With a pear shape, you are probably bottom-heavy, meaning your

Prom Dresses Guide Find The Prom Dress That Flatters Your Silhouette

Prom time is almost here and choosing from so many styles and shapes of prom dresses isn't easy. It takes time and patience to try on all those prom dresses, hoping to find just the right dress for your special evening. You should first find a prom dress that flatters your body type, or silhouette. Use the guide below to find out what type of body shape you have and which prom dress will best complement your shape.

Determining Your Body Shape

It's important to determine your body shape before you start shopping for prom gowns. Once you know which types of prom dresses will best suit you, you won't waist time trying on those that won't.

Are you Thin and Tall?

Here's a way to tell: Your body is straight and slender, has few or no curves, and your bust is average in size. Your height is 5' 6" or taller. If you meet these criteria, you'll want to buy a prom dress style that adds curves, shows off your long legs, flows gracefully to reveal your slim silhouette, and adds fullness to your chest.

Try on dresses with several different neckline styles including v-neck or an open neckline to see which looks best. Also, dare to try a dress with a cutout back. Some prom dress styles to consider are empire, sheath, ball gown, and a-line.

Are you Petite?

If you are 5' 3" or shorter with a small build and an average sized bust, you'll want a dress to complement the petite such as an empire, sheath or a-line prom gown. With a slit, you can make your legs appear longer. Or, you can look much taller by wearing a dress with a short hemline. The hemline might be ruffled, handkerchief, hi/low, or asymmetrical - whichever best suits you. There are also a-line and empire styles to take emphasis off your waistline if you are short-waisted. Your neckline could be sweetheart, halter, or v-shape.

Do you have an Hourglass, Pear, or Apple Shape?

With an hourglass shape, you are curvy with a medium-to-large sized bust. Your bottom is rounded and you have curvy hips. You can show off the curves with a sheath dress or de-emphasize them somewhat with a ball gown or a-line dress. To place more emphasis on the upper portion of your body, choose a dress with an embellished neckline.

With a pear shape, you are probably bottom-heavy, meaning your hips, thighs, and bottom are larger than the upper portion of your body. Choose prom dresses that flatter the upper half of your body such as a-line, empire, or ball gown dresses with a circular halter neckline. Or, a strapless dress might do the trick.

If your body is apple-shaped, your mid-section is probably heavier or thicker than other parts of your body. Maybe your tummy is larger than you would like. Choose dresses that take the emphasis away from your mid-section. An empire gown might work best with this type of figure. An a-line dress can work well too if you have a bodice with boning to give it a slimming effect.

Are you Athletic? Do you have a Large Build?

If you are muscular, have broad shoulders, or a large bust, choose a prom dress that will give you a feminine shape such as a ball gown or empire style dress. The full skirt will immediately add shape at your waistline. With broad shoulders, you might find that trying to cover them with wide straps or sleeves will make them look even wider. Try on a few strapless prom gowns first. You might be pleasantly surprised!

If you have a large bust, be sure your prom dress offers proper support. Choose v-necks or halters and either an a-line or ball gown. To draw attention away from black slip dress your chest, wear a prom dress that has eye-catching details at its hemline.

With a full figure, there are more styles today than ever in plus size prom dresses. Don't feel uncomfortable on your prom night by trying to squeeze into a smaller gown. Find a dress that fits your body size and flatters your figure.

More "Accentuating" Prom Dress Ideas

There are even more ways you can accentuate certain areas of your body. Prom dresses can also come with stylish features such as beaded panels, a fully beaded bodice, accordion pleating, a jeweled beltline, embroidery designs, sheer overlays, trains, and removable skirts.

Use these tips to get an idea of what style will work best for your body type before you start shopping. Check online to look at various styles and colors. Most online stores carry a variety of dresses including prom dresses, evening dresses, and bridesmaid dresses, so you'll have no problem finding just the right dress.

Renting A Bridal Wedding Dress

Occasionally renting a wedding dress is your only option, but when you have time to appear, you can score a discount designer wedding gown from overstock and sample wedding gown boutiques for close to around the same price. The only difference, you're able to keep the gown!

In case you are on the tight budget or getting married quicker than expected, why not think about renting your wedding gown? After all, men have been doing it for years. Typically the groom and his groomsmen all lease tuxes for the Big Dayand a lot more brides are performing it as well.

Renting a wedding gown is really a trend that's growing in popularity among budget-conscious brides. You can find virtually everything you are searching for in the ideal wedding dress right down to the silhouette, fabric, size, designer and rental price by merely looking on the internet bridal rental sites. Just by looking Google, you will find a plethora of resources to lease a gown. In addition, most major cities have at least one rental gown location where you can try on dresses to lease first-hand. A city like Las Vegas, of course, has many more!

So, why rent a gown? The reasons are simple. One, in case you are paying for your wedding yourself, it is a great way to save hundreds, if not, 1000s of dollars. Gorgeous rental gowns start at just $100 or less. Plus, it's one way to wear a stunning designer dress that you otherwise could not afford.

Secondly, it's practical. Other than emotional attachment and personal significance, wedding gowns are almost never worn again. And, if it is your second wedding and youve already spent thousands on a gown prior to, renting is sensible.

Thirdly, if you're getting married at that moment, you might need a dress to elope, right away. Again, perfect example, Las Vegas. But even if your wedding is incorporated in the following month or even 60 days, renting a gown is an ideal option. Most conventional gown purchases must be made 3-5 months ahead of your wedding date from order to arrival, and you'll need to factor in alteration time.

And did you ever consider that hundreds of brides may have the same dress as you? Salons place seasonal sample orders from most of the exact a line dresses same firms.

Lastly, if you're a plus-sized bride, your designer options are occasionally limited. Again, it inexpensive plus size prom dresses is a nice way to shop for exactly what you are searching for in the size you need.

One from the more reputable websites is www.renttherunway.com. And this, like lots of the bridal and formal wear websites, could not make it easier to lease the ideal dress. Once you register on the website, you can choose from hundreds of dresses within the style, color, fabric, and even designer that you might want. Once you choose a dress, they ship it to you in two sizes (to make sure one of them fits) and consist of prepaid packaging for return. Not just that, they dry-clean it for you, upon its return. Fabulous correct?

Yes. Many sites also enable you to choose veils, tiaras, accessories and shoes to complement the dress at no extra cost.

All and all, renting a gown can be no-nonsense, but it would not be fair to anyone in the bridal industry not forgetting other methods to buy and save on a dress.

With websites like eBay and Craig list, you are able to score a beautiful wedding gown to own for following to nothing. There are lots of brides looking to liquidate their gowns quickly and cheaply (particularly if they sadly did not make it down the aisle.)

In closing, if you're looking for a particular colored bridesmaid dress, attending a black tie event, or shopping for a mother-of-the-bride dress (also typically worn once,) renting a dress works here too.