Guide to Prom Dress Styles

Prom season is approaching, and it's time to visit your favorite bridal or gown shop to browse for your perfect dress. This is much easier said than done, however. A quick visit to any formal-wear store will reveal the dozens of styles, colors and designs to choose from. How can one person decide when there is such an overwhelming number of choices? Do you just pick something you like, or do you need to pick something particular for your body shape or hair color? Is there a right or wrong choice?

We understand this can be a stressful decision, but it's important to remember it's also supposed to be a fun and enjoyable one. To help take some of the pressure off and let you have fun on your shopping trips, we've put together this guide to prom dress styles. We'll cover some of the different styles available, as well as how things like body type and complexion play into choosing a dress.

To kick things off, let's talk about what you'll be wearing to prom.

What to Wear to Prom

The dress is almost always the headline item of your prom wardrobe, but it isn't the only thing you'll be wearing, of course. So many other small details go into creating a stunning prom outfit. Let's look at each item individually here:

• The Dress: Long or short, dark or colorful, flowing or fitted, there is a world of variety to choose from, and a dress out there that's perfect for every girl. It's best to pick your prom dress first, as this is the largest item. Once you've decided on a dress, build the rest of your outfit around this piece as you pick matching and coordinating pieces.
• Shoes: When it comes to buying shoes, shop with two main goals in mind. Firstly, they should complement the dress and make it look gorgeous. Secondly, and arguably just as important, don't forget to choose shoes that are actually wearable. Yes, you might take them off for the dancing, but you'll still wear them more than you might think. Choose something that fits and that you love wearing. Your feet and ankles will thank you.
• Jewelry: Rather than choosing multiple major statement pieces, remember that in most cases, less jewelry is more. Your dress is the centerpiece of the outfit, and the goal of jewelry will be to add the finishing touches. Perhaps opt for some stunning earrings and an understated necklace or bracelet. Or make the necklace the biggest piece and choose smaller earrings.
• Accessories: Aside from jewelry, think about other accessories you might add to your wardrobe. Consider hair accessories to finish off your updo or an eye-catching clutch to carry your necessities.
• Flowers: Are you attending prom with a date? If so, a corsage might also play a part in your outfit, so don't forget to plan for that. Pick flowers to either match the dress or complement it, such as red flowers for a black dress.
• Undergarments: Bras are always a little complicated when it comes to formal dresses, so it's worth planning for this as soon as you get the dress. Decide whether a regular bra will work, or if you'll need a strapless bra or another solution.

Types of Prom Dresses

 

With this basic understanding of what kinds of items you'll be shopping for this prom season, let's focus on the dress itself. Before you can make an informed decision about what to wear to prom this year, it's a good idea to get an understanding of some of the major types of prom dresses available today. This will help you narrow your search by immediately eliminating styles you aren't interested in and focusing on ones you like.

A few of the types of prom dresses you'll come across in your shopping include:

• The Mermaid Dress: Looking at this dress's silhouette, it isn't hard to see where it gets its name. This dress is fitted through the bust, waist and down past the hips. Once the dress reaches the lower thighs, it flares out to create a shape evocative of a mermaid's tail.
• The Sheath Dress: This dress is form-fitting from the bodice all the way down to the hem. Styles will vary slightly, with some being so form-fitted that movement is almost restricted while others can have a bit more flow and still fall under this category.
• The A-Line Dress: Named because it resembles a capital letter A, this dress will usually be relatively form-fitting through the bodice and waist. The skirt begins narrow at the waist but gradually flares out until it reaches its full width at the hem. A-line dresses can be short, reaching no further than the knees, or they can be long and brush the floor.
• The Ball Gown: This isn't a specific cut of dress, but it is a term you may hear thrown around during prom season. The term “ball gown” refers to a floor-length dress with a full and flowing skirt.
• The Empire-Waisted Dress: An empire-waisted dress features a high-waist, typically placed right beneath the bust. The bodice is generally tightly fitted until it reaches the waistline and then flares out into a looser skirt.
• The Asymmetrical Dress: In many typical dress designs, the skirt is the same length all around. Asymmetrical dresses are unusual because the cut of the hem varies. It may be long in the back and short in the front, long on one side and short on the other, or have an irregular cut all the way around the hem.
• The Halter Dress: A halter dress can feature any skirt, but its hallmark is the neckline. With these dresses, the straps come together at the back of the neck, rather than reaching straight back to form even lines over the shoulders.
• The Deep-V Dress: This type of bodice can be paired with any skirt, but is defined by the deep v-cut in the center of the bodice, which accentuates and flatters the bust.
• The Sweetheart Neckline Dress: The defining characteristic of the sweetheart neckline is the way it dips in the middle of the bust area, creating a shape similar to the top of a heart. This neckline can be paired with any skirt, and can be strapless or include straps.
• The Strapless Dress: This one explains itself very well. It has no straps and is instead held up through support from the bust.

This list is not exhaustive but does provide some useful points of reference for the curious prom dress shopper. Note that not all of these terms are mutually exclusive, as a dress can be both a mermaid dress and a halter dress, or both an asymmetrical dress and an empire-waisted dress depending on the way different components of the dress work together to form the whole.

Best Prom Dresses for Your Body Type

Plenty of girls may wonder how to choose a prom dress by body type and may think there are set rules for who can wear what styles of dresses. But the truth is you can wear whatever dress you like. If you fall in love with a dress that you may have heard isn't flattering to your body type, don't let that stop you. The important thing is that you feel great in your dress. As long as your dress makes you feel confident and beautiful, the so-called rulebook doesn't matter.

However, for those looking for some guidelines to help them narrow down the countless options for a prom dress by body type, we can give you some advice. Remember that this is only advice, however, and that at the end of the day, your opinion and feelings are what matter most in choosing a dress.

1. Hourglass Body Shape

Hourglass body shapes are those where the bust and hips are equally proportioned, and the waist is neatly defined in between the two. Because this is a shape that many girls strive for, this body type may give you the confidence you need to pull off a more daring prom dress style and more form-fitting cuts. Here are some dresses that might look fantastic on you:

• Try a mermaid dress, which will accentuate the natural curve of your hips as well as the definition of your waist.
• A strapless dress is also a great choice since you've got the bust-line to hold up a dress without the help of straps.
• If you're not crazy about the idea of a dress that hugs your hips, go for a sweetheart or deep-v neckline with a long flowing skirt. This will show off your bust while not calling equal attention to your hips.

2. Triangle or Pear Shape

If your hips are wider than your bust, you might have a pear-shaped body, otherwise called a triangle-shape. Generally, the goal for this type of body is to draw attention away from the hips and instead balance out the body by adding volume to the upper body. For girls with pear-shaped bodies, consider these options:

• A-line dresses can work well when you're looking to avoid accentuating the hips.
• To bring the eyes up to the bodice, go for a close-fitting bodice with a halter neck or a strapless design.

3. Apple Shape

Apple-shaped bodies are so named because they usually feature a less-defined waistline. Girls with this body type may carry their weight in their middle, resulting in a lack of clear delineation between bust, waist and hips. Not to worry, however, plenty of dresses flatter this body type just as there are with any other body. Here are a few of our recommendations:

• Because the goal is to draw attention away from your waist and create a longer silhouette, try to avoid short dresses and instead stick to ball gown silhouettes.
• Draw the eye to your bust area by opting for a deep-V or halter neckline, or even consider going strapless. Empire waists are also an excellent choice for you.
• Experiment with asymmetrical skirt lines, as these interesting patterns will also serve to pull the eye away from the waist to other parts of the dress.

4. Inverted-Triangle Shape

This is the opposite of the pear-shaped body. The inverted-triangle body type features a fuller bust paired with narrow hips. The waist may also be less defined, as the body tapers down towards the hips without a clear waistline. For this body type, consider trying these dress types:

• A-line dresses are a fantastic choice, as is any style with a highlighted waistline that will give that part of your body more definition.
• Ruffled skirts or any skirt with a bit of body will help create volume in your lower half and balance out your body.
• Avoid dresses that are too short, as this will only exaggerate the upper body without adding balance to the lower half.

5. Rectangle Shape

You may also hear these bodies referred to as boyish or athletic. The main feature here is that the hips and bust are equal sizes, without the narrow waist of an hourglass figure. For most girls with this type of body, they'll pick prom dress ideas that help create the illusion of whatever body part they'd like to play up. Here are some ideas:

• Asymmetrical lines, whether in the skirt or neckline, are a great touch for your body, as they break up the straight up-and-down lines of your figure.
• A fitted strapless bodice will help create the idea of a fuller bust, while a skirt with ruffles will lend extra volume to your hips.
• A dramatic v-neck with a cinched waist is a perfect style for accentuating the bust while also helping to define your waist a bit.

Prom Dress Color Ideas for Every Skin Tone

Every skin-tone is beautiful in its own right, but most of us know there are one or two colors that just don't work well for our complexion. What about the colors that do look right, however? How do you know how to look for these in a prom dress?

Here's our quick list:

• Light: If you're exceptionally pale, it may be a good idea to avoid very light pastels and whites. Black also may be too stark of a contrast. Instead, try earth tones that highlight your coloringwithout overpowering it, such as deep purple or olive green.
• Medium: Does your skin fall somewhere in the medium range? Then you've got your pick of the color wheel. From coral to forest green and fuchsia to pastel blue, almost every color of the rainbow can work with your skin tone.
• Dark: Dark skin looks drop-dead gorgeous when set off against jewel tones. Choose between such shades as royal purple, cerulean blue and sunflower yellow for a truly stunning look.

Shop Prom Dresses Today at Alexandra's Boutique

When it comes to prom dressing shopping, there are plenty of rules out there to follow. You're welcome to listen to these guidelines if you feel they'll help you have the perfect prom experience. No matter how many recommendations you hear, however, the most important opinion on what you want to wear is your own. No matter your body type or skin tone, remember that the only perfect prom dress for you is one that you love to wear and that makes you feel like your most beautiful self.

Ready to start shopping for that perfect dress today? Visit Alexandra's Boutique by either shopping our online prom dress collection or stopping by in-person at our location in Fall River, Mass.