Prom night is fast approaching, and while preparing for prom can be fun and exciting, it can also be a tedious task. So think ahead and list what you're going to need to save up for to make your prom night a night to remember — dress, slip, shoes, gloves, bag, jewelry, hair, nails, a little makeup.

Start a picture file of prom dresses to give you a head start. Think through how you want to look and feel — classic, delicate, demure or dramatic — choose accordingly.

Prom dresses at full price run $80-$400. If you plan ahead, you can buy ahead at $19-$99. Allow time and money for needed alterations. If you sew, you can save money.

Well ahead of prom night, get together with friends and go snoop shopping to see what's out there. We've got some world-class gown shops right here in Utah Valley. See how close you can come to a favorite from your picture file. Try on whatever catches your fancy. When you're ready to get serious, go to lunch with your mom or sister, then make the big buy together.

Go to Burlington Coat Factory, Sears, JCPenney, Macy's or Dillard's, even Wal-Mart, and buy a pretty silky slip to wear under your dress. That first-layer slip makes you look and feel so slim, so pretty, so special. That's the purpose of a slip, to smooth your silhouette.

Then look for accessories to go with your incredible dress. No, flip-flops really don't work. Prom is not the night to try and look cool, edgy, daring or like the class comedian. There's nothing brave, smart or cute about wearing flip-flops with a beautiful gown. Invest in the whole experience. Plan for a pair of shoes that make you want to stand tall and stately — heels no higher than you can really walk and dance in.

Now is also a good time to shop for a shawl to drape around your shoulders if the weather's going to be cold. Sew one in matching satin-backed crepe or velvet.

Buy or borrow a small evening bag that can function as a mini-emergency kit — powder foundation with mirror for touch-ups, lipstick or gloss, hairpins to secure an updo or stray strands, safety pins to secure a wardrobe malfunction, stain wipes in case of a spill, a Band-aid for a blister, an emery board to fix a broken nail, a little mad-money just in case, breath mints for that magic moment, and your house key.

Tell your date the color of your dress so you can order coordinating corsage and boutonniere. Make a note to yourself to pick up the boutonniere the morning of prom.