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If you’re buying a prom dress now, you’re doing the right thing. Not only do you have tons of options to choose from, but you have the time to hunt for the perfect dress at the right price. While others are stressed out in spring, trying to find their dresses, you will be able to breathe a huge sigh of relief, knowing that you have the dress taken care of. All you need to do now is to make sure that a few minor details are also taken care of:

• Sudden stains. If you’ve tried on your dress a few times, you’ve hopefully had a t-shirt on to prevent your makeup, deodorant and makeup from staining your dress. If you haven’t taken this precaution, you may want to have your dress professionally cleaned to prevent these stains from showing up. Look over your dress in daylight outside to make sure that there are no little stains you haven’t noticed.
• Sudden body changes. If you’re buying your dress now, you are shopping for your body as it is now. If you lose or gain weight before prom night, you may need to make adjustments to your dress in order to fit into your gown. Try on your prom dress a few weeks before the big day to make sure that your dress still fits. If not, head to the tailor to have it adjusted.
• Style or taste changes. If you have read this blog, you likely already know all the insider tips for finding a hot style and a dress you love. However, if you find that your style changes, you might consider having your dress altered a few weeks before prom or you may consider splurging on a few accessories you love.
• Oversights. If you have your dress all ready, it’s easy to forget about everything else that goes with the dress – hair, makeup, accessories, pursues, and shoes. Create a checklist of things you need to go with your dress and post it where you will see it so that you don’t overlook anything.

There are lots of benefits to shopping for a prom dress online. You can often save a lot of time, because you don’t have to run around to every shop in town. You can shop for your prom dress around the clock and enjoy the convenience of having your dress delivered right to your door. Best of all, you have an almost limitless selection of dresses to choose from, no matter where you live.

There are a few drawbacks to buying prom dresses online, though. You need to give yourself extra time to allow for delivery. Also, you cannot try on dresses online, and this makes some shoppers nervous. Luckily, there are ways you can overcome these two small problems:

1) Start shopping early. Even if you can buy your dress and have it shipped to you within a week or less, shop very early in case you need to return a dress or exchange it or in case shipping takes longer than you expect. Keep in mind, too, that you may need extra time for alterations.

2) Shop a lot. Since online shopping is so convenient, spend a lot of time looking at blogs, online shops and other sources of information about prom dresses. Compare dress designers, dress styles and prices.

3) Save your best bets. Create a bookmark folder and save any pages where you find prom dresses you love. That way, you can easily find the dresses that interested you.

4) Once you create a short list of dresses you like, consider visiting some local stores. You will want to try on dresses in the same style and made by the same designer (where possible) to get a sense of the size you want. Trying on similar dresses will also give you an accurate idea of what the dress will look like on you.

5) Choose your retailers carefully. Only do business with online stores that seem reputable. This means that the retailer should have happy customers, should be easy to reach by phone (in case there is a problem) and should have a no-hassle return policy in case the dress is not exactly as shown on the website. Before placing your order, talk to other customers who have bought dresses from the same online store and make sure that the website is encrypted so that no one can get your credit card number. Try to buy from retailers based in the same country where you are located. If you don’t your dress may take longer to get to you and you may end up paying duties on the dress as well, since the dress will need to cross international borders.

6) Don’t forget about used prom dresses online. Online auction sites, swap websites and used clothing stores exist online. They can be a great way to get a super dress – even a designer dress – for very little. Just be sure that you understand exactly what you are buying and be sure to ask for detailed pictures of the item and ask about any small flaws. You don’t want to buy a prom dress only to find that it is stained or has rips.

Are you having a hard time finding prom dresses that fit your budget and your body? Do you have a hard time determining which prom dresses are most flattering for you? Sure, you may know that you should choose a prom dress that looks good with your body shape, but telling objectively which prom dresses look great and which do not is not always easy. Taking along a friend can help, but even that is not a sure bet – your best friend may not understand different fabrics, styles and options much better than you do.

Since prom is such an important, once-in-a-lifetime event, some women hire professionals to help them look for a prom dress. In general, there are two types of professionals who can help you find a prom dress: personal shoppers and image consultants.

Image consultants are professionals who help men and women present themselves in the best possible light. For a fee – sometimes a hefty fee – they can help you analyze your body shape, best colors, and best prom dress styles. For another fee, they can accompany you to stores to help you find the right prom dress. Some image consultants offer special prom packages that include hair and makeup consultation, dress consultation, and even etiquette classes so that you end up looking your best. Some image consultants even offer special prom makeovers. These services can cost quite a bit but can certainly give you a boost of confidence that can last well beyond prom. If you do decide to hire an image consultant, check their references and experience carefully. Ask to look at pictures of other clients they have helped to make sure that the image you end up with is something that will make you happy.

There are actually two types of personal shoppers: those that work on a freelance basis and those that are hired by stores. Freelance personal shoppers charge you a fee (often by the hour) and go with you from store to store, looking for a prom dress that meets your style, body shape, and budget. Unlike image consultants, these personal shoppers will often not advise you about hair, makeup or etiquette. If you decide to hire this type of personal shopper, check their qualifications carefully. Are other customers happy with their work? Do they know about different fabrics, dress styles and current trends? Do they have experience with prom dresses in particular?

In-store personal shoppers are hired by larger department stores to help you look for clothes. You can certainly use these shoppers to help you find a prom dress that looks great and suits your budget. There is no charge for this service, but keep in mind that in-store personal shoppers will only help you look for a dress within one store. They will not help you find a dress in another store. Still, you may at least want to have a consultation with one of these personal shoppers. You may get good tips and you won’t have to pay anything, even if you do not end up buying a dress.

Telling whether a prom dress looks great on you or not is not as easy as it sounds. Plenty of women buy a great dress that they love, only to regret the purchase later on. To avoid this from happening to you, make sure that you:

1) Use three-way mirrors. Other people see you in 3-D, so you should check out yourself from different angles, as well.

2) Try to see your prom dress in different types of lighting. Many stores have special lighting meant to create the most flattering impression possible. You may find that your dress seems a very different color in the store than in daylight. Where possible, examine your dress in a few different lights – the store lights, day light and a lighting that is similar to what your prom lighting will be. You may need to take a shop assistant with you to examine the dress in daylight, but it is well worth it.

3) Take a friend with you. Take the most honest friend you have when you shop for prom dresses. A second opinion is often very useful.

4) Move in your dress before a three-way mirror. Sit down, dance around, lift your arms well above your head, bend over. Does you dress scrunch up strangely, ride up, or do cut into your skin. Do the straps stay in place? A dress that makes you self-conscious about moving is not the dress for you.

5) Wear the right underwear and shoes when shopping. When shopping for prom dresses, wear the underwear and bra you will wear on prom night and bring along the shoes you will wear (if you have them). This will give you the best idea of how well your overall prom look will work.

6) Take a picture or a video. Take a digital camera with you into the changing room. A picture (full-length, preferably from a few different angles) or a video can help you figure out whether a dress looks strange. With a picture, you can consider your prom look at home, away from high-pressure sales tactics. Pictures can also give you a more impartial look at your prom dress.

Buying the perfect prom dress is not like buying the perfect pair of jeans. Most of us only go shopping for formal wear once in a while and many of us buy prom dresses in stores where we don’t normally shop. All of this means that we need to take a few extra precautions to avoid making costly – or ghastly — mistakes:

1) Develop a budget. Okay, it’s not exactly sexy, but a budget is important. You can easily spend thousands of dollars on prom and end up deeply in debt. Knowing what your budget for shoes and dresses is right from the start can also help you avoid disappointment, since you can steer clear of too-expensive prom dresses before you become attached to them.

2) Do Research. Again, it’s not sexy, but it’s useful. Look at celebrity red-carpet looks, catalogues, bridal magazines featuring bridesmaid dresses, and magazines featuring prom dresses. Which designers or brand names have the dresses you like? What colors and styles do you like best? Where can you buy the dresses you like best? What is the average price for the prom dresses that you like best? Knowing what you are looking for helps you find it and knowing how much you can expect to pay for your perfect prom dress helps you recognize a deal when you see it.

3) Know what is flattering on you. If you’re not sure, there are many websites and books that teach you how to choose clothes that are flattering for your body shape.

4) Do a lot of comparison shopping. Take friends along with you to compare how different dresses look on you and compare lots of different dresses before selecting one. Try on as many prom dresses as you can – even those you think don’t quite suit you. Sometimes, a particular style or cut can surprise you.

5) Buy your shoes and accessories when you buy your dress or bring your dress along when you shop for the rest of your outfit. You want to create a look that works together.

6) Give yourself time. When you find a great prom dress, it’s very tempting to snap up the dress right away. However, the excitement of shopping, a sales person’s comments and your own initial excitement may wear off, leaving you with a prom dress you don’t love. When you find a prom dress you think may be “the one” ask the store to put it aside and think over your purchase before you buy.

Cocktail dresses are formal or semi-formal dresses that come in all lengths but tend to stop just above the knee. If you have been invited to an event where a cocktail gown will be needed, go shopping with these style points in mind:

1) Length: Many cocktail dresses are above the knee, while tea length cocktail dresses stop two inches above the ankle. Ballerina length dresses reach the ankles. In general, the longer styles of cocktail dress are more formal and look great on women who are taller.

2) Shape: From a-line to classic tank-style dresses, you can find a cocktail dress in just about every shape and style. Ideally, stay away from extremes that are the opposite of what you are. If you are petite, for example, a huge dress can overwhelm you. If you are tall, a cropped dress will make you look even taller.

3) Details: Keep details – including beading and fancy collars – to an absolute minimum. You will get the most wear from your cocktail dress if you add pizzazz with accessories and fussy details will just aggravate you.

4) Fabric: Cocktail dresses come in silk, satin, chiffon, and many other fabrics. Touch and try on many different fabrics until you find the one that feels perfect. Keep in mind that soft, flowing fabrics are always more flattering that stiff or clingy ones.

5) Color: Darker colors and bright gem colors are popular during the winter while paler colors are popular in the warmer months. That said, though, always choose a color that is flattering to your skin.

When the leaves turn color, it’s time to start thinking about all the upcoming special events. From holiday parties to Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, the winter months tend to be long on glitz. If you are getting invitations in the email, it’s time to update your party look. The stores are full of formal dresses right now, including full-length ball gowns for white tie affairs and cocktail dresses for semi-formal and formal events.

Unfortunately, all that holiday buying can mean that your budget is somewhat sparse. If this is the case, you need a good action plan to get your closet into holiday shape:

1) Look over what you have. Pull out last year’s finery, your accessories, and even dig out those party dresses from two years ago. Does anything need mending? If so, now is the time to visit the tailor. Get any promising formal dresses professionally cleaned so that they are looking their best. Classic dresses can likely still suit in a pinch this year, with updated accessories. Anything that does not look or feel great gets donated to charity right now. That karma will come in handy when you hit the stores.

2) Evaluate your likely needs. Pull out your calendar and look at your holiday schedule. What trips are you going on that will require formal wear? What parties do you anticipate? What sort of formal dress could you wear to each event?

3) Go window shopping. This is the fun part. Hit the stores to look at the new arrivals for the holiday season. Many stores will now have new stock and you will enjoy the best selection of formal dresses right now. Of course, most of the new arrivals will be at full retail, but looking will give you a good idea of which dresses you might want.

4) Get some retail support. Find out about upcoming store sales and promotions. Get friendly with the sales staff and ask them to call you if a particular formal dress you love goes on sale. Get on store mailing lists so that you will be aware of upcoming store events.

When the leaves turn color, it’s time to start thinking about all the upcoming special events. From holiday parties to Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, the winter months tend to be long on glitz. If you are getting invitations in the email, it’s time to update your party look. The stores are full of formal dresses right now, including full-length ball gowns for white tie affairs and cocktail dresses for semi-formal and formal events.

Unfortunately, all that holiday buying can mean that your budget is somewhat sparse. If this is the case, you need a good action plan to get your closet into holiday shape:

1) Look over what you have. Pull out last year’s finery, your accessories, and even dig out those party dresses from two years ago. Does anything need mending? If so, now is the time to visit the tailor. Get any promising formal dresses professionally cleaned so that they are looking their best. Classic dresses can likely still suit in a pinch this year, with updated accessories. Anything that does not look or feel great gets donated to charity right now. That karma will come in handy when you hit the stores.

2) Evaluate your likely needs. Pull out your calendar and look at your holiday schedule. What trips are you going on that will require formal wear? What parties do you anticipate? What sort of formal dress could you wear to each event?

3) Go window shopping. This is the fun part. Hit the stores to look at the new arrivals for the holiday season. Many stores will now have new stock and you will enjoy the best selection of formal dresses right now. Of course, most of the new arrivals will be at full retail, but looking will give you a good idea of which dresses you might want.

4) Get some retail support. Find out about upcoming store sales and promotions. Get friendly with the sales staff and ask them to call you if a particular formal dress you love goes on sale. Get on store mailing lists so that you will be aware of upcoming store events.<-->