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It's prom time, and you finally have the opportunity to dazzle your date and friends with an amazing prom dress. But there are so many styles of prom dresses that it may not be so easy to find that perfect dress. Don't despair. Use this quick style guide to narrow your choices.

Popular Prom Dress Styles and Cuts

Some strapless tulle gown styles are new while others have been around for many, many years. Here are some timeless styles that are popular year after year. Empire prom dresses are cut with a high waistline, usually starting just beneath the bust, with a long, straight skirt that hangs from the waistline. This style works great with a pear-like figure, or for those with a thick waist. It also adds the appearance of more height for petite girls.

The sheath design slims the figure from the shoulders to the hemline. It hugs and outlines the body's silhouette and is popular with sleeveless style prom dresses. Sheath dresses are recommended for tall, thin persons. A gown that looks great on anyone with large hips and thighs is the A-line prom dress. It is designed with a fitted bodice that flares out into a full skirt from the waist down. The waist is seamless. A-line is also called "princess" cut.

The high-low gown is long in the back and shorter in the front, usually right above the knees. It's great for long legs and the hourglass type figure. The tea-length dress may be sleeveless or may come with sleeves and have a fitted bodice, but usually only comes to just below the knees. It's a simple, flirty style that shows off the calves - great for tall, thin figures!

A tulle skirt or bouffant gown features a puffed-out skirt made of sheer rayon or silk materials. Its flared skirt works great for hiding heavy legs. The ball gown is another elegant style that has a full skirt that starts at the waist and is floor-length.

Plus Size Prom Dresses to Fit Every Style

There's a whole market of prom dresses that are made perfectly for the plusses! Don't be ashamed of your figure; flatter it with a remarkable prom dress designed just for you. The empire waistline is very flattering if you have a thick waist or large hips. So is the A-line prom dress. These are comfortable and come in many styles, lengths, and colors. Try an empire waist style in one of these beautiful, bold colors to accentuate your figure: garnet, fuchsia, turquoise, lime, amethyst, emerald, or sapphire.

Pleats create a look that's forgiving to almost any figure, but will add a unique beauty to your dress. Pleats that lay flat are recommended for plus sizes in combination with the empire waist for best results. For almost any style dress, opt for embellishments such as flowers at the back of the dress, patterns in the material, beads and bows, or bands of sequins at the waistline. These can form lines to emphasize certain parts of your figure while de-emphasizing others!

Pickup prom dresses are also popular for plus size shoppers. These are ball gowns with the skirt fabric gathered and pinned to create lovely patterns all around. There are also great tea-length prom dresses in plus sizes that are made to hide certain areas while placing emphasis on the face and upper portions of the body. These can be worn below the knees or at tea-length for those with heavy legs.

The good news is all these styles are offered by some of the top designers of prom dresses including Jovani, Sherri Hill, Kate Hudson, Faviana, and others. You can shop online to find a variety of styles to fit your figure and your budget. Many prom dress sites also offer pageant dresses, cocktail dresses, homecoming dresses, and other styles for various occasions. Take your proper size measurements before shopping, and be sure to shop early to get the prom dress you want!