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Prom dresses are meant to see you dancing into the early hours. If you’ve snagged a great Morrell Maxie prom dress, Alberto Makali prom dress, or Jovani prom dress, you’ll want to show it off on the dance floor. Here’s how to make sure that you can actually keep up in the whirl of the night:

• Get plenty of rest leading up to prom. Sure, there’s lots to do, but take time to rest, east well, and give your body a break. You want to be well rested and you will want to be healthy so that you can dance away care-free. As an added bonus, well-rested will mean prettier, since you won’t have to worry about dark under-eye circles. Plan to take a short nap in the afternoon of prom day. Just set your alarm clock to make sure you don’t sleep too long.
• Break in your shoes. If you have bought new shoes for prom, wear them around the house, at least a little bit each day for at least a week before prom. This will let you get used to the shoes (especially important if you are not used to high heels) and will reduce the chances of blisters on the big night.
• If there is anything going on with your dress that means fiddling, get it fixed before prom. The last thing you want to do is sit at your table all prom night because you are nervous about your top falling out of place. Visit a tailor so that you dress fits perfectly and feels great.
• Buy ball-of-foot silicone cushions or gel insoles to make your shoes feel more comfortable. If you’re not sure which accessories to buy for your shoes, visit a good shoes store to find out your options. Gel insoles or silicone cushions make heels much, much more comfortable.

If you already have your perfect prom dress – whether it’s a Terani prom dress, Alberto Makali prom dress, Jovani prom dress, or ABS Prom dress – you will want the perfect accessories to pair with your look. The hottest trends for accessories this year are:

• Recycled accessories. It’s hip to care about the earth and many companies are creating clutches, rings and other accessories made from recycled products. These accessories are pretty and pretty nice for the environment, so it really is a win-win situation.
• Feathers. Jessica Alba wore pretty feathers on her dress at the Oscars last year and since then everyone has been feathering their nests with these soft accessories. You can opt for a clutch with a flurry of feathers, a boa, a soft barrette made of feathers or other accessories. This trend works especially well with the animal print trend we have been seeing this prom season. An animal print Jovani prom dress or Morrell Maxie prom dress with feathered accessories will look very fierce.
• Bold rings. If the rest of your dress is quite simple, a bold, modern cocktail ring looks great without overdoing it.
• Brightly-colored pumps. Why keep your toes in traditional black or just match the color to your dress? It’s ok to choose a nice, complementary color for your shoes to make your prom look really your own.
• Evening headbands. Headbands with a little sparkle are quite popular this prom season, thanks to Gossip Girl. It’s a great way to keep your hair out of your face while looking stylish.

Choosing the wrong dress or the wrong accessories for your dress can make you look less than you best. Whether you have decided to buy a Jovani prom dress, Terani prom dress, Alberto Makali prom dress, or another prom dress, make sure that you avoid these common blunders with your overall look:

• Thick shoes. For prom, you want a stiletto heel and pointy toes to look flirty and feminine. Chunky shoes will make your legs look larger and call too much attention to your feet. If you can’t stand the thought of stiletto heels, choose a small kitten heel pointy toe shoe, or the tiniest wedge you can find for comfort and style.
• The wrong tights. Try on different pantyhose or tights with your dress and ask for help if you are in doubt. A good lingerie store will have a salesperson who can help. If you’re still not sure, black tights or pantyhose are usually a good, safe bet.
• Too many patterns. If you have an animal print or floral dress, go simpler with your accessories and choose a wrap and a clutch in a solid color. If you have a solid-color dress, it’s fine to add a brightly-patterned clutch to the look.
• Too much jewelry. If you love bold jewelry, choose one bold piece and a simple dress. If your dress is quite elaborate, go with a very simple pair of earrings, simple necklace and maybe a modest ring.
• Day-time purse. For prom, you should avoid a purse with straps. It’s more convenient, but also breaks up the lines of your dress. Choose the smallest and pretties clutch you can find.
• Visible panty lines. Do we really have to explain why these are a problem? If your dress is pale or slinky, you will need Spanx or a similar product.

If you don’t already have a little black dress in your wardrobe, make sure you put this item on your New Year shopping list. The “little black dress” (LBD) will make 2009 much simpler for you since it will allow you to always have something to wear. Whether you need a work outfit, a formal evening dress, or a casual brunch outfit, you can turn a basic little black dress into something to suit your needs. Just select the best quality, simplest and most flattering little black dress you can find and use these tips to make your dress into something amazing:

• Pull on a blazer, or fine cardigan over your little black dress, toss on some conservative jewelry and some good shoes and you have an office outfit.
• Slip a beautiful white shirt under a sleeveless or strappy little black dress for a great and trendy brunch outfit.
• Pair your little black dress with a small evening clutch, strappy high heel sandals and some great jewelry for an evening out.
• If you have longer hair, pull your hair into a French twist, add some drop earrings and a pair of gorgeous closed-toe shoes as well as a fur cape, stole or short jacket and transform your little black dress into old Hollywood glamour.
• Toss on a turtleneck or long-sleeved knit top under your little black dress, add some thick tights and funky boots for a cute weekend outfit.
• Go hip with your little black dress by pairing it with a thick belt, boots, and bold jewelry.
• Toss on some sunglasses, a hat or a scarf for a movie queen weekend look.

While you may wear a simple purse in everyday life, slipping on an evening dress means that you can go Cinderella with your evening handbag, too. Rather than thinking of your evening handbag as functional, think of it as jewel that brings your outfit together. Here’s what you need to look for:

1) Size. You do not want a large purse with large straps. Think small. Most of the most beautiful evening handbags hold a bit of money and a lipstick. Anything else you need for your evening out you may want to slip into your car or your coat pocket.

2) Materials. Organza, taffeta, softest leathers, sateen, brocade, silk and velvet are all great options for evening handbags. Your bag does not have to match your evening dress fabric, so experiment until you find a fabric that makes you feel luxurious.

3) Detailing. Many evening boast stunning embroideries, boas, feathers, glass beads, fancy clasps, or gemstones. Look for a purse that has detailing that makes you smile.

4) Color. Look for a bag that is similar in color to your evening dress or contains a color that is in your dress. If your evening dress is an unusual color, go for a black bag.

Beautiful shoes are like fine chocolate – wonderful, decadent, and the perfect luxury. If you are wearing a wonderful cocktail dress out this season, you will want the perfect shoe to go with it. Here are some great options:

1) High Heels. Not the choice of comfort, high heels are nevertheless the epitome of sexy. They elongate the leg and make you appear taller and slimmer.

2) Pumps. Originally called “court shoes,” these shoes look like a cross between high heels and ballerina shoes. They are more comfortable than high heels but give you an added lift.

3) Slingpumps. These shoes have a strap in the back, keeping the back of your foot free. The look is classy and formal but still sexy. To wear these shoes, you will want to make sure that you will not be walking far in winter weather. You may also want to make sure that your feet and heels are baby-smooth before your night out.

Don’t just stick with basic black shoes, even with a black dress. Look at shiny or bright fabrics and exciting details that draw the eye to your toes tapping. Of course, always do a walk test and buy no-slip stickers for the bottoms of new shoes to prevent making an “unforgettable” entrance.

It’s certainly not too early to start looking for prom accessories to compliment that stunning prom dress. Accessories transform your prom dress into something unique and right now is the perfect time to buy prom accessories, since many stores are stocking up on evening dress accessories. When shopping, look for:

1) Handbags. From clutches to small satchels, evening handbags should be like jewels – small and formal. Make sure that your handbag is festive and has enough space to stash what you will need for the night. If you have a simple dress, you can really go for a fancy handbag with plenty of sparkle, boas or a beautiful pattern.

2) Corsages. While it is traditional for a date to bring a corsage, many guys don’t know much about flowers. You might want to decide ahead of time what you would like and let your date know what would work with your dress. Or, you can buy your own corsage and get the exact look you want.

3) Earrings. If your dress is simple, dramatic dangling earrings might work. Otherwise, simple drop earrings are always graceful and beautiful.

4) Necklaces. If you are not doing anything dramatic with the rest of your finery, a bold necklace can make your dress look wonderful. Choose long necklaces if you’re not well-endowed and stick with chokers and shorter necklaces if you are full-chested or are wearing a dress with lots of detail.

5) Gloves. Long, opera-length gloves in a glam fabric like satin look wonderfully glamorous. If your dress does not come with gloves, buy a white pair and have a professional dye them to match your dress perfectly.

6) Tiaras. Tiaras add a little dress-up and fun to a prom. They are a great way to draw attention to your face and make you feel like royalty.

The basic black tube dress is a classic in most wardrobes but it can get a little dull if you only wear it with black shoes. Here are some tips for jazzing up your look with accessories:

1) If you are going casual, try a thin silver necklace that hits above the neckline and does not compete with it. A silver watch to match and a pair of metallic shoes complete the look.

2) For a classic look, drop pear earrings, a string of pearls (real or fake) and a large clutch will be dramatic and classy.

3) For a more dramatic look, select a small metallic clutch, chandelier earrings and bold shoes. With this look, simple hair and makeup (perhaps with slightly dramatic eyes) are a good choice.

4) Go for a bold choker that calls attention to your face and does not get in the way of the neckline. Go with a simple black evening bag and simple but sky-high black heels.

5) Loosely loop a thin silver belt around the waist to create the illusion of curves.

6) Wrap a luxurious cashmere shawl around yourself, grab a clutch and push your hair up into a classy twist. A pair of simple high heels complete this easy and elegant look. This look is perfect for outdoor events where you might be a little chilly, too.

Even if you spend hours picking out the perfect dresses, you need a lot more than super outfits to really pull off a formal or fun look. The total effect also takes:

1) Etiquette. No matter how you are dressed, being able to present yourself with poise, confidence, and grace are important. No one wants to deal with a slob who happens to be nicely dressed. Learn the basics about etiquette by reading up about it or contact a local image consultant for a quick workshop on poise.

2) Accessories. Shoes, purses, earrings and other accessories can really make party dresses your own, so spend as much time shopping for the little extras as you spend on your party dresses.

3) Makeup. Applying beautiful makeup is a wonderful way to make your face as stunning as your dress. If you need some ideas, YouTube superstar panacea81 is amazing. Her very detailed makeup tutorials online are all you need to get over any makeup fears you have. There is a reason why she is one of the stars of YouTube. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about party makeup is here.

4) The walk. Tripping over your high heel shoes can ruin your dress and sink your confidence. Once again, YouTube comes to the rescue.