by Sarah Huth

Created on: May 10, 2008

Going to your senior prom is one of those events that only happens once, so it's important to make sure that you do things right! While finding the perfect dress is the first step to a great prom night, there are several other accessories that are needed to go along with it in order to make sure that you have the time of your life!

The first and most obvious accessory is a great pair of shoes. For the ladies, it's important to find something that goes well with your dress, above all else. If you have a very simple dress, for example, it would be OK to choose a pair of shoes that had more of an edgy look to them. If your dress itself has multiple colors, patterns, or anything else, it might be a better idea to stick to a simpler shoe. A nice pair of solid colored heels works well with anything; try to find a color from your dress and match it to your shoe. Make sure you don't go for anything that's too hard to walk in though! You'll still want to be able to dance the night away! As far as nylons or tights go, it's best to stick with a basic nude. However, if you're going to go for an edgier look, try something more interesting. Use your best discretion, and just make sure that you don't make things too chaotic or overly patterned. As long as it looks good with your dress, you're good to go!

Next on the list is some sort of handbag or clutch. You don't want something big or bulky that's going to weigh you down, or that you'll want to set down at some point while you go dance. However, you're going to need something that will hold several smaller prom night must haves, including but not limited to, a cellphone, camera, lipstick, breath mints, some money, and a pocket compact. The cellphone is good for keeping track of the rest of your prom group, and letting mom and dad know the plan for the rest of the night. Forgetting your camera would be horrible; you want to remember your prom forever, don't you? Lipstick, a compact, and breath mints will help you maintain your gorgeous prom appearance, and it's always good to have a couple of extra dollars on you for later. As far as a bag goes, follow the same advice as picking out a pair of good prom shoes. Match it to your dress, and if your dress is busy, keep the bag simple, and vice versa.

You're also going to need some jewelry to accent your gorgeous prom attire. The best advice for this is to keep it simple! Pick one piece of jewelry that you really like and let the other pieces act as accept pieces. For example, if you pick a large, flashy necklace, don't pick large flashy earrings, bracelets, and rings. It will look very tacky, and not give you the elegant look that prom is all about. Go for a smaller pair of earrings, and maybe one other small piece. Also, don't wear anything cheap, plastic, or bought at Claire's. This is your prom; go for the nice stuff! This doesn't mean that you have to spend a huge amount of money on your prom jewelry, but look for things that are more elegant and less excessive.

Finally, the last important accessory is a good prom date. Go with someone that you know you'll have a good time with, because really, that's what prom is all about. If you're not dating anyone, don't sweat it. Go with a really good guy friend that is sure to make you laugh and will treat you like a princess, or go with a group of girls that don't have dates; while the couples are slow dancing, you can all scope out the single guys! Just remember, it would be better to with no date at all than to go with someone who is going to be rude, obnoxious, or will ruin your overall prom experience for you. This is your night, and you deserve to go with someone who will help you shine!

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