There are even more ways you can accentuate certain areas

Prom Dresses Guide Find The Prom Dress capri by mon cheri 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 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? montage boutique by mon cheri 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 Color Of Your Prom Dress

Prom night is your chance to shine, and by choosing the right set of colors for your prom dress and ensemble, you can make not only your figure and your dress look fantastic, but your face, skin and hair as well. Use your skin's natural hues influence the dress color or pattern you choose. A dress which matches your skin's natural tone will make you appear more vibrant and glowing, while the wrong color can make you appear sallow, sleep-deprived or pale.

Determining Skin Tone

Before choosing a prom dress color, you must first know your skin tone! Skin tones are broken down into two main categories: cool and warm. People with cool skin tones have pinkish-blue undertones to their skin, while those with warm tones have golden undertones. The easiest way to determine which type you belong to is to wash all makeup from your face, then alternately hold silver and gold foil up to your face. The right metal will make your face appear glowing and healthy, while the wrong color will make your skin look grayish and washed out. Silver looks best on cool skin tones, and gold looks best on warm tones.

Once you've determined whether your skin tone is warm or cool, you'll need to find out which season you are. Winter complexions (cool) are typically pale white, yellowish-olive or dark, typically belonging to people with brown or black hair and dark eyes. Inversely, summer complexions (also cool) also have blue or pink undertones, but people with these complexions tend to have hair which doesn't contrast their skin tone as much; most summer-complexioned people are natural blondes or brunettes with light colored eyes.

Spring skin tones, which are warm, often belong to women with creamy ivory skin, freckled pink skin, or darker, suntanned skin coloring. Most people with spring skin tones have strawberry blonde or light red hair with blue or green eyes. Autumn complexioned skin tones have golden undertones which are more bronzed or orange-colored than spring tones. Women with ivory or dark, beige or golden brown skin tones, dark red or brunette hair and brown eyes often fall into this category.

Colors for Winter Tones

Winter complexioned girls have a lot of options when it comes to choosing the best prom dress colors; winter skin tones tend to look best in intense, rich colors such as navy blue, crimson, hot pink and black, but lighter colors such as bright white or fluorescent pastels look great too. Winter complexioned girls should avoid prom dresses in earth tones, which may make them appear pale or sallow.

Colors for Summer Tones

Summer skin tones look most stunning in cool, muted colors and pastels such as baby blue, rose, lavender, plum and even pale yellow. Intense, harshly contrasting colors and earth tones tend to make summer skin tones look washed out.

Colors for Spring Tones

Girls with spring skin tones tend to look best in prom dresses with pale, soft colors such as camel, yellow, ivory, kelly green, coral and sky or aqua blues. Spring complexioned girls should avoid dresses with colors that are too harsh and contrasting, such as black, stark white and dark brown. Girls with spring complexions look stunning in the kind of flowing, soft floral patterned fabrics and soft pastels which are popular this season.

Colors for Autumn evening wear tops Tones

Girls with autumn skin tones should look for prom dresses in rich, earthy or spicy colors such as olive orange, gold, rust red, dark brown or a rich gray. Autumn colors always work well on autumn skin tones, but prom dresses in excessively bright colors and blue tones should be avoided.