Prom season is approaching, and as you pick out your dress, you probably have plenty of questions on your mind — and one of them might be if you should match your prom date. It may seem old-fashioned at first, but there are some fun and unique matching prom dress ideas out there to consider.
Whether your date is wearing a full tux or a dress, there are ways you can both match, whether you want something simple, stylish or subtle. Even if you’re going with friends, you can coordinate as a group for some fabulous prom photos. Consult the guide below to see how to match your prom date or friends.
Tips for Matching for Prom
Some of the following matching prom date ideas are more over-the-top than others — but no matter what look you’re going for, we’ll help you coordinate your outfits to look fabulous on prom night. Use these tips for matching at prom to help you find the perfect outfit:
1. Coordinate Colors Instead of Matching
You and your date don’t have to match for prom, but you may want to complement each other, at least. Complementing colors show that you’re each other’s dates for the evening without matching perfectly. Coordinating your colors is a great choice if you want a prom dress in a color your date doesn’t prefer to wear. Instead, they can wear a suit in one of these classic options:
- Navy blue: This deep tone goes with a lovely range of colors. Soft pinks, bold burgundies, lush greens and fun metallics all pair well with a refined navy blue suit.
- Gray: Brighten your date’s outfit with a lighter tux color. Gray and silver go with light and pastel shades, perfect if your prom dress is on the sweeter side.
- Black: A black tux is classic and goes with just about any color. If you aren’t sure how to match your prom date, ask them to wear a black suit.
Your date can choose a colorful suit jacket if they have a bolder style, such as blush pink with black lapels and accents or whatever color would go with your dress. This colorful option is fun and modern, though it may be a bit harder to find than a classic black, gray or navy blue option, so plan in advance.
For a prom-goer whose date is also wearing a dress, feel free to go with complementing colors instead of matching ones, so you can accent each other in style. To achieve this, try other color combinations with:
- Complimentary colors: These shades are across from each other on the color wheel. They look like opposites, but they often go well together. Try purple and yellow or blue and orange outfits to compliment your date without matching.
- Different shades: Choose a dress in your favorite color, then have your date match in a color that’s either a shade lighter or darker. This look is more matchy than others without involving the same colors in your outfits.
- Neutrals: Neutrals across different hues and shades often go well together. Wear black, white or gray and have your date choose one of the other colors for their outfit. It’s a more subtle way to match each other without vivid, dramatic colors.
Overall, try to keep the colors you and your date wear in the same family. Jewel tones go with jewel tones, pastels with pastels and so on. You’ll get a cohesive look together without wearing the same thing.
2. Match With the Tie
The most classic way to match for prom is with your date’s tie. It’s a subtle accessory and an easy way to match your look when your date is wearing a suit. To keep it stylish, have your date wear a solid, neutral color tux and add a pop of matching color with the tie. For something different, you can also match with one of your date’s other accessories, like:
- A vest
- A bowtie
- The shoes
- A cumme*rbund
Even other accessories in their outfit can match your dress for subtle styles. If you have a silver or gold metallic dress, see if your date wants to wear matching jewelry. For those whose date is wearing a dress, see if they want to wear a belt or sash around their dress that matches yours. Make sure to pick dress colors that go together, so the accessory doesn’t clash.
3. Match Fabrics or Textures
Whether you match colors or go for complementing shades, you can also consider matching the fabric of your dress to that in your date’s outfit. Some fabrics appear in both prom dresses and suits, such as:
- Velvet
- Silk
- Satin
Choose a dress in fabrics like those, so you know your date can find a complementing suit, or get creative if your dress features other fabrics or textures. Metallic fabric, sequins or beading in a dress can complement the shine of a silk or satin fabric tux, shirt or tie.
Of course, if you and your date are both wearing dresses, it will be easy to match fabrics. Try to choose fabrics or materials that stand out, like silk, satin or sequins, to make it clear that you’re matching.
4. Match the Style
Choosing a suit that complements the style of your dress is a bit more abstract, but possible — and the result is a stylish way to match without being too obvious. It’ll be more straightforward if you’re matching the style of your prom dress with your date’s dress, but if your date is wearing a suit, try to complement it with the style of your dress, whether you’re wearing something:
- Modern: Contemporary prom dresses often have some glam, whether it’s with beading, a two-piece style or a fitted, hourglass shape. To match that style, your prom date can wear a fitted black suit with straight or skinny-fitting pants. Black is modern and timeless, but a patterned jacket in a shade like cobalt blue with black pants also gives contemporary flare.
- Classic: Sheath or ball gown styles in satin or tulle often characterize a classic prom dress. Again, your date can’t go wrong with an all-black suit to match your timeless gown. The pants should be more straight-leg and the shoulders more squared to give a vintage feel. For something even more iconic and vintage, choose a white suit jacket with black lapels.
- Fun: You and your date are the life of the party, and you want your outfits to match. A fun prom dress can include multi-colored material, exciting patterns, asymmetrical cuts and more. Your date can wear a suit with a colorful jacket and matching pants or a patterned jacket and solid color pants that match.
Matching styles is a great way for your date to complement your dress with a dress of their own. You don’t have to wear the same dress to match, either. Instead, the styles should go together enough that you complement each other. Consider details of the gowns, such as:
- Bows
- Ruffles
- Beading
- Asymmetrical skirts
- The length of the hemline
- The type of neckline
You don’t have to match every aspect of each other’s dresses, but one or two similar touches will make you look like a cohesive couple, especially if you choose similar shades.
5. Coordinate Patterns
With a fun pattern in your prom dress, you have the chance for your date to wear a similar print. It’s not always possible to get a perfect match from the pattern in your dress for a tie, shirt or jacket if your date is wearing a suit. Focus on matching either the colors or the pattern instead of stressing over finding an exact match, which you can do with plenty of patterns:
- If your floral print features small, delicate flowers, match it with a floral tie or shirt that has an equally small print.
- If you have a star-inspired print or beaded dress, match it with subtle stars in your date’s tie.
- If you’re going bold with animal print, see if your date is comfortable going with a dramatic animal print tie or jacket.
- If you have an abstract print dress, have your date wear a patterned suit jacket with similar shapes or colors.
For those with dates who prefer a solid color outfit, choose one of the colors from the pattern in your dress to coordinate. Gold is a popular color for abstract, striped and other prints, and that would go well with a gold tie or gold jewelry if your date plans to accessorize.
If your date is also wearing a dress, you don’t have to match patterns, especially if one of you has more subtle tastes. Let the one with a more dramatic style pick out the pattern, and the other can find a dress in a solid color that matches the pattern or base color of the patterned dress.
6. Coordinate Flowers
A corsage and boutonniere are classic, formal touches to prom outfits. These floral additions are the perfect way to match your prom date, even if your outfits don’t match. Choose a corsage and boutonniere with the same color scheme or the same variety of flowers to match each other. While these flowers are traditionally a gift you’ll give to each other the night of prom, feel free to talk about what type and color of flowers you think you should get.
In general, the flowers in these gifts should match or at least compliment that in your dress. For prom-goers with a floral print dress, try to incorporate one of the flower varieties from the pattern into the corsage or boutonniere you give your date.
To coordinate corsages with a date who’s also wearing a dress, consider swapping colors. Wear a corsage in a shade that matches your prom date’s dress, while they wear one that matches yours. This will look especially stunning if you’re wearing complementary colors we mentioned above or different shades of the same color.
7. Pick Your Dress First
With so many colors and styles of prom dresses to consider, it’s best to choose your gown first. You and your date can then choose how they’ll match your outfit if they’re wearing a suit. Feel free to go prom dress shopping with your date if you’re both wearing dresses, as that will make the selection process a bit easier. For some inspiration as you dress shop, consider:
- Your favorite color and your date’s favorite color.
- A color that both of you look good in.
- A color or style that complements the theme of your prom.
If you aren’t looking for a particular color, fabric or pattern, consider the classic black and white. It’ll be simple to match each other, add accessories and pick a corsage or boutonniere.
8. Talk It Out
With so many possible ways to match your date, you should have a conversation about what you both want to wear. Before you get your dress, figure out:
- What your date is comfortable wearing.
- Whether they want to match or not.
- If they had a particular color or pattern in mind.
- If they already know what they want to wear.
Talking about your options before you shop will help narrow down your choices and ensure you’re both on the same page.
Matching Prom Dress Ideas for Friends
Sometimes prom-goers go with a group of friends for a fun night without dates. In that case, you can all coordinate your outfits for prom, but that doesn’t mean you all have to wear the same dress. Instead, you can all try wearing:
- Matching patterns: If you all like to wear florals, make that your group’s central theme. Everyone can then pick their favorite colors, patterns and dress styles that include floral prints or flower details in some way. Do this with any pattern you agree on as a group.
- A color palette: For groups that can’t agree on a pattern or prefer solid colors, create a color palette for everyone to be a part of in your group. Go similar with various shades of pink, blue, green or another color your group likes. You can also add more variety with a cool or warm tone palate, so everyone can choose what they want.
- Similar dress styles: When everyone in your group is wearing a dress and agrees on a favorite style, use that to your advantage. If everyone wants a mermaid dress, a ball gown, a sheath dress or a different style, choose dresses in one style with some differences. A unique neckline on every dress or different colors will give you all something different that still goes together. Not sure what style to wear? Try an A-line dress that works well on all sorts of heights and body types.
Use these and the other tips for matching for prom to create a cohesive look with your prom group that’ll look fabulous in your pictures.
Find Your Dream Prom Dress at Alexandra’s Too
With all of these matching prom date ideas in mind, you’re ready to find your perfect prom dress. At Alexandra’s too, we have prom dresses in a wide array of styles, colors and sizes, so you’ll find just what you need to match your prom date or your group of friends. Choose from fabulous designers, like Jovani, Ellie Wilde, Zoey Grey and more, as you search for the right gown for this special evening.
Explore our prom dresses online or visit us in store to find the perfect gown for you. You’ll have plenty of stylish options to choose from at Alexandra’s too, so you’re sure to find just what you’ve dreamed of for prom night.
