If the thought of buying a prom dress anywhere have you completely overwhelmed, you may want to consider buying prom dresses online. Worried? Many people are, but it's easier than you think to get the perfect dress when you shop online. This guide can help.

Step 1: Take Your Measurements

There's nothing more frustrating than buying your dress online only to realize when it comes in the post that it's too small. Luckily, this is a pretty easy one to prevent. You just need to take a few measurements before you place your order. Grab a soft tape measure (like the kind you might use for sewing), then take three key measurements: the widest part of your body at your hips, your natural waistline, and the fullest part of your chest with your arms down. You may also need a bit of additional information. Take measurements from tip of your shoulder to the base of your hand, your shoulders from tip to tip, and the distance of the top of your inside thigh to your ankle.

Step 2: Think Shoes

Wondering what the shoes have to do with the dress? A lot actually. If you know which shoes you're wearing, or at least the type of shoes you're wearing, you know how long your dress needs to be outside of your measurements. For example, imagine you've found an amazing pair of heels. Think about how high they are, and add that height to your own measurements as you shop.

Step 3: Create a System

You're going to see lots of prom dress online. You're going to see many that you instantly fall in love with. How do you keep track of what you like? Create a system. Whether it's an old-school spreadsheet or just a folder on your bookmarks page, you'll want to keep track of what you like.

Step 4: Research Return/Exchange Policies

It's possible that the dress you order online isn't going to be the dress you love for one reason or another. Be sure you're familiar with exchange policies before you start your order.

Don't wait until the last possible minute to order your prom dress online. There are lots of advantages to online shopping, and it's easier than you think.