Contributed by Samantha Rose, Catalogs.com Info Guru

Picture this: a grand ball room – that cost student government a couple thousand worth of fundraising – packed full of seniors celebrating their triumph over surviving the academic stress, overbearing parents, and awkward social moments that are high school.

Friends pack into the picture booths, rivals settle four-year quarrels and couples sway to the few slow songs played in between Justin Bieber and Katy Perry.

Whether you’ve dreamed of prom since elementary school or decided to buy your ticket on the spur of the moment, your night isn’t complete without the perfect prom dress. Wading through thousands of styles, colors and prices both in stores and online, finding the perfect dress is a bit tedious. To expedite the process know your budget and get a feel for which styles compliment your body and personality.

Here are my top ten suggestions for memorable and unique prom dresses:

10. Duct Tape

A $5,000 scholarship and a dress that is the talk of the night just might be worth heading to prom with a duct tape prom dress. Each year the Stuck at Prom® Scholarship challenges students to create and accessorize prom outfits made completely out of duct tape. If Ke$ha can rock a garbage bag then duct tape is the next step. With a bit of time and effort you could rock a one-of-a-kind creation while winning sweet college money, but be sure to line those sticky outfits or you might spend the next morning soaking off the duct tape in a bath. Ouch.

9. Cultural

Proud of your cultural roots? Choose a prom dress inspired by your heritage. There are numerous websites with dresses inspired by traditional garb ranging from Afrocentic apparel to Asian. Don’t want the whole Tartan dress? Then choose a few accessories with symbols or patterns that are meaningful to wear.

8. Themed

If your high school prom is themed with colors, a location, time periods, or what have you, then find creative ways to tie the perfect dress to the theme.

Most color-themed proms stick to black and white. When the color themes get into specifics, it may be harder to pair a dress and makeup that both compliment skin tone. Luckily there are all sorts of hues to play with. Don’t like aquamarine, try cobalt.

Location themes such as Paris or Hawaii are simple to dress for by playing with accessories. Rather than buying a black and white striped dress for a Paris theme, throw on a beret or fleur-de-lis jewelry. While a bright green and pink dress screams Hawaii, a delicate flower in the hair suggests just as much. Rather than dress as a Renaissance wench, throw on the wench’s Renaissance jewelry.

7. Modern

Obsessed with clean lines and architectural details? Then a modern prom dress is probably for you. Modern dresses are constructed with asymmetrical lines, aesthetic prints, and blended colors. To keep with the modern look let your party makeup dazzle with bright lips or dramatic eyes. These elements add an unexpected twist to an otherwise simple dress.

6. Sequins

Bring the glitz and glam of Hollywood to prom night with a dress embellished with sequins and glitter. Sequins are having a shining moment this year on dresses, shoes, bags, and shrugs. The sequins will catch every light at prom and turn your dress into a glittering disco ball. Tone down the high shine of a sequin prom dress with minimal accessories. Is a full sequin dress too much shine? Then grab a black sequin jacket for just a little glitz.

5. Vintage

Good news: the reemergence of vintage-inspired fashion provides the chance to buy a unique, and often cheaper, prom dress. Bad news: to find a decent blend between vintage and modern you might have to scour your local thrift shops or resale stores more than once – but inventory does tend to change weekly. Another option is to search through your mother or grandmother’s closet, but make sure she agrees before you shred her keepsake. While some dresses may be beyond alteration with bows and lace abound, others are just screaming for a little TLC. Cut an old dress short and rip off those puffy sleeves and you might find a gem. Just don’t turn a beautiful vintage dress into a home-ec nightmare, a la Pretty in Pink.

4. Barely-there Dress

Extra sassy; extra fun. A mini dress or cut out dress is not for the wallflower. The short hem emphasizes legs making them appear long and thin. Most mini dresses are also body conscious, ensuring that your slim figure will get noticed. Cut outs delve from suggestive holes baring the back to high slits up the thigh. Sashay into prom with this fun and feisty trend, but make sure to check the dress code to avoid being sent home early.

3. Prints

Rather than wearing a single colored prom dress that is sure to blend in with the rest of the student body, opt for a bold print. Animal prints, including zebra stripes and cheetah spots, tend to be the most popular choice to get noticed. Flower prints are a more delicate alternative. An abstract print works well to give the dress an artistic feel. Prom dresses with bright colored or bold prints draw attention on their own, so keep the jewelry and accessories to a minimum.

2. Ball Gown

If you are the ultimate girly-girl or the tomboy who wants to shock the crowd consider donning this dramatic dress. The ball gown style has a full skirt with a variety of bust choices –usually sweetheart or halter. Since the ball gown dress is already a dramatic statement in itself, solid colors – avoid white, it’s too wedding day – and minimal frills keep it clean and elegant. However, if you believe that prom night is only second to your wedding, then go all out with pink ruffles, a tiara, and glass slippers. But please, leave the fairy wings at home.

1. Little Black Dress

To truly get bang for your buck a little black dress (LBD) can’t go wrong. I was a taught as a child that an LBD should be a staple of every woman’s closet. An LBD’s versatility can carry you from homecoming to prom and from a day job to a night on the town long after high school. Pair a flowy black dress with sparkly jewelry and high heels for a glam look. To add some chic rocker style, throw on a “body con,” short for body conscious, LBD with a motorcycle jacket, sparkly headband, pair of tights and boots.