Linda Hahn: I am Linda Hahn, owner and buyer for L H boutique in Laguna Beach. I am showing you how to find the perfect Prom dress. One thing that's important is knowing where to shop. You have a lot of options when it comes to looking for prom dresses, you can always try a department store. They often times have entire departments devoted just to prom dresses.Another option is going to a local boutique.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. A department store is going to give you a lot of variety. You are probably going to be able to find several dresses that would be possibilities for you.On the downside, it's very possible that someone else in your school is also going to have one of those dresses. You also probably will not find a lot of help from salespeople being that they have too many other people to be waiting on at the same time.

If you choose to go to one of your local boutiques you maybe able to find one that even offer exclusivity. They may be willing to guarantee you that they will not sell that dress to anyone else at your school. We do that here at our boutique and I am sure that you can find some in your area who would do it for you.Another advantage of shopping at a boutique is that you will find more unique brands. The department stores tend to carry very much the same thing from one store to another and from one city to another. Individual buyers within small boutiques buy a variety of smaller designers that even if they don't give you exclusivity, you can pretty much be sure not many other people in your school are going to have that brand. You also maybe able to find a variety in a boutique of things that may fit you better or differently than some of the more mainstream stores.

If you shop at a small boutique you have the opportunity to develop a relationship with a salesperson. If it's a boutique you shop at regularly, they will already know your basic style. They will know your body type. They may have helped you before and can save you a lot of time and effort by helping you pick out just the right thing, so that you are trying on fewer outfits to begin with. It's always good to develop a relationship with the salesperson so that you can learn to trust their opinion and you should also be sure to communicate with them and give them an opportunity to help you make your selection.

Finally, you can shop for your dress anytime. You don't have to wait till a week or two prior to the prom. Anytime you are shopping during the year if you see a dress that looks like it would be the perfect thing for you, go ahead and try it on and if you sure it's the right dress, go ahead and get it then. Sometimes you can even find things at sales at off times of the year that you wouldn't be able to find when you get right into prom season. Next, I'll explain the four basic body types.