Prom Dress

Your prom may be your first and last formal party before your wedding. Because of this, choosing a gown for the occasion is a big deal. It needs to compliment your figure no matter what size you are, be the right color for your complexion and go well with your hair. That’s a lot to ask of one dress, so here are five tips for helping you choose the right prom dress.

#1. Plan Ahead and Make a Budget

Before you start walking through department stores or specialty boutiques and before you start searching the web, know how much you can spend. Your prom-dress budget should have some margin if you find something you just can’t pass up but it costs a little more than you planned. If you find the perfect prom dress from Tobi that comes in under budget, you can spend more on your shoes or hair styling. Planning also includes knowing any school rules about the style of dress you can wear. Many schools do not allow plunging necklines.

#2. Choose the Dress Well in Advance of the Date

Whether you buy a ready-made prom dress or have one stitched just for you, there will be at least one and probably more fittings to make sure the dress looks perfect on you. The process should start a few weeks in advance, so you are not rushing at the last minute or, worse, disappointed with the results.

#3. Choose a Dress That Flatters Your Figure

When you are making such an important purchase, knowing your body type will give you a head start for finding a flattering dress. If you have a perfect figure, you’re lucky, but most of us don’t. You may be very thin and need some ruffles over the bodice or be larger above the waist with narrow hips. For this, an A-line with a halter neckline may be the best style. If you are rounder, sometimes called an apple figure, it’s may be better to avoid short dresses and try an empire style. Asymmetrical styles also flatter the rounder figure. If your bust, waist and hips are about the same, almost any style will suit you. You may want to have a defined bodice and more volume at the bottom of the dress.

#4. Decide on a Color Sooner Rather than Later

Color is a major factor when choosing a prom dress. You may have a personal liking for sapphire blue, but it doesn’t suit your dark-brown hair. The tip is to choose a color that enhances your skin tone and hair color because no one, or a few, may remember the color but they will remember that you looked amazing. Your shoes and corsage need to match or complement the color of your dress, so make sure your date knows the color.

#5. Be Aware of any Theme for the Night

If the prom has a theme from a movie or an era, keep that in mind when you start making your plans. This will help you narrow down style and color when you start looking at all the possibilities.

The best tip for choosing a prom dress is to give yourself plenty of time. There are a lot of gorgeous dresses out there that will fit with your school rules, so don’t be in a hurry at the last minute. We suggest having the dress you want at least one month before prom night.