But finding that perfect homecoming dress for 2012 is just

Choosing Your Perfect Wedding Dress Silhouette

Il admit it: Even though there are, at last count, 4,386 reality shows that share the premise that fashion is the most important thing in the whole universe, I hadn really been paying attention.

So when I started shopping for my wedding dress, I had some catching up to do. My saleswoman started throwing new and faintly terrifying terms at me. I thought about just trying to fake it, but I became increasingly sure that if I said the wrong thing a trap door would open up under my feet and send me tumbling down a long, greasy Chute of Shame. At the bottom would be Anna Wintour, and Tyra Banks, waiting to confiscate my Girl Card.

I dove in with hand gestures instead: want it to sort of?go up here?And then maybe like this??The saleswoman cocked her head at me like the RCA dog and took a moment to consider pressing the silent alarm, then suggested I look through the racks a bit.

To save you from that particular slice of pre-wedding embarrassment, here a quick rundown of basic wedding dress silhouettes.

A-line

Youe probably worn an A-line dress at some point. (If you haven, give one a try! Theye flattering on just about any figure.) Some flare out gently from the shoulder, creating kind of an overall letter A shape, and other versions flare out from the waist with a more fitted bodice. Either way, youl look terrific.

Ball gown

Youe seen these on most animated princesses. A ball gown has a closely fitted bodice, then poofs out into a very full, bell-shaped skirt that is usually floor-length. The waistline may dip down into a V, and may sit higher or lower on black halter dress the hips, depending on your preference.

Ballerina

This is a less common wedding dress style, and youe probably already guessed how it looks. Like the ball gown, a ballerina dress has a fitted bodice and a skirt that poofs out from the waistline, but in this case there more of a tutu effect, with the skirt hitting about mid-calf. Youl be working with very light, floaty fabrics in lots and lots of layers, and there may be some petticoat action.

Bustle back

When seen from the side, this dress has an S-shaped silhouette that was popular from the 1890s through the 1910s or so, when folks liked to (demurely) emphasize the fact that Baby had back. Youl see either a big bow-style decoration or maybe even an extra bunch of fabric in back. Some women automatically freak at the idea of emphasizing long black evening dress the badonk, but I think bustles are classic and fun.

Empire

This confusingly named waistline actually starts just below the bust, and then the dress drops straight down, or close to it. Youe seen these in Jane Austen adaptations like Emma and Sense and Sensibility. Ie read alleged experts who say that empire dresses look best on slender women and others who say they look best on full-figured women. Me, I think they give all women a little-girl look, which may or may not be your bag. So forget the experts and just go by whether or not you like them.

Mermaid

A mermaid dress will give you a shapely silhouette without being inappropriately sexy for a wedding dress. The dress hugs your curves from your bust to your hips, then flares out at the knee to create a fishtail effect. (That looks way better than it sounds.) Mermaid dresses can be strikingly beautiful, but because they are fitted so closely, they may not be good for ceremonies in which you have to kneel. You may even have some trouble sitting down if your dress is very form-fitting, so consider changing into another outfit for your reception.

Princess

In this case, youe going for a grown-up princess instead of a Grimm. Think Grace Kelly. This dress is less close-fitting than a mermaid or sheath, but still follows your natural curves. The bodice has vertical panels of fabric and then the skirt flares out gently. This is an elegant style that brings out the inner stone-cold fox in most women.

Sheath

Like mermaid dresses, sheath dresses are very form-fitting. In this case, though, your guests get to see your feet as well as your curves. A sheath dress will be clingy from shoulder (or bust, if youe going strapless) to hem, with no flaring out. It looks like an evening gown ?one that really hugs your body, so make sure youe feeling bold. And, as with the mermaid, make sure youe not feeling like sitting down or kneeling.

Slip

This is an elegant style that is usually kept very simple. It a slinky fall of satin (or satiny material) that clings to your body. Slip dresses are often cut on a bias, with shoestring shoulder straps.

A final word on fashion xperts?br /> Ie seen a lot of expert commentary on how women should dress to look their best lately, and Il just say this: Many of these people are well-intentioned men and women who love, love, love women and their bodies.

But many of them aren.

Some love clothes but don like women, and some only like very tall skinny women, and some sincerely mean to love women but are carrying around great big laundry baskets full of issues, and some of them like to lash out at anyone who might be an easy target because they secretly don like themselves and being snarky reassures them that theye superior to somebody.

Some of them are people who just need to fill that magazine issue and sell some ads and are terrified of doing anything different from the last 117 issues lest someone else get mad or make fun of them. And some people just can stand it when not everyone conforms to their idea of what looks good.

My point is that you may want to take expert advice with a grain of salt, and maybe the whole shaker. Some fashion experts can be positive and wonderful, and some can really mess with your head, whether they mean to or not. By all means, read or watch them, but if youe starting to feel worse about yourself as you do, pull out. The most useful fashion experts are the ones who start with the premise that youe a babe and then work to help you become the most fabulous version of yourself.

And, in the end, your instincts trump them too. If a dress breaks all the rules but makes you feel absofreakinglutely amazing, that The One.

Good luck, Gorgeous. strapless dresses Happy shopping!

Find That Perfect Homecoming Dress or Prom Dress for 2012 and Save Money Too

Young ladies all over the world are looking for the finest Homecoming Dresses 2012 and for the most stylish prom dresses 2012. This is one of the most exciting times of the year, and for many young women, it will be one of the memorable evenings of their life. So, finding those perfect homecoming dresses 2012 and prom dresses 2012 is an important task and one that should not be taken light. But, how can you find the most exciting brand name prom dresses and homecoming dresses online? That is an excellent question and the answer is by shopping with Prom Outfitters.

Prom Outfitters has been serving the fashion market for years. They offer some of the finest 2012 homecoming dresses available online. They carry a full line of Sherri Hill dresses, including Sherri Hill prom dresses, Alyce Designs dresses, Claudine dresses, Mac Duggal dresses, Blush dresses and many more labels. Unlike some online stores that say that they carry authentic brand name homecoming dresses and prom dress, this truly does. In fact, they offer all of their customers a 100 percent guarantee that all of their designer label dresses are authentic.

Because they have access to such a huge line of 2012 homecoming dresses and prom dresses, they are able to meet virtually any need in terms of style, color, material and size. Visitors to their website will find a wide array of homecoming dresses and prom dresses to choose from, and best of all, they sell their beautiful attire at reasonable prices. Young women from around the globe have selected Prom Outfitters as their online source for homecoming 2012 dresses and for their prom dresses.

As mentioned above, this online store offers its customers access to a variety of designer labels. This, too, is unlike most other online dress stores which only offer a few labels and a few styles. If you are looking for special La Femme prom dresses or Tony Bowls prom dresses, this is the place to visit first. Their Terani Couture dresses are also a popular choice for many young women. For the hottest styles and most vibrant colors, no one beats Prom Outfitters.

But finding that perfect homecoming dress for 2012 is just one advantage the company offers its customers. When you buy from Prom Outfitters you can be assured that your shopping experience will be safe and secure. In addition, their customers have access to their highly skilled and courteous customer service department who can assist or answer questions.

So, if you are looking the most attractive homecoming dresses 2012, prom dresses 2012, or type of evening dress for a special event, visit with Prom Outfitters first. See for yourself why so many young women choose this online prom dress vendor as their source for designer homecoming dresses and prom dresses.

While at the site, make sure you check out the Sherri Hill homecoming dresses 2012 as well as the Sherri Hill prom dresses. These are some of the most popular dresses on the market this year and once you see them you will know why.

Visit to see exciting and prom dresses that are stunning yet affordable.