By Robin Cassidy

While a Jessica McClintock prom dress is very beautiful you need to be sure it's right for you. After all, designer prom dresses aren't cheap and there are plenty of other fashion houses to choose from. So, before buying, have a review, and make sure that a Jessica creation is right for you.

Jessica McClintock has been designing prom dresses since 1969, when she founded her fashion house in San Francisco. Since then she has picked up many prestigious awards and is a favorite designer for many girls looking for a unique and beautiful prom gown.

The current collection is broad, encompassing all styles - many fashion houses like Tiffany and Joli specialize in one or two styles. The company designs and makes more traditional designs with full length tulle skirts, but it is the shorter designs that are more interesting and mark out this fashion house.

The short skirt styles are perhaps a little further removed from Prom than other styles but each dress can be summed up with two words; romance and elegance. This combination runs right throughout the collection. You won't find the more avant-garde styles of say, an Xcite prom dress; Jessica's designs will appeal to modern, confident girls who aren't afraid to stand out from the crowd, but still want an air of romance in whatever gown they wear.

Despite being a sophisticated fashion house, prices aren't as high as you might have expected. A Jessica McClintock prom dress can be bought for as little as $120. Of course, depending on the fabric used, the quantity used and the type of cut, the prices can go as high as $500.

You can't buy the gowns directly from the company, but the company's website has a store locator so you can easily find your nearest boutique. Also, you can easily find and buy a Jessica McClintock prom dress online. If you do order online, remember that just like wedding dresses, prom gowns are about a size smaller than a normal dress. Most online sites have a measuring guide; by just following the instructions provided you should have no problem in ordering a gown that is going to fit perfectly.

Although this really has no bearing on whether a McClintock gown will suit you better than other fashion houses, the dresses are entirely made in America - around the Bay area as a matter of fact.

A real plus point in buying a Jessica McClintock prom gown is that the company makes a pretty comprehensive range of accessories, so getting the entire look is made so much easier - no need to tire yourself out running around looking for those all important accessories to complement your gown. You can even purchase your Prom perfume from the company. Why more fashion houses don't design accessories for their gowns is a mystery to me. So much time and effort goes into choosing the perfect dress and then you have to spend even more time in finding the accessories; it would make life so much easier if you could buy the accessories that were specially made to go with the dress.

Choosing to wear a Jessica McClintock prom dress is choosing to wear a gown that oozes elegance and romance; if this is what you're looking for in a gown then one of them could be just right for you.

By Robin Cassidy

Every girl wants Prom Night to be special and wearing something that's unique and beautiful will make any girl feel confident on the night. A designer prom dress is most girls' dream but a local boutique may not stock the designer you want. Going online is a great way to shop and find exactly what you're looking for. Here are a few pointers to help you find that perfect dress.

Firstly, it really helps if you already know what style of designer prom dress you want. Each fashion house is different and each makes unique dresses, usually of one or two styles. So, in order to save time and indecision, make up your mind beforehand about style and budget.

For instance, certain fashion houses like Tiffany and Joli specialize in classic prom dress styles; sweetheart necklines, halter necks and tulle or pick up, full length skirts. If this is your preferred style then look at these - or other designers like them - don't spend any effort on looking at other fashion houses, like Xcite, that make more modern styles.

If you're undecided, then you could spend a lot of time looking at a lot of different designers. This really is a recipe for disaster; the more you look the more confused, tired and plain fed-up you'll become. You can help things a bit by looking at just one or two fashion houses that offer a broad selection of styles. Designer prom dress fashion houses like Mori Lee and Jessica McClintock offer a comprehensive selection to choose from. This should make things a little easier.

When you buy a designer prom dress online you must first make sure that the retailer is an authorized agent of the fashion house. You'll have very little come back from an unauthorized retailer should the dress arrive late or in imperfect condition. It's quite easy to check if the retailer is bona fide as many fashion houses websites provide a list of authorized dealerships. Some genuine online retailers may not be on the list, but these retailers would be able to provide proof of authorization when requested.

The best thing about the internet is being able to shop around without leaving home. So, go to many websites and compare prices. You may even be able to contact the retailers and get even further price reductions if you play one off against the other.

Making sure that clothes ordered online fit correctly is always a problem. However, to make things a little easier, many online designer prom dress retailers provide measuring guides on their websites. These, when used correctly, will make sure the dress will fit perfectly.

Even if the dress fits you, chances are in may need letting out or taking in here or there, so make sure you order your dress in plenty of time. Alteration shops can get very busy around prom time.

Shopping online can make shopping less tiring and fun. The secret is to know exactly what you want beforehand; there's just too much information overload on the internet. And, like buying from any store, you should make sure that they provide good customer service. Buying a designer prom dress online is becoming increasingly popular and most reputable stores now have their own online store. So, what are you waiting for? Get online and find that perfect gown.