What's Hot Now? Prom Dresses 2012 In the Party

Floral prints make a comeback every spring/summer season, for obvious reasons. This year, the take on florals is a bit impressionist - think blurred watercolors and minute ditsy prints that seem abstract from far away. Ideal accessories for floral prints would be simple and keep in line with the color scheme of your dress. This trend meshes very well with another trend: sheer fabrics. As per Julien MacDonald and Alberta Ferretti above, floral plus sheer equals a very romantic, ethereal ensemble for you to rock at your next formal event.

The first color you probably think of when it comes to warm weather is blue: your favorite dye for Easter eggs, the first cloudless sky of summer, the glimmer of the ocean as you step in to cool off. Maybe these are the thoughts the designers had when they let loose a myriad of dresses in colors inspired by the sea and the sky. These hues of blue look great paired with accessories in a shade or two darker or white and silver.

Sheer fabrics showed up a few seasons ago, and since they don't look to be leaving anytime soon, why not embrace the trend? You're probably thinking, "I'm not wearing anything sheer outside of my bedroom!", but see-through doesn't have to be lewd. Try a dress like Georges Chakra's with a sheer layer over a solid skirt or, like Dolce & Gabbana above, a dress with a sheer/lace yoke (the top part of the dress above the breasts that covers the upper chest and shoulders). These styles look incredibly romantic & ethereal, not to mention peek-a-boo sexy.

Whether you're a girly girl or a rebel at heart, there's a shade of pink for you. Pink is one of the most popular colors for warm weather because it easily invokes innocence and liveliness. The colors stay the same, but every season, designers reinvent the little pink dress with new styles, shapes, and embellishments. This year is about mixing the dual personalities of the perky shade with hot pink ballerina-style dresses, ruched pastel minis, and blazing pink added to a classic ladylike shape, all perfect for rocking your sweet, feminine side and your bad girl side at once.