formal gown

This new decade is all about glamour, fun, and the most fashion forward couture designs of the century. For prom, homecoming, weddings, and other dressy events, read about the top hot formal dresses for 2011 before shopping for one. Knowing the latest trends in high fashion couture will certainly help you in your quest for the perfect formal dress.

The Celebrity Look

The number one trend for formal events this year is the head-to-toe celebrity look. From Oscar-inspired gowns to chic red carpet looks, you can now get a hold of some of the hottest celeb designer trends for a fraction of the cost. Celebrities spend tens of thousands on their gowns, but lucky for you, you can achieve the same look for well under an estimated 5% of Hollywood designer originals.

Metallics Galore

Metallic shades like copper, gold, and various shades of silver are hitting some of the most renown runways of the world. Metallic formal gowns are some of the most popular for evening dresses at the moment. If you are not afraid to take risks and stand out, wear a metallic-colored gown and accent it with subtle accessories. This look is our top pick for a modern, futuristic outfit.

Bright, Bold Color

This spring and summer seasons will feature bright hues like aqua, green, coral, fuchsia, and yellow on the hottest designer dresses. Bold and beautiful colors will grace the catwalk with fun, flair, and eye-catching appeal. Opt for colors that are complimentary to your skin tone; warm tones like yellow, coral and pink are great for enhancing a natural tan while cool tones tend to be flattering on peach undertones. The pop of color trend is also making its way into the latest fashion media coverage. A classic black or neutral dress accented with, for instance, red accessories, looks fabulous and very classy at the same time.
Retro Fashion

This year, the vintage theme has been one of the most prominent in high fashion showrooms and designer runway shows across the world. From Victorian lace to antiqued gold to vintage fabrics, designers have been bringing back retro trends of the past and updating them with a modern, artistic touch. Some of the most raved about outfits on the red carpet this year have been vintage-inspired designer looks.

Cut-out Designs

The cut-out trend has been prominent in dresses, fun tops, denim, and other garments this year. Now, this major fashion trend is reaching evening gown couture houses throughout the globe. Sexy cut-out prom gowns usually bare a bit of skin on the sides of the torso or on the back of the dress. The key to this trend, like many others, is not to overdo it. Look for a gown that has a ‘cut-out focal point’ that exposes either the back or midriff areas.

Whether you choose to go with a Hollywood look or a retro-chic trend of the past is up to you! Choose a design that you feel comfortable in and that brings out your personality.

By Ashley Adam

formal gowns

Shopping for plus size formal wear has become a whole lot easier with the emergence of on-line plus size clothing retailers. Gone are the days of rummaging through the paltry selection of uninspired plus size formal wear in the back corners of major department stores.

With a bit of preparation and some knowledge of where to look for plus size formal dresses and gowns you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for to make your next formal event truly memorable.

Dressing for a formal occasion does require a small bit of preparation. Even if you already have a few formal gowns and dresses in your wardrobe, you still must match your attire to the occasion. You also need to have a feel for what type of plus size formal wear looks good on you.

The following pointers will get you well on your way to looking absolutely stunning!

*What kind of formal event? — Formal events can be divided into 2 basics types: black tie formal affairs and cocktail parties. This can usually be easily determined from the invitation. If the attire is specified as “black tie”, then it’s clear. The other clue is if gentlemen are expected to wear tuxedos.

Receptions and a night at the opera are usually considered black tie affairs, whereas, holiday parties and business socials are more typically cocktail party events.

Gowns and longer formal dresses are most appropriate for black tie events. Think royalty. Ask what a princess would wear. A cocktail party is a little more informal and a great opportunity to show off your style and maybe even some shapely curves with a plus size little black dress.

*Determine your body shape — if you don’t already know your general body shape then be sure to read a good article on determining plus size body shapes. Armed with this knowledge you can then match a plus size formal dress to your specific shape. Many on-line plus size clothing retailers allow you to shop by body shape.

*Dress for both style and comfort — plus formal gowns and dresses come in all sorts of materials from satin to matte jersey and most all have a touch of Spandex for an extra bit of comfort. Elegant details such as sequins and semi-precious stones add a very nice finishing touch.

A style of plus size formal dress that’s always a winner is the empire waist or “A-line” style. This slimming design works brilliantly in either a long formal gown or a short plus size little black dress.

By Rich Rojas

best prom dresses

Prom night is the most exciting night of high school life-and the most looked forward to. It is the night for dressing up in your best attire and creating an impression that would last as long as your childhood memories. Dressing up for the prom night is every girl’s dream.

Prom dresses are generally formal party gowns, long and delicately stunning. Prom dresses may be based on the theme of the party or they can just be traditional ball gowns. There is no conventional way to define the “best prom dress”. It is the one that would make you feel beautiful and convey the right image-sweet, innocent, sexy or simply stunning. The most popular prom dresses are satin, sequined, vintage fashions, the little black dress, the asymmetrical hem dress, the hanky hem and the classic Cinderella ball gown.

Prom dresses can be bought directly from retail stores or they can be painstakingly and lovingly designed for the best effect. Since it is the last formal occasion in school, most people would not hesitate to spend a bit more on the prom dress. Prom dresses can also be designed professionally to suit the exact body type and measurements. It is very important that the dress fits perfectly. For achieving this, get the exact measurements of your body, especially the bust, waist and hips. You don’t have to be a perfect size 10 to look beautiful. There is a dress available for every body from A-type to hourglass.

Color plays a part in the big night, too. Find one that compliments your coloring choosing from slimming muted shades like deep gray, wine, forest green, burgundy, midnight blue and cocoa or choose neutral colors like silver, black, gray, beige, gold and taupe for a flattering look. Long straight cuts and vertical patterns also make the wearer look slim and sexy. The material should skim the body. Clingy material accentuates fuller figures. Also pay attention to accessories since they complete your look.

By Kent Pinkerton

print prom dress

Prom night is supposed to be the best night of a young person’s life. You get all dolled up, go out with all your friends and dance the night away. There are photos and laughs and memories that will last a lifetime.

But for some shapely teenagers it can be stressful trying to find a prom dress that properly flatters all of their curves. Every young girl deserves to have a memorable prom night, and, luckily, that is now possible.

There are a wide variety of prom dresses out there that will accentuate all of your best qualities. Here are a few of the loveliest plus size prom dresses that are in style today.

The Printed Chiffon Halter Dress with 3D Beaded Flower Print is a dazzling sight to behold. Top designers chose the soft flowing chiffon and flattering drape in order to contrast with the outgoing and bold pattern. Purples and blues blend seamlessly with black and white.

The front of this skirt is split to make it even more comfortable. It has a slimming waist and a halter neckline that both elongates your torso and provides additional support. This dress is made for sizes 14w-24w and will make a striking impression on prom night.

The Sleeveless Silky Knit Goddess Gown with Ruched Bodice and Brooch puts a modern spin on a style that would befit a medieval princess. This devastatingly beautiful gown comes in rich burgundy and has a lovely brooch at the bust that leads to a cascade of flowing fabric down the front. The silky knit fabric of this dress is incredibly comfortable and has a perfect drape. You’ll be the belle of the ball in this gorgeous gown.

Of course not every young girl is going for the classic elegant look on prom night. Some girls prefer a fashionable, flirty, “Sex and the City” vibe. The Short Black and Zebra Print Dress with Fuchsia Sash is all that and more.

This fun ensemble starts off with a sleek black bodice. Just below that is a ruched fuchsia sash that has an off-center floral design in the front and a cute little bow in the back. The skirt itself is a dynamic and outgoing black and white zebra print. This isn’t a dress for a wallflower though. It demands to be taken out on the dance floor.

By Jermaine Summers

evening prom dresses

Prom night is something that will live with you for the rest of your night. Therefore, you want to look and feel absolutely amazing so that the memory is a good one. If you cut corners and make sacrifices you may end up feeling completely miserable on prom night and have regrets in your choices. You have to put in effort to make the night something you will remember forever.

The absolute best way to make the evening amazing is to plan ahead. Look for your evening dress way ahead of time, months even. If you know what kind of evening dress that you have your eye on the process will go forward a lot more smoothly. With the wide variety of prom dresses available you don’t want to be overwhelmed with the selection. This can be a range of dresses from the typical fairytale type to absolutely stunning glamorously styled dresses. Finding happiness on the perfect night lies in not skipping any steps.

This might require looking in many locations for everything that will suit you perfectly. Browse through many catalogues and stores alike to decide what kind of dress you want to purchase. This will give you a general idea of what dress will be perfect for you.

Evening Prom Dresses Above and Beyond Expectations

Going beyond the typical type of expectations of a prom dress will make your night even better. The perfect prom dress will be made for you. Proper accessories will complement your dress. The search for your prom night apparel doesn’t finish when you pick out your dress. You’re not even close because the accessories are just as, if not more, important.

Disappoint stems during evening prom dress shopping because girls fail to take into account the required steps after the initial dress purchase. A lot more makes your evening prom dress than just the dress. While browsing the selection of dresses keep the type of jewelry you want to complement it with in the back of your mind. Color is one of the key elements here. The colors of your dress and jewelry need to coordinate.

By Henry Matthias

lace prom dress

Amazing lace, truly a gem in the rough, has made its way from trim to full coverage dress material. No longer is lace just a material for scarves, hem lines, or grandma’s coasters. The full-fledge design behind this bold creation is sweeping through the closets of American women. And this doesn’t just stop at the dress itself; it goes much deeper to the very depths of the accessory rack as well.

You won’t be stuck wondering how you can actually accessorize with such a threadlike material, not with a rampage of possibilities on the loose. Made from comfy cotton and warm nylon, most lace covered dresses are just as cozy as they are gorgeous. They can look scratchy, and even a few of us have lived through one or two scratchy, lace trimmed dresses as little girls, but innovation has come a long way with design and material. We no longer have to suffer for a beautiful dress. A lace inspired dress is usually lined with a nude shaded material for a sheer effect. The style can actually make or break a lace dress. The aged look of lace make’s way for a stylishly aged dress design. One shape walking the runway is a figure-enhancing sleeveless design.

A deep-cut V-neck is an appealing view. Also, high-neck sleeveless cuts are sweeping runways; with a sheer high neck design you can show off your delicate shoulders while getting a mirage effect on a strapless base design. With a waist accentuating cut you can add a lace covered belt to show off your beautiful curves. Find a matching base color for any belt, and if you can’t find a pre-made lace-kissed belt, create your own by simply covering a thick cut belt with a similar lace design to the dress with a few touches of clear fabric glue. Heels have been lace accented longer than dresses have been gracing the mainstream.

A mostly-clear, lace-kissed, pointed heel design has been created by Stuart Weitzman that can be used to accent many different lace dresses. Even lace touched bracelets and fashion watches are easy to find, as well as lacey pinch-closed handbags. Plastic beaded necklaces have been designed to incorporate lace inside of the beads (such as Express). This is a great way to add a touch of color to a black and white palette. You will be amazed at your options if you choose amazing lace as your prom-night saving grace.

By Johnson John

designer prom dresses

When you think of your prom night, you close your eyes and feel the magic coming back to you. This is a night you will have memories of for the rest of your life – whether they are great ones, or just tragic ones as well. The first step to having a memorable prom night is by finding a dress which fits the occasion perfectly. Today, the world of designer prom dresses has given every girl the chance of being the beauty queen on this special night.

Designer prom dresses offer everyone the chance of finding a dress which is made just for her. When you think of a prom dress, you imagine everything being tailored for you. Whether in the fabric or the colour, in the shape or the fall, you want the dress to look like it was made with your body in mind. This is the finish that designer prom dresses give you.

While there has always been the conventional notion of the prom dress being the long flowing one which sweeps across as you walk, barriers have been broken, and there are constant trends bring up patterns, textures and styles which are in keeping with the season. This is why it becomes even simpler for you to find something which matches your body and skin type, and not just something which is accepted.

Whether you are the more conservative kind who is looking for the conventional dress, or the daring experimentalist who wants to find new ways to make her sensuality known, designer prom dresses will find something that is a perfect expression of you. With dresses that can match virtually every body type, the market today has opened up the possibility of giving everyone a chance to look and feel great.

Silks, satin, brocade, sheers and lace have all been put to extremely good use to ensure that the dress looks complete and appealing. With varying lengths, shoulder styles and also fits, every dress is made to match the body structure perfectly. It is hard to believe that any girl has done her rounds of the market and not been able to find the dress which suits her well. Varieties of colors in different tones add to the style and glamor quotient manifold.

By Arun Kumar S

prom dress design

Don’t choose prom dresses that everyone else will likely have; you need to be different. Add a personal pizzazz to your prom gown. The prom dress you select must express your character. When you have a slim figure, you could appear very best in a sheath-style dress that showcases your figure. If you are voloptuous, you might want to try an A-line dress that will emphasize your waistline and minimize your thighs and hips.

If you’re small on top, you don’t want to complicate the top part of your prom dress. Keep the neckline straight – whether it’s with spaghetti straps, off the shoulder, empire waist or strapless. This will add emphasis to your top making your lower torso, or hips, look smaller. And also any accessories will look very good on you. Give full attention to earrings as well as bracelets. If you have a lean figure, any kind of style which includes ruching, pleats, asymmetrical hems or overlays, hi-lo hems or hanky hems will provide your body the highlights it requires to add interest. Patterns made up of beads, rhinestones or sequins, multiple layers and colors are all excellent assets for your body figure. If you have an hourglass figure, you possibly can and should use slinky fabrics, dramatic lines, strong colors, deep slits, cut out or illusion waists as well as deep colors.

The actual length of the gown is vital for a variety of reasons: how formal the dance is and what is in season or fashion at that time. The one thing to keep in mind with shorter gowns, if money is an issue, is that they can often be less costly than full-length dresses, and shorter dresses can often be re-worn for other semi-formal or nice-dress events. Make sure you can enjoy grooving and moving around in the gown to start with. At the same time, make sure your gown complies with the minimum length requirements for your school’s dress code. Of course, you do not want to be sent home from your prom night for a gown that’s very short!

Full-length dresses with halters or low-cut bodices are incredibly alluring without having to be too revealing, as are full-length gowns having slits right up the thigh. Sleeveless and backless gowns are popular for prom dress, and can be really sexy but still modest. If numerous gowns are tried on for size and style prior to you buying one, the prom-goer might just realize that sexy is all about a look and attitude, and never about a specific dress style.

Prom dresses new styles and designs emerge every prom season, and several ladies are extremely ‘up’ on high fashion and what’s in style. Wearing a last-season prom dress would be abhorrent to some ladies, while others might only care about what the dress looks like when putting it on. Try on numerous dresses and be dressed appropriately for trying them on. A young lady should use the lingerie she plans to wear for prom when trying on a gown, say for example a properly fitted breast support, panties and bring a pair of heeled shoes too. How a gown hangs and fits will change significantly when new undergarments are worn or when the heel of footwear rise or lowers.

By Ashley Adam

gold prom dress

We all know that gold is the color of flair, royalty, money, and extravagance. There is no better color to show off your inner Goddess than this brilliantly bold statement-making color. For your prom consider showing off your gorgeous side with this wondrous color. You can not only turn heads, but you can bring out a new sparkle for your date to see. This is a fabulous way to accent a glitzy dress, or a way to accessorize a pair of metallic gold heels. You do not necessarily have to dress to a T in gold, the dress itself doesn’t have to be brilliant gold, but it couldn’t hurt if you are trying to make a full-out statement.

Accessories of gold are a way to bring classic eye-catching brilliance to any outfit (assuming the colors mesh). The latest runway fashion tip involves make-up in gold shades. Using a shade of eye shadow that is made of sparkling gold hues is the season’s hottest trend. But stopping at your lids is not the only way to go. Even though many make-up manufacturers have created their own gold-shimmer dust products should not hinder you from getting creative with your gold shadow shades. This all-in-one shadow color can give you a flare all over. Use gold eye shadow to accent not only your lids, but also your brow bone, the slant of your nose, your cheek bones, and also, using a large powder brush you can spread shimmer across your collar bones as well. This all over goddess look will flatter even the most timid.

If you are off to prom in a sleeveless, or strapless, dress then this all-over-gold look is perfect for you. It will give you a radiant glow that even a dimly lit room can not deter. But don’t stop there. Gold accent earrings, necklaces, and even hair-accessories such as pins, small gold flower accents, and headbands of metallic gold hues can give a new life to the right dress shades. Gold nail polish with a wrist-full of gold bangles will allow you to pull off the gold-tipped appeal. Even a simple dusting of glitter over your gold polish can add an additional flair. You can create a head-to-toe golden Goddess look by simply applying accessories, or by introducing a gleaming dress with simple golden accents. Either way you can be a golden Goddess without looking over-done.

By Angela Burns

jovani prom dress

High school proms take place at the end of the school year for seniors across the country. This event is one that students look forward to, perhaps dreaming about it since they started high school. The girl’s major consideration for a perfect prom night, besides her date of course, is the prom dress and one favorite designer includes Jovani prom dresses. They have a reputation for dozens of designs that really stand out and many girls would not consider anything less.

This collection has everything you can imagine when it comes to styles and designs. The combination of creative designs and exquisite fabrics makes this designer one of the most sought after when it comes to prom gowns, cocktail dresses and formal dresses. No matter what design is chosen, they always come across as both classy and feminine. Jovani designs have been worn by many who have walked the red carpet, including Paris Hilton, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, to name just a few.

For their most recent prom gown collection they have paired amazing colors with exotic designs that has produced what may be their most elegant and sought after dresses of the season. Of course, they have their classic Jovani prom dress collection that is still a favorite of many young women. The designs are always subtly draped and layered with elegance to flatter any body style.

It is said that Jovani usually adds over 400 new cocktail dresses and gowns every year to their ever expanding collections. They have formal dresses that have been designed putting vintage and retro type styling together with more amazing fabrics that quickly became a hit with many. They have also begun to add different tops and those that are designed for the fashion conscious but more frugal shopper, ensuring that they have a design for everyone.

Many people love the more traditional look of a long formal prom gown and if that is your choice for this year’s one, then you need to check out the Jovani prom strapless black and silver or white and silver gown with beautiful sequins. Looking for sophistication with a little sex appeal thrown in? Then be sure to try one of their off the shoulder laced top with a hugging mermaid style body that comes in red, black or turquoise with gold.

By Mike Selvon