Flatter Your Figure
To find the perfect prom gown is easy when you know what fits your figure good. It doesn't matter if you are short, petite, top heavy or have curvy hips, getting the right dress for your body type can highlight your best features and diminish those that you do not like.

Triangle (small top, heavier bottom)
The solution here is to balance your proportions. To make your shoulders more visible you may try full sleeve dresses, padded shoulders, or cap sleeves that extend (visually) your shoulders. Also a long bodice and full skirts will accentuate your waist and cover up your hip area. Avoid body-hugging sheaths ! You will not look good on them.

Inverted Triangle (full top, narrow hips)

To soften your shoulder area and give more importance to your lower body, search for prom dresses with no shoulder details, very simple sleeves, and natural shoulder lines. Simple bodices, with minimum decoration, will draw less attention to your top. A full skirt or a style with skirt details such as peplums, inserts, sashes, and bows, will give more importance to your hip area balancing the look. Prom gowns with full sleeves, tight, straight skirts, empire waistlines, and plunging necklines are to be avoided.

Rectangle (straight bust and hips, little waist definition)
Here we want to create "curves". Check for full, voluminous skirts with straight or bateau necklines. Horizontal lines will draw the eye across the body and break vertical body lines. Big shoulders and sleeves will add width to your top, tight wait lines with a full skirt will give the illusion of a curvy shape. Forget slim silhouettes or prom gowns in soft, clingy fabrics that will only make you appear too thin and narrow.

Hourglass (small waist, full hips and bust)

To show off your curves but maintaining balance, look for prom gowns with simple, classic figures like long sheaths and mermaid styles. Excessive decoration can make you look heavier than you really are. Show off your shoulders with off-the-shoulder sleeves, v-necklines, and strapless dresses. Shy away from prom gowns with very full or ruffled skirts, pouf sleeves, highly detailed bodices, and high necklines that cover the shoulder area and minimize the bust.

Camouflaging Concerns

Small and short bodies are lengthened in controlled-but-full skirts with little details. Basque waistlines, simple sleeves, lightly detailed shoulders, vertical lines (pleating), and A-line or princess silhouettes elongate the torso and add height. For slim petites, the sheath or mermaid style prom dress is ideal.

Big figures look best in tight fitted V-neck bodices and dropped V-waistlines.
Full skirts hide hips and thighs and shoulder pads make waists look smaller. Details around the neckline draw the eye up. Long sleeves tapering toward the wrist slenderize arms; avoid strapless or sleeveless prom dresses which only emphasize fullness. Look for prom dresses where the fabric drapes gracefully to the floor instead of ones that are form-fitting, body-hugging.

Minimize a wide waist figure with an empire waistline. Princess-style prom dresses
elongate a short waist and lengthen the torso. Long waists look shorter when the waistline is cut above the torso, as in a basque-waist prom gown.

To disguise heavy hips, try a full-but-controlled skirt without bows, flounces, or ruffles.

A full bust is flattered in an off-the-shoulder portrait or V-neckline with little detailing. Small busts look larger when accentuated with intricate details and on-the-shoulder necklines.

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