Prom Dress
SELECTING YOUR PROM DRESS
Here are some top tips
for selecting your prom dress:
Slenderize - Lengthen vertical lines Look for prom dress
styles with pressed pleats, vertical tucks, button front
closings, v-necklines and princess seams.
Broaden - Shorten vertical lines. Look for prom dress
styles with yokes, wide waistbands, extended shoulders,
boat necklines, dropped waists, or empire waists.
Balance - The plus or minus of your figure. If bottom is
broader choose prom dress styles with detail that
broaden your top and vice versa.
Minimize - Large areas. Choose prom dress styles with
virtually no details in the area you want to minimize
(ex. large bust - no pockets or ruffles on front)
Accent - attractive figure areas. Choose prom dress
styles with detailing in those areas. (ex. trim hips -
sarong draping or hip yoke)
Reveal - figure shaping. Choose prom dress styles with
traditional close fit. (ex. darts and contour shaping)
Conceal - figure shaping. Choose prom dress styles with
relaxed fit which emphasizes the flow of fabric rather
than figure underneath.
Streamline - fitting your body. Choose prom dress styles
with seams or other details in areas needing
adjustments. The more seams, darts, pleats, or gathers
in a figure area, the more opportunities to correct the
fit without extensive changes to the pattern pieces.
Don't obsess over size. Each designer has a different
size chart that has nothing to do with the sizing for
everyday clothes.
Don't order a dress size base on weight you think you
are going to lose.
Focus on your best feature. But beware of styles that
overemphasize: Brides with larger bust lines should stay
away from empire silhouettes.
Full and A line skirts hide a wide range of figure
challenges, be the body pear shaped or plus sized. Avoid
columns and other figure-hugging shapes.
Sleeves can minimize-or emphasizes arms. Take care of
choosing a style and fabric that camouflages soft or
thick areas. You will be happier when the photos arrive.
Consider what undergarment you absolutely need, and
design the dress around them.
Always check the side view. V-waist on a plus size
figure can distort and magnify.
Petite should stand on the floor, not a platform, to get
true picture.
Find tailors who understand gown construction and are
not prone to shortcuts that cause dress to pull and
bunch.
Prom Dress
