequate support in the front.
Toned Shoulders - If years of netball have given you toned shoulders, try wearing a strapless prom gown with a heart shaped bodice. The shaping will flatter and draw attention to your sexy arms. Also be sure to wear your hair up to show off your upper body.
Flat Tummy - To show off your model-thin stomache and muscular abs, try a dress in a light, pastel colour with semi sheer panelling at the waist. The panelling will reveal just a hint of skin for seductive flare while the light colour will give you a flirty, fun look.
To Die for Legs - To draw eyes and attention towards your gorgeous legs, try a gown with an asymmetrical hem to show off just a hint of leg for some innocent allure. The asymmetrical prom gown is more elegant and formal than a mini skirt and is guaranteed to be more flattering than a straight off cut.
Fabulous Bum - If you have a great bum and aren't afraid to show it off a little, try a prom dress with ruffles or other accents in the back. The ruffles will flatter a sexy bum in a flirtier, more femine way than skin tight fabric.
Voluptuous Bust - To display a sexy bust, try a dress with a plunging neckline to exhibit just a hint of cleavage and wide straps to hide your bra. Just be careful to wear a bra with adequate support.
Accessories For Your Prom Dress
Once you have your prom dress, accessories will add the final touch to a stunning prom ensemble. Check out our ideas below for the most fashionable and fun shoes, prom purses and jewellery.
Shoe Styles
Nothing makes a beautiful, glamorous dress even more magical than the perfect pair of shoes to compliment and accessorize it. After all, for a perfect head to toe appearance, you may have to pay at least a little attention to those toes. Choose your dress style from the list below to find the perfect pair of shoes to accompany it. Then take a look at the helpful comfort and style tips to make sure you have no trouble stylishly dancing the night away.
Asymmetrically Hemmed Prom Dress - This dress is perfect for showing off great legs and a high heel is an ideal accompaniment. Try a strappy sandal with a tall, wedge heel to lift and flatter your legs.
Floor Length Ball Gown - If you are choosing an all out princess style as your dress, its likely your shoes will not be receiving too much attention. In this case you should go with a simple shoe that will not detract from your dress. Try coupling your dress with a pair of kitten heeled mules. The low heels will keep you from tripping over your skirt while the mule style will keep your feet comfortable all night.
Long Slinky Gown -A sexy slinky gown deserves a pair of sexy, slinky shoes to accompany it. Try wearing a pair of strappy sandals with a high stiletto heel. The heel will lift your height a couple of inches and the strappy style will show off and flatter your feet.
Flared, Calf-Length Prom Dress - If you are choosing to wear a shorter prom dress style, your shoes will likely be receiving alot of attention. With a flare-style cut to your dress, try wearing a pair of platform sling back shoes in the same colour as your dress. The sling back style will offer a little bit of retro flare to accompany your dress.
Floor Length A-Line Prom Dress - A gown with an A-Line cut is often not as full in the skirt as a traditional ballgown and your shoes will likely be seen poking out from time to time. Try wearing a pair of pointy-toed shoes with a sling back strap and a low heel. The low heel will keep you on your feet while dancing and the pointy toe will be perfect for poking out from under your dress every so often.
Prom Purses
A stylish purse not only serves to keep your essential items with you it can also be a fun addition to your prom outfit. The most popular purse styles for formal events are the clutch and handbag. You will find many different purses in each of these styles that will add that final bit of fashionable flare to your outfit, however keep these tips in mind while shopping.
A clutch is very cute and fashionable but because it does not have a handle, one hand is always occupied with it. If you plan on doing a lot of dancing or want to have both hands free, consider checking your purse at the door or choosing a style with a handle.
Your prom purse does not have to exactly match the colour of your dress. In fact, if you'd like to draw more attention to your dress and to yourself look for a purse in a contrasting yet complimentary colour. For example, a silvery rhinestone purse with a black dress can be very effective.
An evening purse is often much more extravagant than an everyday purse. When looking for your prom purse, feel free to choose a purse with plenty of extras (ribbons, feathers, jewels, etc.) this type of purse will be a perfect complement to your prom dress.
Remember to buy a purse large enough to hold your essential items. Your purse should have enough room to hold some extra cash, your prom tickets, mobile phone, lip gloss etc.
Prom Jewellery
The Jewellery you choose to wear with your prom dress depends entirely upon your own personal taste and the style of your prom dress. If you like flashy jewellery and lots of it, feel free to dress yourself to the nines on prom night. If you generally shy away from too much jewellery, a simple necklace and pair of earings should be enough to jazz up your look. For the right look with your jewellery, keep the following tips in mind.
Overall, rhinestones are the most popular choice for prom night jewellery. They are very elegant and add the perfect dressed-up look to your prom style. If your dress or shoes contains rhinestones, remember to look for rhinestone jewellery in the same size and shape for a perfectly pulled together look.
The length and style of your necklace should depend upon the neckline of your prom dress. If your neckline drops low or plunges, look for a long necklace to decorate bare skin in your neck and chest. If your neckline is high, choose a shorter necklace style (such as a choker) to offer equal play to both the necklace and dress.
Remember to decide on your prom hair style before you purchase earrings for your prom dress. If you are wearing your hair up, feel free to wear large, dangly earrings. If you are wearing your hair down, look for hoops, large studs or other styles that will not get tangled in your hair.
If it compliments your dress and personal style, wear a tiara on prom night. You may never get the chance to legitimately wear princess attire again and you do not want to waste it.