How To Choose The Color Of Your Prom Dress

Adding Color to Plus Size Wedding Dresses

If your dream of a white wedding includes at least a splash of color, then youl love some of the latest designer wedding dresses for the upcoming season. From ribbon sashes, to embroidered accents, to colored edgings, strapless evening dress the latest wedding gowns bloom with color.

While most brides will be wearing traditional white or ivory walking down the aisle, adding a little color to your wedding dress is becoming increasingly popular. Whether you want to be just a little daring or want to jump into color feet first, there are lots of options out there for brightening the wedding gown palette.

The trend toward colorful wedding dresses is a special perk for the plus size bride. Because color ?whether it a touch of lace at the neckline, or a bright fuchsia sash ?is a great way to call attention to your best features and help define all those lovely curves that you have. If youe thinking about wearing a dress with color, consider where and how the color is placed when choosing your wedding gown.

Colored Sashes

One of the easiest ways to add color to your wedding gown is to add a satin ribbon or sash to the dress. One very popular wedding salon with a national profile offers nearly three dozen wedding gowns with colored accents, and the majority of those dresses feature a colored sash or ribbon at the waist.

The placement, tying and drape of a ribbon sash can make a surprising difference in the dress that you choose. A narrow stripe of bright color accenting the line of an empire waist can draw attention up from your natural waist and accent a beautiful neckline. A wider pleated sash wrapping around your natural waistline and falling in fanned tails over the train adds drama and can give you lovely hourglass silhouette.

There are so many ways that a colorful ribbon can change the shape and lines of your dress. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Take a simple A-line wedding gown with a strapless bodice and add a ribbon in your favorite accent color. Wrap the ribbon once at the waist and tie in a small bow off-center, letting the ends of the ribbon drape to knee length. This draws the eye away from the center of your body and creates a long line that lengthens your torso and makes you appear slimmer.

Or, tie the bow at the back instead, puffing it just above a full bustle, and sweep train to minimize the width of your hips and pull attention to the small of your back. Do the same thing with a scoop back or backless style wedding gown to call attention to the beautiful curves of your waist. Try different placements and bow styles to create a look that uniquely your own and distinctly flattering.

Colored Embroidery

Some plus size wedding dresses feature a spray of color across the bodice or hem. Wedding gowns with embroidered necklines and bodices are beautifully suited to plus size women with hourglass, pear and rectangular shapes because they draw the attention upwards and emphasize the curve of the waist. This can be especially flattering for women whose shoulders, hips and waist are all close to the same width. A spray of embroidery and beads that outlines the bodice and creates a diamond shape down the front can create the illusion of a curvy waist even when there a minimal curve.

Embroidered flowers in a rich color can trim the sweetheart neckline of your dress, extending in a delicate scatter of asymmetrical flowers down the front and back of an A-line silhouette. This creates long, off-center lines that flatter any figure. It an absolutely stunning look for an autumn bride.

Stunning Color Accents

If youe really daring, you might choose a dress that packs a major punch of color. One of the most dramatic looks youl find from any designer is a gorgeous satin A-line strapless dress with a split back chapel train and rich color accents at the cuff, hem and back. The front of the dress can be more demure, featuring a slender outline in the color of your choice along the top of the sweetheart neckline. The back shows off your daring nature, as the bright satin edging follows the hem of the split back and opens to reveal an underskirt in the same rich, vibrant color. Beaded embroidery edges the back opening and the hem of the chapel train to create a stunning effect.

Whether you want just a hint of tint or a daring dash, youl find that color can really make a huge statement on your wedding day.

How To Choose The Color Of Your Prom Dress

Prom night is your chance to shine, and by choosing the right set of colors for your prom dress and ensemble, you can make not only your figure and your dress look fantastic, but your face, skin and hair as well. Use your skin's natural hues influence the dress prom dresses for me color or pattern you choose. A dress which matches your skin's natural tone will make you appear more vibrant and glowing, while the wrong color can make you appear sallow, sleep-deprived or pale.

Determining Skin Tone

Before choosing a prom dress color, you must first know your skin tone! Skin tones are broken down into two main categories: cool and warm. People with cool skin tones have pinkish-blue undertones to their skin, while those with warm tones have golden undertones. The easiest way to determine which type you belong to is to wash all makeup from your face, then alternately hold silver and gold foil up to your face. The right metal will make your face appear glowing and healthy, while the wrong color will make your skin look grayish and washed out. Silver looks best on cool skin tones, and gold looks best on warm tones.

Once you've determined whether your skin tone is warm or cool, you'll need to find out which season you are. Winter complexions (cool) are typically pale white, yellowish-olive or dark, typically belonging to people with brown or black hair and dark eyes. Inversely, summer complexions (also cool) also have blue or pink undertones, but people with these complexions tend to have hair which doesn't contrast their skin tone as much; most summer-complexioned people are natural blondes or brunettes with light colored eyes.

Spring skin tones, which are warm, often belong to women with creamy ivory skin, freckled pink skin, or darker, suntanned skin coloring. Most people with spring skin tones have strawberry blonde or light red hair with blue or green eyes. Autumn complexioned skin tones have golden undertones which are more bronzed or orange-colored than spring tones. Women with ivory or dark, beige or golden brown skin tones, dark red or brunette hair and brown eyes often fall into this category.

Colors for Winter Tones

Winter complexioned girls have a lot of options when it comes to choosing the best prom dress colors; winter skin tones tend to look best in intense, rich colors such as navy blue, crimson, hot pink and black, but lighter colors such as bright white or fluorescent pastels look great too. Winter complexioned girls should avoid prom dresses in earth tones, which may make them appear pale or sallow.

Colors for Summer Tones

Summer skin tones look most stunning in cool, muted colors and pastels such as baby blue, rose, lavender, plum and even pale yellow. Intense, harshly contrasting colors and earth tones tend to make summer skin tones look washed out.

Colors for Spring Tones

Girls with spring skin tones tend to look best in prom dresses with pale, soft colors such as camel, yellow, ivory, kelly green, coral and sky or aqua blues. Spring complexioned girls should avoid dresses with colors that are too harsh and contrasting, such as black, stark white and dark brown. Girls with spring complexions look stunning in the kind of flowing, soft floral patterned fabrics and soft pastels which are popular this long sleeve dresses season.

Colors for long black evening dress Autumn Tones

Girls with autumn skin tones should look for prom dresses in rich, cheap plus size evening dresses earthy or spicy colors such as olive orange, gold, rust red, dark brown or a rich gray. Autumn colors always work well on autumn skin tones, but prom dresses in excessively bright colors and blue tones should be avoided.