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PROM FASHION

Choose the Best Prom Dress, Shoes, and Bra for Your Special Night

By: Sofia Blum

Nobody wants to go to prom and be the laughing stock among their peers. There is always a fashion don't that arrives to prom wearing a prom dress two sizes to small, with her granny panties all bundled up in a bunch that can be seen through her skin tight ensemble. Don't let that fashion mishap be you.

Perhaps the most important advice I have for prom dress hunters is not to buy a dress based on the size you hope to be when prom time rolls around. This is a bad idea, and can eventually turn into a devastating prom night, particularly if you can not get into the dress. Don't even consider the idea of squeezing into the dress when you know it is way too small on you, because even though you think it might stretch out, think again. You don't want to step inside the limo and have the back seam pop open, the zipper break on you, or have a hole under your arm. All these fashion emergencies will leave you self conscience, and have you concentrating on what you look like, rather than having a good time and dancing the prom night away. So here are some tips to choose the best prom dress, shoes, bra, and underwear for you.

When shopping for a prom dress the cut of the dress is very important. If you need to slenderize your silhouette, vertical lines are the key. This could mean princess seaming, which is like a long pleat from just below the breast to the waist, or longer, depending on the style of the dress. Pleats, front-button closures, and V-necks also help minimize the waistline.

Another tip to get the best possible look for you is to downplay the area you don't want attention drawn to. If you are a full figured girl and don't want the emphasis on your chest, do not put a huge bow or ruffles there. Any accessory you put to down play your problem area can emphasize it, so just leave your assets alone, and do not make a big deal out of them. If you had a pimple you wouldn't put a sign on your head that said, "Look I have a pimple," would you? The same applies here, if you have a voluptuous backside, do not buy a dress with a large bow on your derriere, or it will make it look larger than it is.

Empire waistlines put emphasis on your upper body while camouflaging others. This is also a good look for the very slender girl, as the cut will make the chest appear more ample and create a flattering shape. Another important tip is size. Buy a dress one size larger than your standard size, what this does is it allows you to get it tailored to fit your body. It is much easier for a seamstress to remove excess material than it is for them to add material to the dress. And trust me, if your dress is small and you are not at ease in your dress, it will show, especially in your pictures.

When searching for the perfect dress, don't get upset if you cannot fit into your regular size. Formal dress designers' sizes often vary from the "normal" size ranges. Your best bet is to find a store where the employees will assist you in your selection. They will have plenty of experience pointing you in the right direction for your perfect prom dress.

Color selections are an important aspect of a prom dress. Not everyone can pull off certain colors and make it look flawless and good. If you find a dress that has the style and cut you like, but the color washes you out or is otherwise undesirable, odds are there are other colors available. Ask the store if they carry the dress in other colors. If they don't, they may be able to give you the name of a store or website that does. Make sure to note the name and size you tried on, or you may end up with the wrong dress in the end. Solid dark colors, like blue, black, brown, and red can work on almost any complexion and figure. Lighter colors, such as whites, beiges, pastels, and baby blues, are hard to pull off by heavy set, full figured girls, because these types of colors tend to make you larger and add weight to your body. If you are full figured, try a darker shade of the colors mentioned above, because you don't want to be stuck at prom with a see through dress, or something that is not flattering.

For those of you who are paler in complexion, try finding a dress in a bright or darker color. It will add some color to your light skin and give you a certain glow. In addition, if you are fairly thin, try wearing light or bright colors, since they add weight, and you will look plumper, and have the appearance of being a bit fuller figured. Those lucky enough to be either tan or naturally darker in complexion can choose just about any color. Remember if you are dark skinned neon colors like pink, green, white and electric blue will make you the highlight of prom, by highlighting all your great assets. Try to look at yourself in the dress in the same kind of lighting that will be used on prom night in order to choose the best color for you.

When looking for shoes, remember that they don't have to be the same color as your dress. Even though now, there are many companies out there that you can contact that will dye your shoes to perfectly match your dress, most often, your best bet is to shop for shoes at a discount retailer such as DSW or Payless. Although these stores are not couture, remember you are wearing these shoes for one night so why spend all that money on a pair of shoes that will hurt, end up getting stepped on, and at the end of the prom, eventually come off anyway.

The perfect shoe for prom is a sandal or strappy heel in colors like black, silver, white, or gold. Prom season usually takes place around the beginning of summer, so the weather will be nice enough to where you can show off your toes. Let your feet breathe a bit, they will be dancing and walking for hours, so purchasing a sandal or an open toe shoe is perfect for prom. If you tend to wear darker colors or have your heart set on a black dress, go for the gold. If you plan on a pastel dress, choose the silver shoes. Black and silver shoes complement just about any color, especially bright and neon colors. You want to give your prom outfit some spice. Don't clash by wearing the same colors on both your body and feet. Allow something to stand out, and let that be your shoes. You would be surprised to know how much a bright colored shoe can make or break an outfit.

After you've purchased your gown, don't forget to find suitable undergarments. I can not stress how important finding the right bra or underwear is for a teen attending a prom. This could mean a strapless bra, seamless underwear, or a slip if your dress is white or nearly transparent. Make sure that you choose a nude bra, or a bra that will match the color of your dress. You do not want to wear a bra that does not match your dress causing you to draw attention to yourself. Many stores now carry transparent bra straps, where you can't even notice that you are wearing a bra. If your chest cannot be adequately supported by a strapless bra, you need to make sure your dress does not require you to wear one. If your bra size is smaller than a C cup, you could use stick on bra cups, found at any dress store as well as your local lingerie store, like Victoria Secret. While they don't provide much support for everyday wear, they are more than adequate for prom night. The worst thing you could do is go to the prom without any coverage, especially in a strapless dress. At least if you should have a mishap and bare yourself in any way, the adhesive bra cups would cover the exposed areas well enough to save face.

As for underwear, girls please please do not wear your grandma's panties. There are so many cute and comfortable options out there to be comfortable and sexy at the same time. If you are not into the idea of wearing dental floss under your dress, try wearing a neutral skin color low rise boy short, you don't want to be seen with panty lines and your bright florescent underwear protruding through your dress. Even though thongs and g-strings may be uncomfortable, they are one of the best alternatives to preventing any lines from showing through your gown.

Remember though, if you are wearing a white dress, DO NOT wear a white thong, because everyone will see it. That is the number one mistake girls make when finding the perfect under garment for their dress, they think that they should get the same color underwear as the dress, and this is a HUGE NO NO. The best option in this case is to buy a nude, or skin colored underwear, this way you won't see it through the dress, and you won't draw attention to yourself. If wearing a thong is out of the question, here is another option. Instead of wearing underwear, try wearing a legging, or a stocking instead. Now stores carry Capri leggings where you won't even see them under the dress.

So try these alternatives for a comfortable time at prom and best of luck to you on finding the perfect prom dress, garments, shoes, and accessories!

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