Pick the Right Color for Prom 2009!

Prom dress trends are one thing, but choosing a gown in a color that's flattering to your skin tone is what will really make you pop on prom night. If all the fashion mags are saying metallics, but these colors make you look washed out and pasty, don't be afraid to go against the grain in order to look your best. After all, prom night is something you'll remember for the rest of your life – don't you want your pictures to capture you looking your best?

The first step in determining which prom dress colors will look best is to analyze your skin's overall tone and undertones. This can be difficult to determine, so try putting on a white shirt and hold a white sheet of paper next to your face while standing in the most natural light possible. You should be able to pick up subtle variations using this method – for example, you may notice that your skin has a slightly yellow tone or that your undertones take on more of a bluish tint.

Traditionally, skin tones are broken down into two groups – warm and cool undertones. If the white shirt and paper experiment reveals yellow, beige, brown or olive undertones, you're considered to have a warm skin tone. The colors that will be most flattering to you will be tones in the Earth tone family, including yellows, reds or browns. On the other hand, if you discover undertones of blue, pink, rose or purple, you're considered to have a cool skin tone. Look for prom dresses in blues, purples or greens to best flatter your skin tone.

Another way to determine which prom dress colors will be most flattering to your coloring is to take a closer look at the pupils of your eyes. Although we typically classify ourselves as having blue, green or brown eyes, most of us actually have many smaller flecks and variations in the color of our eyes. For example, even though your eyes appear brown, you may have small flecks of green or amber that become apparent on closer observation. Matching the color of your prom dress to the color variations in your pupils can be extremely flattering.

Finally, if you're still at a loss for which prom dress colors will be most flattering for you, think back to the items in your wardrobe that have earned you the most compliments. Do people comment on how flattering a certain shirt or jacket is on you? Or do you get rave reviews every time you wear a particular scarf or accessory? Look for common color trends among your favorite pieces – if all your compliment-worthy articles are red, it's safe to assume that this color will be a good pick for your prom dress.

When you're shopping for prom dresses, don't just settle for the first trendy frock that enters your field of vision. Prom night is a big night and you'll be looking over the pictures of the event for a long time to come. Take the time to find the right dress – one that's not only fashionable, but also flattering to your natural skin tone and coloring.