Hi-Lo Dresses

Top 2011 Prom Dress Styles, Colors & traditional wedding dresses Trends

Prom season is here, and high school girls everywhere are gearing up for the biggest night of the school year. Fashionistas and style-conscious girls are on the hunt for prom dresses which will not only make them look fabulous, but trendy as well! 2011 prom dress trends offer something to suit every girl's coloring and body type, with plenty of fun flair. This year's lineup of top prom dress styles ranges from elegant and simple vintage Hollywood glamour to bright, flowing print fabrics. Let's take a look at some of the top 2011 prom dress styles.

Pretty in bridal gowns with cap sleeves Print

Unlike previous years, prom dresses with bold prints are in this season. From large floral prints to multi-color watercolor splashes and exotic silver and black combos, prom dresses in prints are a great way to add color and flair to the traditional prom look. To add the kind of bohemian flair that's so popular in 2011, look for pretty floral prints in long, flowing fabrics paired with dangling earrings and simple sandals.

White is the New knee length bridesmaid dresses Black

When it comes to solid colors, white is one of the most popular prom dress trends for 2011. Paired with a mini prom dress style and bright sequins, white prom dresses offer a look that's elegant and refined. White and black combinations are also in this year, looking best in beautifully classic, vintage-inspired styles.

Mermaid Skirts

One of the most unique prom dress trends to emerge in the 2011 lineup is the mermaid-style skirt. This style is close-fitted from the bodice through the upper hips, where the skirt flairs out in ruffles or a taffeta-boosted full skirt, creating a mermaid-like silhouette. If you want to make a dramatic entrance and stand out from the crowd on prom night, this look is for you!

Minis & websites for homecoming dresses Short Party Dresses

In the past, mini dresses were considered too informal for prom, but in 2011, short prom dresses are the darling style of many top designers. From sequined short shift dresses to taffeta-skirted cocktail dresses, mini discount wedding dresses prom dresses are a great way to make your prom style flirty and fun.

Vintage Hollywood Glamour

In contrast to 2011's other popular prom styles, this year's popular antique Hollywood look is all about simplicity and elegance. Belted short shifts in lovely pastels paired with pearls and matte-toned pumps create a perfectly classic look. Or, for a more glamorous Hollywood style, look for sequined snug-fitting strapless gowns. Not sure where to start? Use your favorite 1950's Hollywood icon as a style guide.

Hi-Lo Dresses

Another new, dramatic style to emerge for the 2011 prom season is the hi-lo dress with a short skirted front and long flowing train in the back. Designers' favorite hi-lo prom dress styles feature cascading ruffle trains and snug, a-line mini skirt fronts. If you can't decide between a short prom dress or long gown, this style is for you!

Making Your Wedding Dress Unique

Every bride wants to look and feel fabulous on her wedding day, and the wedding dress has a big part to play in making this happen. The dress must fit beautifully, flatter her figure and be totally unique. However, not everyone can afford to pay for a designer to make that unique wedding dress to measure, so what are the alternatives?

The simplest solution is to buy a ready-to-wear wedding dress, and then customise it to suit your own taste.

When buying the wedding dress, go for a simple, plain style that fits well because a good fit is more important than features at this point. The dress should flatter your figure, so your basic body shape will go some way towards dictating the dress style. If you are lucky enough to be tall and slender, more or less any style will be flattering to wear. If you do not have a perfect figure (and few of us can claim to have achieved perfection), then choose a style that maximises your good points and minimises the bad ones.

Having bought the wedding dress, you can now start to customise it. If you are skilled at sewing, you can do this yourself, but most people will probably need to work with a professional seamstress to ensure they achieve the best results. It is worth spending money on getting a professional finish after all, you will have saved some money on the cost of buying your wedding dress, as ready-made dresses are certainly cheaper than made-to-measure!

Any of these wedding dresses would make a great starting point for customisation.

One of the simplest ways to customise your wedding dress is to add lace either as a sash around the waist, a wrap around the shoulders or lace appliques added to the skirt and train. A deep lace trim added to the hem of the wedding dress can be particularly effective.

Are you planning to wear crystal jewellery? If so, crystal beads added to the straps of a spaghetti strap dress or scattered across the bodice and train will add sparkle and catch the light as you move. Ready-made crystal beaded trims are available, and these will add drama to the wedding dress if fitted to the waist or neckline. Crystal buttons could also be added down the front or back of the bodice or on the sleeve cuffs the buttons dont need to be functional, so this is an easy adjustment to make. Why stick to white? You might like to consider adding subtly coloured beads or crystals to give a really dramatic and unique effect.

Another idea is to overlay the skirt with a light fabric such as tulle this will probably need to be done by a professional seamstress to ensure it looks good, but can transform a simple wedding dress into something much more romantic and impressive. This is also another opportunity to add some colour to your wedding dress use subtly toned materials in soft feminine colours such as pinks there is no limit to what you can achieve at moderate cost with a little imagination.

This is your big day, so go ahead and enjoy yourself the results will be worth it.