According to Bianca Consunji of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the following are the five tried-and-tested tips on what to wear for your big night so that you will not regret years later.

1. Do not play safe

Do not stick to safe styles and colors because they will not help you avoid dated prom or because your grand children will laugh at you when you pull out your prom photos decades later. There is no timeless clothes, so choose bright colors and more outrageous styles. Even men can wear colored vests and cardigans instead of the usual shirt and tie.

2. Try designer clothes

Do not look like on prom night so generic. Wear something that no other babe or dude in the prom can wear. Designer clothes do not always translate to expensive ones. Scout for up-and-coming designers in town. Check out magazines and other periodicals and ask your friends or relatives if they know any good ones.

3. When in doubt, accessorize

It is not the end of the world if you are wearing a dress or shirt and tie just designed for you. Avoid looking generic by adding accessories to sharpen and to improve your look. Try a vest or a cardigan or a small tiara, layers of necklaces, elbow-length gloves, or a pair of funky shoes.

4. Make sure your clothes fit

This is something that a lot of high school students overlook. They diet for days to look great for photographs, but they cannot freely move. Test the dress or the shirt and tie days before the prom so that you can have your clothes altered or adjusted if they are too long, too tight, or too loose. Wear comfortable clothes because you will dancing all night.

5. Wear the right underwear

Yes, you read it right because your underwear will make make your dress look good all night. Do not wear a sheer white dress and granny and colored underwear. Invest in seamless underwear and a good strapless brassiere or stick-on bra cups if you are wearing something backless. Double-sided tape will also help keep plunging necklines in place.