Hi AMARRA babes! To our beautiful curvy girls – we see you, and we’re here to help you pick out a fabulous plus size prom dress.

Finding the perfect prom dress is hard enough without having to scroll through pages of one-size-fit-all gowns that look like they were designed by someone who has never seen a real person.

Don’t let the process get you down and let your individuality shine! We’ve got you covered with our top 5 tips on shopping for a plus size prom dress.

Know what flatters your figure (and what doesn’t)

 A good prom dress is like your BFF – it should always bring out the best in you and help you out with your insecurities. You know yourself best – make a list of your fav features, and some of your less-than-ideal parts you’d like some extra help with. This will help you figure out what you want in a dress!

Wanna bring sexy back? An open back gown will definitely leave people talking behind your back, about your back. Great legs? Opt for a dress with a sexy slit and some killer heels to draw attention to those gams. Love your collarbones? Go for a strapless or off shoulder gown and dust some extra highlight on to make those clavicles pop!

We all get a little insecure sometimes and there’s nothing wrong with that. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize them. If you’re worried about your arms, bell and puff sleeves are totally in this year! Haven’t reached your goal waistline? Layers are your friend.

Play around with materials too – sheer materials like lace, organza or chiffon and reduce the appearance of your insecurities, while making you look absolutely gorgeous.

Fitting is half the battle won

 Finding the perfect right plus size prom dress starts with choosing the right fit for your body! The trinity of prom dress cuttings are: A-line, straight and empire. There’s no reason for you to look frumpy at your prom, so a baggy straight cut that flows right down is a no-no for plus size girlies!

An empire waistline ends beneath your bust,  rawing attention to your upper body and face. If you’ve got a pear shaped body, you’ll definitely be able to rock this vintage style. An alternative is the A-line cutting, which is tight around the bodice and flares out gently. Whether you’re opting for a long gown or a short dress, this cutting hugs your upper and lower curves while giving your abdomen some room.

If you can, our golden tip is to get a dress fitted exactly to your specifications. Nothing else can fit your body better than that!

Foundation is key

Your prom dress is important, but it’s what’s beneath that’s really going to make it shine!

Curvy girls know just how important support is. Your bra can definitely make or break your outfit, so make sure that your foundation is solid with a great bra that is both comfortable and lifting. If you’re thinking of getting spanx or shapewear, don’t skimp on that either! Trust us, it’ll be a worthy investment that can take you way beyond prom.

Be sure to wear your prom underwear out when you’re shopping for your prom dress too, so you can get a better idea of what looks good and what doesn’t.

Don’t shy from color!

Everybody knows that black is a slimming color, but just because you’re a big girl doesn’t mean you have to get a black dress! Be bold and on trend with your plus size prom dress!

If you’re having a spring prom, go for pretty pastels like baby blues or pinks. Summer prom? The brighter the better baby! Fall prom? Muted neutral tones like sage, burnt orange and creams could be the way to go. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a black dress. But if you want to let your personality shine, we say go for it! After all, you only get one prom.

Confidence is the best accessory

Accessorising is essential to any good prom look. But forget the oh-so-popular hoop earrings and pearl necklaces, confidence is the way to go!

Above anything else, make sure that you’re comfortable in your dress. It should fit you perfectly at all the right parts, with just enough wiggle room for you to eat and bust some moves on the dance floor. Again, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good tailor.

Your prom dress should not only look good, but it should make you feel good as well. You don’t have to follow trends that don’t make you feel confident. Opt for a more classic look and trust us, you’ll feel much more comfortable in your dress at prom.

With our last tip, we have to say that your dress is only one part of prom. What’s more important than a pretty gown is to have fun – as cliché as it might sound. It’s one of your last chances to have a blast before going off to college, so embrace your curves and don’t hold back!

We love to see our AMARRA girls strutting their stuff. Tag us on our Instagram with photos of you looking gorgeous and having fun at your prom!