Whether it’s a spring formal, and end-of-year prom, or a formal dance for school or a special event, a prom dress or dance dress is something most young women will have to choose. The styles and choices for prom dresses are as varied as the different personalities of those choosing the dresses. Choosing the right dress isn’t always easy, but it can be very satisfying.
For many girls, a prom is their first chance to wear formal attire. It’s not as easy to choose the right prom dress as just walking into a store and picking out something that fits.
Short or Long Prom Dresses?
The length of the dress is important for a variety of reasons: how formal the dance is, what is in season or style at that moment (spring dresses can be shorter while winter dresses might be longer), or even the personal tastes of the girl wearing the dress. One thing to keep in mind with shorter dresses, if money is an object, is that they can sometimes be less expensive than full-length dresses, and shorter dresses can usually be re-worn for other semi-formal or nice-dress occasions.
Of course, long dresses can be re-worn too, but the typical long, full prom dress doesn’t have much call for use at other events. If money or being able to reuse the dress is important, shorter dresses might be the best choice.
Prom Dress Colors
The color of the dress is important. The dress’s color can match the colors of the school—if the school’s colors are black and white, the dress can be black and white—or the prom dress can match the color of the prom—spring formals can be pink and pastels, ocean themes can be blues and greens, etc.
Even when choosing a prom dress color that matches a theme, the color should also complement the wearer’s own skin tone and coloring. Some girls just don’t look good in pink, while others will brighten up and glow in pink.
Sexy, Beautiful, Classic
Even younger women want to look sexy while being age appropriate, so finding a dress that is a good compromise between what a teenager thinks is sexy and what parents think is sexy isn’t easy. It’s important to realize that sexy and skimpy mean two different things. There is a middle ground.
Full-length dresses with halters or low-cut bodices are very sexy without being too revealing, as are full-length dresses with slits up the thigh. While it might seem a bit risqué to parents, that slit is still longer than the average short skirt.
Sleeveless and backless dresses are commonplace for prom attire, and can be very sexy but still demure, pleasing both the wearer and her guardians. If many dresses are tried on for size and style before choosing one, the prom-goer just might realize sexy is all about a look and attitude, and not about a particular dress style.
Fit, Function, Fashion
All prom dresses should be tried on before buying, because sizes and styles can alter how a dress fits on a young woman. She might ordinarily wear a size eight, but will realize a size nine is required in one dress style while a size seven fits best in another. Rack sizes simply don’t follow the same conventions for prom dresses.
If she is going to dance, that should be considered when buying a dress. Some dresses are hard to dance while wearing. If there is going to be a party after or before the prom, will the dress be comfortable for the party or will she want to change? If she plans to change, is the hairstyle and makeup, the dress itself, easy to change into with little or no help? These are all questions that should be considered when choosing a prom dress.
Lastly, fashion is important. New styles and dress designs appear every prom season, and some girls are very ‘up’ on high fashion and what’s in style. Wearing a last-season prom dress would be abhorrent to some young women, while others might only care what the dress looks like when wearing it.
Shop Prepared for the Right Prom Dress
The most important piece of advice when choosing a prom dress is this: try on several dresses and be dressed appropriately for trying them on. A young woman should wear the undergarments she plans to wear for prom when trying on a dress, such as a properly fitted bra, panties or support, hosiery, etc. and bring a pair of heeled shoes too. How a dress hangs and fits will change radically when new undergarments are worn or when the heel of shoes rise or lowers.
Michelle L Devon - ~~Michelle Devon has 15 years of writing and over a decade of editorial experience, working with hundreds of publications and ...
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