Oh, what a night!

Once, my brother and I saw a lot of young girls dressed to the nines with corsages. They were with guys who wore suits and ties that looked like they came straight out of their dads’ closets.

My brother asked me whether it was prom season again and indeed it was. Feeling nostalgic, we recalled our own prom experiences – of some guys (including him) wearing suits that they had either outgrown or still needed to grow into, of how exciting it was to get ready, the long line to get your photos taken, the silly people who tried too hard to stand out, and the after-parties. Like many others, my own experience of prom was nothing terribly traumatic or exciting. One of the things I enjoyed most about it was finding something great to wear. If I were to go through the whole thing all over again, there are some things that I would keep in mind.

First, be practical. Remember that prom is just one night. It’s best to get something that you can use again and will love as much in five years as you did when you first bought it. A friend of mine decided to use separate pieces for her dress so that she could mix and match them with the rest of her wardrobe later on. After all, with prom over and done with, many of your friends’ debuts are just around the corner and you’re going to need a whole lot of formal ensembles.

It also pays to be creative. If you don’t want to spend for a whole new outfit, you can reinvent something old with a few alterations, the right accessories, and a perfect pair of shoes. Don’t be afraid to be different either. In high school no one wants to be an outcast. It’s difficult to be a social pariah but it’s even sadder to simply get lost in the crowd and look like everyone else. If there’s something you want to wear, just do it and don’t worry about what other people will say or think. Whether it’s because of a simpler silhouette, a shocking color, or a striking accessory, it’s much better to stand out than be part of the sea of corset tops and matching ball skirts that most girls wear.

If, between finding a date, catching up with your schoolwork and running errands, you can’t find the time to go to a designer or your favorite dressmaker, don’t fret. Now is a great time to scour the malls for the perfect prom dress. Not only are most of your favorite stores on sale right now, you’ll also find that there are a lot of foreign brands like Warehouse with stylish dresses at very reasonable prices. For everything you might need – from shoes to even a tiara – there are always department stores like SM where you can guiltlessly hoard items without going broke.

The most important thing to bear in mind, though, is that years from now what you’ll remember most about prom is not what shoes you wore or how you did your hair, but rather, all the crazy things that you did and how much fun you had. Finding the perfect dress doesn’t mean anything if you’re not confident or comfortable in what you’re wearing. A good date helps, too – whether it’s the guy that you’ve had a crush on since forever or your best friend. The way the prom turns out for you – from total disappointment to downright disaster or everything that you dreamed it would be – has a lot to do with who you spend it with. So don’t let bad company and an ill-fitting dress deprive you of having the time of your life.