Elegance

No matter what color your prom dress, you want to think elegance. In 20 years, do you want to look back at your prom and see a pink taffeta dress with green bows at the shoulders? No! Save that look for a clueless bridesmaid. Classic black, bold colors or brilliant white will leave you &8212; and your date &8212; with a good memory.

Shine like a star

Sequins and beads are in &8212; and lame&8217; is popular this season as well. Your prom is one of the few places where you can get away with the shiny lame&8217; material. Wear it somewhere else, and you can take away the accent symbol and just be lame.

Say it with flowers

Flowers for a girl are rarely out of style. Pay attention, guys! A corsage is something that many girls will treasure long after prom is over. It&8217;s a surefire way to make your date remember the good times.

The ride

Getting to the prom is half the fun. A lot of prom-goers opt for a limo &8212; especially if they&8217;re going in groups, so they can split the cost. If a limo&8217;s out of your price range, fellas, make sure you wash your vehicle &8212; and vacuum, too. It&8217;s a sign of respect for your date.

What&8217;s not

Top hat and tails

Sure the outfit works if you&8217;re auditioning for a part in the next Planter&8217;s mixed nuts commercial, but most guys don&8217;t have the supreme confidence it takes to pull of that look. If your date&8217;s considering it, girls, talk him out of it. Quickly.

Hair extensions

Oh, the ever-popular &8220;weave&8221; &8212; a trend that looks like it will never end. Girls, spend money on a good stylist who can make YOUR hair look great. Anything else is a waste of money.

Denim

Sure, jeans with a tux shirt and jacket look great on guys like Tim McGraw or Alan Jackson. But those guys have stylists who help them get dressed for public appearances. Don&8217;t even try it.

Wallflowers

Get up and dance, fercryinoutloud. Prom is a celebration &8212; a sign that the end of those seemingly interminable years in high school are about to be over. It&8217;s OK to kick up your heels &8212; just don&8217;t kick any of the other revelers.