You don’t have to go for a maxi dress when it comes to your prom attire – whilst floor-length prom dresses look elegant, they’re not for everyone and you can look just as glam in a short prom dress. We’ve rounded up our favourite short prom dresses that will suit everyone – be as fun and as flirty as you like in one of these shorter prom dresses, regardless of your body shape or budget size.
Find out what style of prom dress will suit your body type before you start browsing.
Primark Purple Velvet Short Prom Dress
For prom goers on a tight budget, Primark is a godsend. There are plenty of fabulous dresses in stock allowing you to get a lot for your money. We love this cool purple velvet dress – the asymmetric shoulder detail is calling out for a cool prom up do, to really show off the neckline, and the velvet fabric and rich colour means it’s perfect for Christmas parties post-prom too. That’s value for money!
Powder-Blue Off the Shoulder Prom Dress
This gorgeously retro-inspired gown from Simply Be will flatter a fuller figure as the full skirt will skim over hips and the off-the-shoulder neckline will balance out a more pear-shaped frame. We love the pretty pale blue colour too – it’s beautifully girly and will go perfectly with some silver prom shoes.
Short Prom Dress in Orange Lace
We are huge fans of Pretty Little Thing – and you will be too when you see the plethora of prom dresses then have on offer. This vibrant orange lace prom dress caught our eye – the high neckline is so on-trend, and that bright shade with contrasting black detailing means all eyes will be on you. It’s so fun you’ll want to wear it time and time again – not just for prom night!
Black Prom Dress from TK Maxx
If you have the time and the patience, TK Maxx is a treasure trove for prom goers – just look at this simple but stunning black prom dress, complete with a shorter hemline and a luxe looking fabric. You can’t go wrong with a classic black prom dress – every girl should have an LBD in her wardrobe and where better to start than with your prom dress? Make sure you really dress it up with lots of glittering accessories.
Floral Jacquard Dress from Monsoon
Fashion forward girls will fall in love with this stunning jacquard dress from Monsoon, complete with oriental-inspired floral detailing – it’ll look timeless in all your photos whilst still having a contemporary edge. You can pair it with tights to dress it down a bit if you want, but we say opt for fun chunky heels and bare legs for your summer prom.
White Lace Off the Shoulder Prom Dress
The off-the-shoulder trend is set to be popular for a good while yet, so you can’t go wrong with this stunning white lace short prom dress from one of the leading retailers of glam dresses – Lipsy! Go for bold, contrasting accessories to really make the most of the white backdrop provided by the dress – think sassy red or striking cobalt blue.
Navy Lace High Neck Prom Dress
We love a high neck prom dress, especially when it comes in elegant lace like this one from TK Maxx. If you’re looking for a timeless blue prom dress this one could be all your dreams come true. We say accessorise it with a bold red lip and a messy up do for a seriously fabulous fashion look.
Strapless Oriental Detail Prom Dress
If you’re going for a short prom dress, why not be bold and go for a strapless neckline too? This oriental print dress from Pretty Little Thing is seriously stunning and will make you look effortlessly glam as you turn up to prom. Sweep all your hair over one shoulder to really make the most of the neckline – or browse more prom hairstyles for long hair for even more ideas.
Glitter Floral Dress from Debenhams
What are the two most glam things you can add to a dress? Glitter and a floral motif, and this stunningly sparkly dress from Debenhams has both things. We love the vibrant turquoise shade and the colour pop pink detailing. The shorter length and sequin details are also perfectly played down by the more casual shape and the cute sleeves.
Vintage Style Pink Prom Dress
If you love all things vintage you’re going to fall head-over-heels in love with this pretty pink prom dress from Simply Be, which has a gorgeous lace motif and a flirty shorter hemline that is perfect for twirling around on the dance floor. Pair it with some dazzling sparkly prom shoes to really make the most of your look.
Black and Gold Prom Dress from Pretty Little Thing
Go seriously glam at prom with this figure-hugging black prom dress with gorgeous gold embellishment – it’ll guarantee that all eyes are on you as the glitzy sequin detail sparkles under the lights. Go for gold all over with gold prom shoes and a matching clutch bag to really dazzle everyone.
Short Silver Prom Dress
Not a fan of gold? Don’t worry, Pretty Little Thing has you covered with this shimmering silver prom dress that will work all year round. The sporty style neckline is so on trend but the gorgeous sequins keep it from being practical. Browse our edit of silver prom shoes to find the perfect pair to match.
Once you’ve found your dream prom dress, make sure you watch our edit of the best beauty tutorials for prom to make sure your makeup is on point!