You've been waiting patiently all year long and now it's here - the glitz, the glamour, the gowns, the guys. No, it's not the MTV Movie Awards. It's that once in a lifetime senior prom.

Plan Ahead Do you recall your time as a Girl Scout and what they tried to teach you? Yep -Be Prepared. And though that lesson was meant to help you survive a night stranded in the woods, it can also be used when buying your prom dress.

Although it might seem ideal, but you won't find the right dress overnight. Planning is essential. You might wind up with a dress that only looks good on a store hanger if you decide to wait until the last minute.

Make It Personal Before you hit the mall, flip through the latest magazines and keep your eye out for a number of things including the style, fit, and color of the gown. But most of all, be objective. The models and actresses in the pages of that magazine will always look good. Why? It's because their body type was considered before picking out a dress for them. This starts with finding one that fits you perfectly.

Just because a dress looked great on Jennifer Aniston, that doesn't mean it will do the job for you. It is very important that you take a realistic and honest look at your body and select a dress that flatters your figure. Find pictures of women with the same body type as you. Are you short or tall? Is there more of you to love or less of you to hold? A dress that looks good on the curvier types will hang like a sack of potatoes on a skinnier frame. The only way to tell for sure which dress will work for you is to go shopping and try them on.

Where to shop Try shopping in different stores and shop early. Even the perfect dress may sometimes needs some alterations like a hem or a tuck here or there. Doing your shopping online may not be the best idea, although it provides a large number of shopping opportunities. Choose local retailers, who are most probably well-stocked for this occasion, because the try-before-you-buy stance is very important. If you are addicted to the internet, save your online buys for your accessories like your handbag or hair ornaments. If you have already tried on the dress and know that it fits, then it is alright to buy it online.

Intelligent Shopping Although all of us would like to look like a princess on our prom night, you have to understand that it can be a big investment. Whether your parents are paying for it or you worked all year long to save up for this occasion, bare in mind that this might be the only time you will be wearing this dress. So rather than sinking your whole bank account into a purchase, shop wisely. Looking out for sales and giving discount houses a chance is also a good idea. You can even rent a gown for the evening. But price it out first. Sometimes a rental can be as expensive. Enjoy your night in style, whatever your choice may be.