Picking out a dress for formal events depends a lot on what you feel comfortable wearing, according to Kourtney Singleton. “Some people are self-conscious about showing their arms or their legs, so it is important to keep that in mind,” the aspiring fashion designer said.

Variations in skin tones are also a key component to finding the right dress for special occasions.

“For fair skin tones, I would suggest red dresses to give that ‘pop’ for the overall look,” she said. “Darker skin tones tend to stand out better in deeper colors like blues and purples.”