With an hourglass shape, you are curvy with a medium-to-large

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 evening dress shoes women 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 strapless lace wedding dress 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 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 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 burgundy evening dress 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 designer dress patterns 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 lace wedding dresses vintage 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.

I always felt very confident in my curvy body shape when I was a young girl. I was very tall and slim, which made me became the envy of other girls. Slim girls wanted to be as tall as me and tall girls wanted to be as slim as me. I thought I was so lucky to have such a perfect stature. Situation changed when I had my baby. I had been pregnant for 4 months when my best friend hugged her biggest day and I was invited to be her bridesmaid at the wedding party. Oh, I need a !

My friend insisted that she would be the one who bought the bridesmaid dress for me. And I thought that was really a hard task. It was so easy for me to buy a suitable dress when I was not a Mommy. After all, few people were tall and fat. Most beautiful dresses are made for slim girls. After seeing many shops specializing in selling dresses, my dear friends gave up. She could not find one suitable for me, even the dresses in the largest size. I was so embarrassed. Suddenly, an idea occurred to me: buying a custom sized one online. It is the best way for the large bridesmaid to buying a plus size bridesmaid dress. No one would measure me to my face and I could give the tailor the most exact measurements. So I measured myself in exact accords with the measuring guide on the shop'website and gave them my sizes.

When I received the , I was so happy that it fitted so well that when I tried it on I looked so well and slimmer than before. Of course, it was the visual effect. Visual effect was enough, wasn’t it? Who cares the true sizes? My friend was so happy for me and told me that no matter what body shape a pregnant Mommy had, she was the most beautiful one. I understood and was moved.