Prom Dress Style Guide For Different Body Types

Are you looking for the perfect prom dress but are having problems with finding one that suits you? Searching for the best prom dress can be a little daunting and it is normal to wonder why that glittering gown looked glam on your bestie but not so appealing on you. Well, there is no need to worry because choosing that fabulous gown is easy peasy once you know what will work best for you.

The first most important thing to finding the perfect prom dress is to find one that fits your body type. For your information, there are four main types and they are: apple, rectangle, pear and hourglass. Showing off your best assets while downplaying the problem areas is the key to dressing like a pro. Ahead is a guide on what dress styles are suitable for the different body shapes.

Apple Body Shape– Girls with an apple body type tend to be heavy on the top and carry their weight around their torso. This means they have a full bust and waist. Apple body types also tend to have slender arms and legs. For apple bodies, it is best to steer clear of short tight dresses or any styles that draw attention to the midsection. The best is empire waisted dresses as well as gowns that are strapless or feature plunging V-necklines. These are most flattering on this body type. 

Pear Body Shape – Gorgeous girls with a pear shape tend to have fuller hips and thighs but a smaller top. To flatter a pear shape body, look for embellished and corset style tops as this will draw the eye upwards. Choose a gown with a darker skirt and a lighter top. This will help to balance out the figure. 

Rectangle Body Shape — Girls with rectangle shaped figures have athletic or slender body frames and often very few curves. Therefore, the key is to create the appearance of a more curvaceous figure.  In order to achieve this, you may want to accentuate and cinch in a small waist while drawing the attention to the bust. Opt for a dress with a beaded or embellished upper torso or an empire waisted dress to bring the eyes upward. A fuller skirt can also balance out the shape. The ideal dresses are ball gowns and those with ruched waists will look amazing since they create a more even hourglass shape. 

Hourglass Body Shape — Girls with an hourglass figure are curvy but proportional and this figure is the easiest to dress. It is also important to balance the ensemble by not drawing too much attention to the top or bottom. The ideal dresses are corset style and more fitted mermaid styles as they look beautiful on hourglass body shape. The attention will be drawn to the waist and the bust which are the best assets. Strapless and one-shoulder gowns also look amazing on an hourglass body shape.   

Busty body type – Girls who fall into this category can count themselves lucky as this body type is characterized by a generous bust and a narrow hip width. While the bust area is generous, the waist is not that well-defined. In order to create a balanced outfit, the wearer must find a dress that emphasizes their best area which is the bust, and creates an hourglass shape in the midsection. If you fall into this category, you don't have to worry about finding the right prom dress as there is a variety of dresses for girls with fuller bust. Short cocktail length dresses are an ideal choice as it draws attention to the gorgeous legs and elongate the figure to make it appear more proportional.   

Petite Body Type - Petite girls can wear dresses that are slightly above the knees, at the knees or ankle length to elongate their figures. Asymmetrical trimmings will also help to make you appear taller. Fit and flare dresses are also a good choice. Choose feminine dresses that will add height to the body and pair it with some heels.