With my prom coming up in May I have become both very excited about it and extremely consumed by all things related to a dressy event. I am crazy about being organized therefore I have already purchased my prom dress, shoes and clutch to go with it. With two months to go until the prom, all I’ve got left to plan and finalize are the finishing touches: jewelry, hair, nails and makeup. Here's what my plans are and some things you should consider for your prom.

Where I find my prom-inspiration

My slight obsession with prom has had me scouring the Internet for pictures of style icons on the red carpet. I found Sarah Jessica Parker to be a good source of inspiration; she always manages to dress the part flawlessly at any red carpet event. The recent Academy Awards were undoubtedly the perfect excuse for me to spend another extra couple of hours on the net hunting down images from the event. Red carpet events like the Academy Awards offer so much inspiration on what to wear as well as what not to wear and great ideas on hair and makeup.

My plans for prom

I am not entirely convinced of the idea of wearing a very obvious prom-style dress, which is why I have opted for a cute calf-length, strapless, black ruffle dress for my prom. More of what you would call a cocktail-dress than a prom dress. To add a punch to this completely black dress I will be wearing red heels (yes, you read that correctly). Red has never been one of my favorite colors, however, after purchasing my prom dress I could not imagine any other color shoes than red ones to accompany it. I also found the most amazing black silk clutch to go with the outfit! I have quite long brown hair so I plan to curl it and possibly put it up in some way. I am currently in the middle of planning hair, makeup and jewelry for my prom and I am using this event as my reason to stop biting my nails, once and for all!

Start out early

This prom business can be a real headache, which is why it is all the more important that you set out early. Starting early will allow you more time to hunt down the perfect dress as well as give you more alternatives as your size will hopefully not be sold out already. Starting late will most likely have you stressed, irritated and upset over that you cannot find anything in your preferred color or size. So, bottom line; start early to avoid any drama and to make sure you have a pleasurable experience leading up to the prom.

Dare to be YOU

Prom is, for many, a once in a lifetime experience, which is why it is important that you feel happy and comfortable in the dress you have chosen for this event. We have already covered the importance of being out in time to score the perfect dress and pointed out that it is important that you take your time and consider your alternatives. Do not choose your dress based on what everyone else will be wearing, dare to be YOU. As in my case, I opted for the cocktail dress instead of an "over-the-top" prom dress with bulging ruffles, dazzling color and shimmering glitter. I felt the more subtle and classic black dress was the perfect choice for me as its ruffle details still manage to give a slight prom touch to them and my red shoes will punch it up a notch. Make sure you choose a dress you feel comfortable in, this is important because it will make you feel good and look more confident.

More Fashtastic Prom Features coming soon! Including additional ideas on what to wear for prom and accessories to go with your prom dress!

Phoptography by Christina Eriksson