The most important advice is: pick a color you like.
This is your night. You are going to wear your prom dress only once. Get one in a color that makes you feel amazing.
Of course, that’s not helpful if you have no idea where to start, so here’s some general advice on the effects of color.
Determine whether you are “warm” or “cool” toned. Rub your cheeks and observe the flush under natural light. If you see orange tones, you’re probably warm. If you see magenta tones, you’re probably cool. Matching your dress color to your tone will create a harmonious effect, while a dress in a contrasting color will stand out.
See how the same basic style of gown looks completely different on this warm-toned model when she chooses a harmonious color, pink color prom gown and when she chooses a contrasting color, blue gown, She looks sweet and mellow in pink. She really catches your attention in blue.
Which is better, harmony or contrast? It depends on the effect you want. You might also consider the cut of the gown– if you plan to get one in a daring style, it’s a safe choice to buy it in a harmonious color. This dress, for example, is positively dramatic, but the shade of pink matches the flush in the model’s cheeks like here. Likewise, this is a somewhat unusual dress, but the model isn’t overdoing it, because the dark blue color is harmonious with her cool tones.
It’s also important to note that this example of dark blue (and the other option available for this dress, olive green) is not very intense, which brings us to another important point.
Intense colors are like colors that contrast with your tones– they stand out. If you want to wear an unusual dress but don’t want to overdo it, pick a neutral color, like brown, grey, or off-white. This bold dress comes in brown, so it makes a statement, but it’s easy on the eyes.
What if you can’t decide whether you’re warm-toned or cool-toned? Don’t worry. Go to your closet and drape different colors against your face until you find a color you like. Or, think back to the last time someone complimented your outfit– what color were you wearing? Or, if you’re really stuck, it’s hard to go wrong in a color that matches your eyes, like this gorgeous dress.