WHEN I walked into Promesse in mid- January, five months before the proms start, I didn’t expect to see much going on.

Both Promesse and its sister evening wear shop Catwalk were busy, with girls bustling about in prospective prom dresses while family members looked on.

Gillian Mills, owner of both shops in Friar Street, says she too was “surprised to be suddenly so busy”.

But, as she put it, “after Christmas, it’s something else to look forward to.”

A lot of planning and preparation goes into prom – how to style the hair, paint the nails, wear the make up, to tan or not to tan, how to arrive in style. And then there’s the dress.

This season’s outfits are Spanish influenced, as can be seen in the fishtail dresses, the one-strap shoulder, and most of all, the vibrant colours. However, it is hard to predict which dresses will be most popular.

Mrs Mills said: “The dress reflects the individual’s personality. Besides, if a girl has grown up dreaming of that big, taffeta gown, then she’ll get it.

Fashion has nothing to do with it.”

It also seems that sequins, a big part of 2010 fashion, have made their way into this season’s prom dresses.

Mrs Mills said: “Girls love something with a sparkle. The rainbow of colours means that there is something for everyone.”

Promesse is not the only Worcester shop stocking up on the sparkle.

Floral Roundabout, in Sidbury, is getting in the pearl and diamanté corsage bracelets in time for the prom. Joy Bowser, of the shop Roundabout, said: “The boys usually order a wrist corsage that matches their date’s dress.”

At my prom three years ago, I hadn’t even heard of a corsage, but Joy insists that we are more traditional than I first thought.

“I would say that the wrist corsage has only been popular in the last few years. However, in the past I’ve known guys to give a single red rose.”

If you’re a girl, this all sounds very exciting. But is it equally as exciting for the boys? Ian McTavish, store manager at Slaters, in Cathedral Plaza, insists that although they don’t plan as far ahead as the ladies, boys still very much look forward to prom.

“Guys want to look good and get involved, especially if they’re going with a group of friends,” he said.

Mr McTavish said boys still usually opt for a smart black dinner jacket, with black trousers and a white shirt.

It might not sound as thrilling as a hot red floor-length gown, but the boys have their own ways of standing out.

He said: “If a guy wants to be unique, he’ll go for the cream suit or a ruche tie. If he really wants to be adventurous, he’ll wear a kilt. Tartan can be easily colour-coded to match their date’s dress, too.”

Prom is a last chance for both girls and boys to look their best and enjoy their night before being released into the big post-school world, so it’s no wonder they want to do it right. To ensure that girls are not disappointed, Mrs Mills says an “appointment is a must if you want VIP treatment”.

“If you can’t wear a fancy dress when you’re 15, you’re never going to,” she said.