Fretting about shopping for a plus size prom dress? It doesn’t have to be the stuff nightmares are made of, and going in with a positive attitude will make your experience much more fun and exciting. These days we're blessed with websites offering all sorts of tips for the plus size teen and how to shop for your body type, as well as a massive selection of dresses making it much easier to find something that's perfect for you. So if you’re dreading hitting the pavement or online stores in search for the ideal prom dress, here are some tips and tricks that will help you through the process and make sure you pick a dress that will make you feel beautiful.

Do Your Research

Before hitting the shops it might be helpful to check out a prom dress online store to have a look what's out there and available to you. It's helpful to work out your body shape (look online for examples if you're not sure) and work out what kind of fit is most likely to suit you. Decide if you'd like a long or short gown, decide on a colour and what kind of straps you want; this will make whittling down dresses much easier and will give you a good idea of what to try on when you go for a fitting.

Get A Second – or Third – Opinion

Take along someone who is going to be patient and honest. You need someone who will give truthful feedback while keeping the process fun. However always bear in mind that you know yourself better than anyone and so don't be talked into a dress that you know you're going to feel uncomfortable in on the night. Whether you’re in a boutique or browsing 2016 prom dresses online, ask friends or family what they think but stay true to yourself. 

Be Prepared

When you head off to look for the perfect plus size dress, make sure you’re wearing the right bra and proper underwear. If you’re going to wear Spanx to the prom, wear them to try on your dress, that way you know exactly how it's going to look on the night. If you have accessories in mind that you want to wear you could bring them along and try them with the different dresses too. 

Stay Positive

No matter how comfy you are in your skin, if you struggle to find the perfect dress the entire process can get discouraging. If certain styles look unflattering don't get frustrated and instead use them as a learning curve to find out what styles will look better instead. Stay calm and positive- the perfect dress is out there for you, you just have to find it! Whichever you choose, make sure you feel comfortable, confident and at ease in your plus size dress