There's no doubt that you've probably envisioned your dream prom dress or gown years ago in anticipation of your own prom night. It might have been a dress you saw while passing by a boutique or mall window or something that Lindsay Lohan wore on the red carpet or featured in a Gossip Girl episode. You might even have drawn a design on your own or pieced up different parts that you like from different dresses and gowns. It's good to be creative and to know what you like. However, you should also be open to changes and fresh ideas. The dress or gown you picture yourself wearing might not suit you that well or another may suit you better. What's important is for you to be game to try on different styles, even the ones you did not instantly fall in love with on display, so that you get to have comparisons and see more clearly which one you would want to wear to the prom.

On this special night which you get to experience only once in your life, you certainly must wear the perfect dress that you'll look beautiful in and stand out in. Here are some things you should remember or consider when looking for the perfect prom dress or gown to wear on your prom night.

Make the time

Finding the perfect dress is not as easy as it seems. It definitely isn't as quick and easy as impulse shopping. It can even be so laborious to the point of exhaustion so be sure to make the time. Prom dress shopping should ideally be done at least a month or two before the set event date so you can explore your options and not be bogged down with this difficulty as the day draws nearer. Moreover, if you are purchasing your dress online, you should consider the time it takes for the package to be delivered, for returns if there is anything wrong with your dress, and for alterations.

Browse through magazine and internet catalogs

If you haven't got clue one as to what prom dress or gown you want, a good way to gather ideas is to browse magazine and internet catalogs. There are a lot of styles, designs, and colors to choose from such as halter dresses, tube gowns, dresses and gowns with asymmetrical cuts, and lots more. There are even ones that come with lace, sequins, glitters, and other embroidery. If you can't find one that you like, you may also want to check out bridal magazines and catalogs. Some bridesmaid dresses make great prom gowns.

Know your figure: height, size, and shape

Most people don't have the perfect body that just about suits any dress style. More often than not, you find yourself secretly wanting a bigger bust, longer legs, a slimmer figure, etcetera. Knowing your body shape and size is very instrumental in being able to pick the perfect prom dress to wear on the most memorable night of your life. Knowledge of your figure will enable you to pick the dress that will either hide those imperfections or enhance them to better your figure.
It is highly recommended for petite girls to wear short dresses that would show off their legs and give the illusion of added height. Wearing floor length gowns might not be so wise as you would be achieving the opposite. Tall girls encounter less problems when it comes to dress or gown length. They have the liberty to choose any from the two.
Size isn't so much of a problem because a lot of dressmakers now manufacture plus-size dresses for bigger ladies.
Knowing your body shape is tricky and yet important. It is tricky because some could be skinny yet have very broad shoulders that make them look muscular. Some are pear-shaped yet long-legged, and so on. Your body shape is a key determinant on whether or not a certain style will fit you. Some may look good on the magazine pages, internet catalogs, or cloth racks but may not exactly look good on you.

Decide whether you want a short or a long dress

Again, with dress length, you should take into consideration your height. Nonetheless, you have the liberty to choose your dress's length because the abovementioned recommendations regarding height and dress length are general and may not exactly apply to all. If you are petite but you really fancy a long dress, try having one designed especially for you. This way you get to have the dress you fancy while not compromising your overall look.

Comb through the racks

Window shopping and combing through the clothes rack of different boutiques is another way to get a variety of ideas for the perfect dress. Moreover, this is always a fun past time for any girl who's excited for her prom night.

Try out different styles and colours

While combing through the racks, you could also try on some that you fancy. Bring a friend or two to consult with. Bringing friends while trying on any outfit can be very helpful because they can tell you if a style you've chosen looks good on you or not. They can also help you decide if you are finding it hard picking from 2 or 3 dresses that you've tried on.
When picking dresses to fit, choose one or two dresses that you don't really like but are decent nonetheless. You never know if that one will suit you best. Also try on different colours and designs. Do not limit yourself to your favourites. If you are dark-skinned, you may want to choose a white dress or a bright-coloured gown to accentuate your skin colour. If you're fair to pale-skinned, try avoiding pale colours that make you even paler. Dark ones are especially trendy nowadays. Moreover, dark-coloured dresses can do wonders for plump ladies who want to appear slimmer. Coupled with the right style or design, you could look 1-3 sizes smaller.