If your prom date is looming, picking the perfect dress to suit your shape and style will be at the top of your priority list. Trying out different styles as you search for your dream dress is key as you’ll want to make sure the dress you decide on looks and feels just right. And don’t forget, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable.
So, here’s how you pick a prom dress to suit your body shape.
Petite
If you’re on the petite side, a flared fishtail number is a top choice. These figure-hugging, mermaid-style dresses accentuate your waist but add a little drama at the bottom to really catch the eye.
You might find that your dress will need altering slightly, especially if you’re particularly petite, but a seamstress can help you make adjustments for that perfect fit.
Plus-Size
You’ll want to feel confident and ready for anything in your prom dress. Plus-size girls can choose any style they like, although opting for either a classic A line option or a beautiful ball gown-style dress could be a super flattering choice to showcase your curves.
An Hourglass Figure
If you’re shaped like an hourglass, you can probably pull off the majority of prom dress styles. A fishtail suits hourglass curves, but bold ballgowns or fitted prom dresses are perfect options too. A wide range of beautiful prom dresses are available from specialist retailers such as https://www.ohelloclothing.com/collections/debs-prom-dresses.
Tall Girls
Why not show off your legs and pick a prom dress with a striking split? Shorter prom dresses are also becoming more popular and could help you make a real statement.
Bigger Bust
For bustier prom goers, picking a corset-style top for your prom dress will help you feel a little more secure while you’re on the dance floor, but you’ll still show off your figure.
Smaller Bust
Embrace your assets and choose a strapless prom dress. You’ll still feel supported, especially with the right fit, and turn heads at the same time.
Borrowing a 1960s look for prom
If you want something different from the usual prom styles, the 1960s are a rich source of ideas. Fashion in that decade had far fewer restrictions, and several of its shapes still flatter a range of figures today.

The Edwardian style, with long sleeves, lace trims, a high neckline and a fitted bodice, gives a romantic and demure look. The babydoll moved the focus away from the waist and bust, with shaping seams under the bust and a softer line falling to the ankle, for a gentle, understated charm. Fur or feather trims on cuffs, hems and necklines became popular later in the decade and add a one-off detail to almost any dress.
By the late 1960s designers such as Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne were working with structured fabrics and clean, simple lines, and the A-line dress that resulted is still a timeless choice. For a bolder statement, the mini remains the most iconic shape of the decade and suits anyone who wants to show off their legs.
