Seventeen Prom helps to narrow your search for the perfect prom gown, providing guidelines based on your body shape.

Extra Tall beauties are best suited in ruched styles (left). The gathered material hugs the body, accentuating those legs! Long legs are also well-showcased in gowns with high-low hemlines (right). The short front to show ‘em off and the long length in the back to balance.

For Petites, Seventeen recommends a mermaid style gown (left); also known as a trumpet skirt. I must say, I have to disagree with this one. Short gals will likely be cutting off a good chunk of that mermaid-style skirt. What a waste of money!

Another option,  is the oh-so-popular bubble skirt (right). Typically found on a short gown, this style is perfect for petites! A short gown in general is usually a good pick for the vertically challenged (elongates those legs!) as long as the gown hits at least three inches above the knee. Anything longer just looks matronly.

Curvy Girls can bring attention to the bust and shoulders with a one-shoulder gown (left). One shoulder strapped and the other bare, draws the eye up and is simultaneously slimming!

Also keep a look out fora-line styles, particularly the empire waistline (right). A tight fitting bodice that flares just under the bust line helps to camouflage all those curves you don’t want recognized while accentuating those you do!

Pear-shaped like the majority of women in the United States? The new trend, grecian styles, work well for us! Jeweled necklines that are typically thick and form a choker around the neck are the hottest trend for both casual and formal wear. Lucky us!

Tiered skirts with layers of fabric are also a plus. Maybe it’s the optical illusion created by so much fabric, but this style is a hip minimizer and bust maximizer…turning your pear-shaped body into the coveted coke bottle instantaneously.