Having trouble picking a prom dress? Take inspo from these hot-off-the-runway looks

Prom dress shopping is supposed to be super fun, but it can be a bit overwhelming when it comes time to scour those racks for the perfect look. With so many options out there, it's hard to decide between pretty in pink or stylishly sequined. And this time of year always makes Jessi Cruickshank think back to her own prom experience. Her parents let her wear whatever she wanted, so she wore leopard print and a cowboy hat. Since that day, she's made it her life's mission to make sure no other girl goes to prom dressed like she did. So this season she's pulled her five fave trends straight from the runways to inspire your ensemble and help you look for that dream dress.

Pretty pastels

Any pastel will do for spring, but this season specifically, it's all about the pink pastel as seen on the Preen and Marques Almeida, Tom Ford and Valentino runways (the last two pictured above). Soft pastels are youthful and feminine — perfect for a girl on prom night. Millennial pink or blush pink are great choices, but if pink isn't your colour, opt for any other pastel and you can't go wrong.

Magical metallics

These metallics are a great way to make a modern and bold statement. Donatella Versace celebrated her brother and metallics by dressing the original supermodels in matching metallic dresses for her SS18 runway show. Any shade of gold, silver or bronze will do. You'll look like a movie star or supermodel and it'll be tough for people to take their eyes off you.

The dramatic one-shoulder

This is a huge trend this season, as seen on the runways for Valentino, Stella McCartney and Ralph & Russo. It's a little more revealing, but in a tasteful, classy way. This trend is young, flirty, and very flattering. Plus it's perfect for a special occasion and is likely to be more unique than the ever-popular strapless dress style.

Cute cut outs

Cut outs have been huge in the fashion world for seasons now, and they're still going strong, as seen on the spring/summer runways from Ralph and Russo and Jason Wu. This trend doesn't mean you have to go for huge gaping holes, though. Designers are taking a classy and conservative approach to the cut out lately and it's very current and beautiful when done well. You'll see cut outs on the sides of dresses and even the back. An open, exposed back is also very trendy for prom dresses this season.

Sequins and embroidery galore

This will always be trendy for prom dresses, but it's even bigger this year. Designers like Emilia Wickstead, Julien MacDonald, Marc Jacobs (all pictured above) and Erdem used sequin and embroidery with metallics at their spring runway shows. Sequins and metallics are great ways to add some character and texture to a dress, which makes it a little more special for your big night. As always, embroidery specifically has a luxe feel and sequins are a staple for any party dress.