The Prom! Probably one of the occasions in a woman's life where the dress must be perfect. It's an event that's enough to send many a teenage girl into alternating bouts of excited raptures and blind panic, with the latter owing to the pressure of doing everything - from picking the most divine of party dresses, to settling on one of a myriad of prom hairstyles - right. In fact, for some, deciding on a prom dress is a lot more stressful than making it to graduation! Well, if you're already starting to panic about prom night this early, fear not. Take heed of the following nifty tips, and you might just find your stress levels alleviated considerably:

1. Be early. Start shopping early, do not wait until the last moment, you know something will happen sooner or later, so have some ideas ready before the occasion presents itself. The prom is no different. By the time prom season rolls around, girls find themselves panic buying and drowning in a sea of prom dresses. It's always best to avoid the rush. Start looking around for a prom dress at least 4 months before the event, take your sweet time, and don't settle for the first half-decent frock you can find.

2. Be inspired. With so many styles available and even more trends that come and go, deciding on a prom dress can be harder than picking a college; hence, why you should look for inspiration wherever you can find it. Of course, celebrity-inspired designer dresses are the most logical choice, so keep an eye out for red carpet events in magazine spreads, fashion websites, and the entertainment channels on TV. Who knows? You might find yourself donning a glamour dress in the style of Kate Middleton, or a Carrie Bradshaw-ish Sex and the City style number come prom night.

3. Be open-minded. Try the dress on, it might look completely different on you and might be exactly what you are looking for. When shopping for prom dresses, it's always best to keep an open mind. Try on the dresses that you like and a few of the ones that you don't. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that a seemingly forlorn-looking frock on a hanger looks absolutely divine on you.

4. Be realistic. Be aware that not everybody is built like Halle Berry, so do take stock of your figure before you choose a prom dress. You have to accept that you can't dress in the style of Vanessa Williams if you're about 3 feet tall, nor will you look good in a chiffon dress with flower embellishment if you have bigger thighs and arms. You might be partial to cocktail dresses, but you may look better in full-length pageant dresses (or vice versa), so don't be stubborn. Take your size and shape into consideration, if you do, you can't go wrong.

5. Be different. Ignore the trends. Come Prom night, many girls just copy their summer dresses. Well, unless you're hell bent on being another pea from the pod, you obviously want to don a prom dress that you can be proud of calling your own and yours alone. With that in mind, why not go beyond the conventional prom dress and opt for something more adventurous, like a checkered black and white party dress, for instance? Better yet, why not hire a seamstress who can make a one-of-a-kind gown for you? Your dress will have you written in every seam, every section and every color. If that is not enough, you know it will fit you perfectly.

Prom dress shopping is an art, an exercise in very precise shopping skills. But with sheer focus, a clear perspective, and a fabulous sense of style, it's an exercise that's made easier - not a bad preparation for the real world at all!