Choosing Formal Dresses - Tips and Advice

When faced with occasion to buy a new formal dress, most of us have heard that age-old "wisdom" that it's good to choose a dress that one can "cut off and worn again" (in less formal circumstances).

The truth is few of us ever really have our formals cut down to street-length, and few shortened formals would ever be anything other than "shorter formals" even if they were cut.

Looking for a dress that feeds the dilusion that it can later be cut into a more practice, street-length, dress is not the most realistic or best approach.

A formal dress is for a formal occasion. Formal occasions call not only for a beautiful dress, but for one that will make its wearer her most beautiful. Formal occasions aren't about dresses that border on being street dresses; and unless a budget is extremely tight, formal occasions don't call for being practical at all. They are about "special".

Before doing any real shopping it is always a good idea to browse fashion magazines and online sites for "inspiration". Depending on where you will shop, it's not a bad idea to ask about return policies and whether you can have a dress held for a short time. There can always be the problem of finding that dress that is almost-perfect and will be "good enough" if you can't find a better one, not buying it, and later returning to discover it has been sold. Unless you're hoping to get a deal on a dress bought as the season winds down, shop early. Waiting often means having to settle, and it can also mean having real trouble finding a other items to go with the dress.

When choosing a formal, the first thing to consider should be the style of the dress and its neckline, and sleeves. Some waistlines, necklines and sleeves look better on some women than on others. There are, of course, women who can wear most any style, but even they often have a preference,

Although many fabrics work well year round, many do not; so a fabric that's suitable for all seasons, or for the season during which the occasion will be held, is another primary consideration.

Color is a little less restrictive. Although, of course, some colors are suitable for one season or another, there are times when fabric, rather than color, determines the appropriate season for a dress. There are also trends in colors, so that shade of green that so many women wore a few years ago may look a little too "yesterday" for this year's event.

On the other hand, in the right dress and on the right woman, "that shade of green" may its wearer not only looks great, but doesn't look like "all those other women" in this year's shade of blue.

Regardless of whether a woman chooses to stay with color trends or not, it is always best to select a color that makes her feel and look her most attractive. We all have colors that do unflattering things to our skin tone, hair color, and eyes. Some of us even have colors that make us irritable. Staying away from all but our own "best" colors is wise.

It's a good idea to pay attention to features or trim on the dress and consider whether any of them will be bothersome throughout the duration of the event. Super-thin straps, particularly a single one, will only do so much work under some circumstances. Eliminating dresses that are "humiliating disasters waiting to happen" can make for a more enjoyable evening.

Since most formals involve some version of spaghetti-thin straps and/or low-cut necklines it's a good idea not to wait until the evening of the event to discover that a little reinforcement or a particular type of undergarment would make the evening more carefree.

Slits in the skirt are something else that require scrutiny. When a dress has a fashionable slit in it, it's a good idea to think of any dance moves that may be done in it. Standing still in the dressing room, and seeing only what the slit does when the wearer is acting like a mannequin, isn't the wisest idea unless the slit is a very small one.

Strapless bodices and those with super-thin straps often need to be a little tighter to stay up. One that is too tight can cause even a little extra fat to "leak over", which can make even a generally slender woman look a little more "bulge-y". Women who are not rail thing may want to find a dress that doesn't require fitting so tightly around the top.

Having a formal dress altered to fit perfectly is, of course, what the most special of occasions call for, although not every woman requires alteration for every dress.

The price of the dress is often a factor for a lot of women, and eliminating dresses over a certain price can help make selection easier. Good-as-new formals can, of course, be found at thrift stores, on sale, and on "last season" racks. While some dresses will scream "last season", not all will.

When the hairstyle to be worn has already been planned it's good to look for a dress that will go well with that hairstyle. Some necklines don't go as well with long, flowing, hair as others do. When the best feature of the dress is somewhere near the neckline it won't show if the plan is to wear hair long and flowing.

Considering whether the dress will require any special type of slip or control undergarment is important. Checking to see how see-though different parts of the dress are (and whether that's acceptable) is a good idea as well.

It may go without saying, but the make-up worn to school or work each day is usually not the right make-up to wear with that new formal. Again, browsing fashion magazines and sites can offer ideas on great make-up for special occasions, as well as suggestions on which colors work best.

What, if anything, will go over the dress is another thing to consider. Not all dresses go with all wraps. While most women don't choose a dress to go with a wrap they plan to wear, one mistake can be assuming that a wrap one already owns will go well with a new dress. Waiting until two days before the event to discover otherwise is not a great idea.

While cutting down the dress isn't something everybody really does (although some do), there is always the matter (particularly for the budget-minded) of whether there are yet more formal occasions coming up. Choosing a dress that will be suitable for both a September affair and a January wedding will get the dress-shopper the most for her formal-dress dollars. A dress that can be worn year-round is, of course, ideal for those on very tight budget.

Finally, don't skimp on the shoes. Whether the shoes will be worn with that one dress on that one occasion, or worn for future occasions, they should fit perfectly, not have straps that cut into your feet, and be comfortable. (There actually are comfortable dress shoes. One just needs to select carefully.)