Cascading tulle and a flurry of ruffles. A shock of colorful gemstones in an array, decorating the bodice or a simple draping fabric. A warmer, deeper tone or a lighter, more airy color. A sleek, sophisticated look or a flouncy ensemble fit for a princess. With so many choices and prom steadfastly approaching, the race to select the perfect dress has many a girl up in arms. Whether one is mall-hopping from location to location or scouting websites for the most affordable yet chic gown, it is a difficult endeavor. Senior Amy Wang adopted the former approach.

“I wasn’t looking for anything in particular,” Wang said. “All I knew is that I wanted a long dress.”

Wang scoped out the premises of all the local malls with some friends. She tried on gown after gown, from a cherry red two-piece dress with a top encrusted with silver designs to a dress with an empire waist and a navy blue skirt punctuated by a large bow. Finally, after many attempts, she found her dream dress.

“I went from Willow Bend to the Galleria, from Stonebriar to Allen Outlets, but I couldn’t find something I really wanted,” Wang said. “Finally, I went to the Macy’s at NorthPark and there it was.”

Wang bought a two-piece illusion dress accompanied by a black halter top and periwinkle and lilac floral print skirt. At 30% off, it was not too expensive and due to its lack of bedazzled elements, it was not too ostentatious or uncomfortable for Wang’s tastes. However, longevity was the key deciding factor when Wang made her final purchase.

“It’s a dress I feel like I could wear elsewhere too,” Wang said. “I wouldn’t just be splurging on a dress I’d only wear once and then never touch again. I can wear it for other events.”

Like Wang, senior Zaina Waheed went to Macy’s looking for a gown which reflected her unique style.

“I wanted something fitted and long,” Waheed said. “I just didn’t want a solid color. Something with decorations like jewels or flowers or a pattern would be great.”

Unlike Wang and Waheed, senior Anjani Moola decided to browse the merchandise available at different stores online.

“I was looking for a elegant prom dress with a flowiness to it,” Moola said. “I ended up getting a burgundy exposed shoulder prom dress that flows nicely.”

Moola ordered her selection, a gown with a gathered surplice bodice and pleated empire waist, using the website for LuLu’s Fashion Lounge. The dress, with its double shoulder straps, seemed befitting the Grecian inspired prom theme for this year. Moola found her choice appealed to her for the same reason as Wang: the modest appearance.

“I like it because I like the simplistic look of the dress,” Moola said. “I didn’t want to go too flashy.”

Although both girls used different modes to find their chosen gowns, they both agreed that finding the dress that best suit them- personality, comfort level, sizing and all- was no simple feat. It required patience, resilience and a respect for one’s personal desires and price range.

“Prom is one of those events you’ll never forget,” Moola said. “Choosing the dress that best represents you is part of that.”