Fashion Trends: Long or Short Formal Party Dresses?

Evening dress length depends on the formality of the occasion. For semi-formal events, a cocktail dress is fine. For formal "black-tie" events, a tea-length to ballet-length formal dress is appropriate. For most formal "white-tie" events, gowns should be ballet-length or full-length. Debutantes should wear full-length gowns for their debuts. Event dressing is just like any other, the golden rule is: keep your clothing appropriate. This rule is just as important for more informal office dos as for formal events. The key word is 'appropriate' rather than 'inappropriate.'

Modern evening gowns, starting in the 1950s, allow for a shorter hem. While vintage evening gowns fall anywhere from the ankle to mid-calf, the most flattering fall just below or above the knee. Crucial to these shorter gowns is the style, which should be elegant and formal, lest you risk appearing underdressed. Evening gowns traditionally flow to the floor. A proper hem should fall even with the floor, and must be sewn while you wear the shoes intended to be worn with the dress. If not, the hem will be too long and drag on the ground, or too short and expose the feet. There is no strict rule for proper evening gowns length. If you desire a more traditional look, wear a floor-length gown. If you choose a shorter style, the hem should end at a narrow part of your leg, right below or above the knee. This elongates the legs and creates a leaner silhouette. Most importantly, pick a dress that fits your personality.

Evening gowns are available in many designs such as halter, backless, strapless, but by knowing the shape of your body you'll know what gown styles will flatter your body figure. For example, if you're very self-conscious about your wide shoulders, you may want to find something that will slim them down and perhaps add more volume to your hips and thighs to balance out your body shape. With careful planning ahead, you can be the belle of the ball. Begin by deciding on your hairstyle for the event. This may take some weeks to sort out, especially if you need to change hairstyles and learn to manage the new shape.

If you are on a budget and seeking a full length prom style evening gowns uk, head for Monsoon, any House of Fraser, Fenwick or John Lewis. If you don't have a big store near you, then try instead ringing your nearest bridal store, which often stocks evening dresses and maybe even hires out party prom dresses, or just search cheap evening dresses uk online, you will have many surprises.