Q For my graduation prom, I need a dress that is unique and doesn't make me look too mature. I am 1.5m tall, have sloping shoulders and not-too-thin legs. Any advice?

A There are some simple guidelines you can consider when it comes to standing out from the crowd and buying something that you can wear again.

Instead of a dress, which is the usual option for girls, consider separates like a dressy skirt and top ensemble that you can pair with more glamorous accessories for the prom and mix them with more casual clothes for a night out with friends in the future.

Another way to minimise the chances of ending up in the same outfit as someone else is to tailor the dress. A boutique label such as Artiris offers custom-made gowns, with prices ranging from $200 to $600 (e-mail emerald@artiris-online.com or call 9747-9887 for details). Just take along photos or sketches and the designers there will craft the look for your body.

When it comes to looking age-appropriate, I think someone such as Ugly Betty star America Ferrera is a great example. She's petite and curvy but she always manages to look pretty and never as if she's trying too hard to look grown-up.

What works for her are simple waist-cinching, knee-length dresses in striking colours - something to consider if you'd like to draw attention away from your shoulders and elongate your figure.

As a final word of advice from someone who has been there and done that, think more cocktail chic and less frou-frou frills. Trust me - looking back at the prom photographs in the years to come will be much less painful.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Oct 24, 2008.