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Planning for prom and your prom dress begins months before the big event. Here is a timeline checklist that will keep you on track and make prom fun, not frantic:

Six months to one month before prom:

• Start looking at websites, magazines, books, and shops to narrow down the styles of dress you are interested in
• Set a budget for your prom dress and start saving
• Look for prom dress bargains by shopping online and by searching for sales
• Shop for your prom dress, shoes, and accessories
• Buy your prom dress, shoes, and accessories
• Schedule any alterations to your dress now so that your tailor is not all booked up before prom
• Make appointments for hair, makeup, and any other aesthetic services now

One month before prom

• Try on everything – including the dress, shoes, accessories, hair, and makeup you will have on for prom. Fine-tune the look.    Check all angles and have someone take pictures of your look so that you can make adjustments.
• Get any final accessories or pieces for your look
• If you want to make big changes for prom (such as a perm or new hair color) now is the time to test-run those ideas and get any permanent changes made so that you have time to “grow into” the look

Two weeks before:

• Confirm your hair and makeup appointments
• Visit a florist to consider and order any boutonniere for your dress and to select some corsages to recommend to your date
• If your prom shoes are new, add a no-slip adhesive to the bottoms and consider wearing them around the house to ensure they don’t blister or hurt your feet

One week before prom:

• Do another test run of your look
• Buy an extra pair of stockings to tuck into your purse as well as small items such as breath mints
• Make sure you have a camera that is ready to go to take pictures
• If you want a facial, have it done now
• Have any last-minute alterations completed if you have gained or lost weight and your dress does not fit perfectly

The day before prom:

• Recharge your digital camera and cell phone
• Pick up your boutonniere at the florist
• Pack your purse the night before prom so that you have one less thing to worry about

Prom day

• Do some light exercise in the morning so that you feel your best
• Eat small, nutritious meals so that you have plenty of energy and don’t feel too queasy from anxiety.
• Visit your beauty salon for makeup, hair and other services. Wear a shirt you can easily take off so that you don’t ruin your look.

Once you have your prom dress, your prom accessories and your prom shoes, you will want to put together a prom “survival pack” that will help you get through the night with no major prom dress hassles. Here’s what you will need on the big night:

• A mirrored compact. For touch-ups and to check the back of your prom dress in bathroom mirrors.
• Bobby pins and safety pins for your hair and your prom dress.
• Band-Aids. For minor injuries and in case you get blisters.
• Breath mints or mint gum
• Stain wipes. Consult someone – preferably the store where you bought the dress or the dress designer — about the right on-spot stain remover for your prom dress’s fabric. Never just assume that a spot remover is right for the fabric of your dress – read the packaging carefully or you may ruin your prom dress.
• Nail File.
• Camera.
• Kleenex.
• Concealer. This is smaller to fit in your purse than foundation and can help you touch up. The stress of prom can also cause blemishes to show up on the big night, so be prepared.
• Lip stick or gloss. As you eat or drink, you may need to refresh your color.
• Extra cash. You may need to grab a cab home or you may need to make a stop at a convenience store, so be prepared.
• A few cotton swabs. Makeup can run or smudge, even if it is waterproof, and swabs are a great way to take care of any errant color.
• Pain reliever.
• Your cell phone. Turn it off during prom so that you can enjoy yourself, but keep your phone handy in case you need to hail a cab or find yourself in a difficult or dangerous situation. Safety first.

Since it’s the season for prom dress shopping, you may want to print off this checklist to bring with you when you shop. It can help you prevent a big mistake:

• All the snaps, closures and zippers on the dress work and are in good shape.
• The material of the dress has no flaws and is the right color for your coloring.
• The prom dress is the right length and shape for your body.
• The prom dress fits and is the right size.
• The straps or sleeves fit and do not slide off or pinch.
• You’ve tested the dress while sitting, standing, dancing, lifting your hands, jumping, and crouching, and the dress does not shift, pinch, bunch or do anything else.
• The dress does not pucker or bulge out anywhere, no matter what you do in it.
• The dress does not require any adjustments.
• If you need special underwear or a bra for the dress, you’ve found the underwear and have tried it on and found it comfortable.
• If you need alterations, you’ve talked to a tailor, who feels that the alterations are possible and realistic.
• If you need alterations, you can afford them.
• The prom dress is in your budget.
• You can find accessories and shoes to match the dress.
• You’ve taken a picture of yourself in the prom dress and thought about the dress and still love it.
• You’ve comparison shopped for this prom dress online and have not found a better deal.
• You’ve asked the store for any possible discounts on this prom dress.
• You’ve asked at least two second opinions of this dress and have been told it looks great.
• You’ve tried on at least seven prom dresses and like this one the best.
• The dress does not require extensive changes to look great.
• The dress is made from a fabric that will not easily snag or stain (especially under the arms).
• You’ve seen the dress in different lighting – including daylight – and still love it.
• The dress is not damaged in any way or any damage is minor and you have checked to make sure it can be fixed.
• You’ve tried on the dress with the underwear and the type of shoes you plan to wear and you are comfortable and the overall look is great.
• The prom dress is comfortable.
• You’ve tried on the dress in front of a three-way mirror and have taken pictures of yourself in the dress from all angles and you look all-around good in the dress.