Prom styles change from year to year, but the students remain largely the same. This consistency makes helping teens get ready for the dress-up event a joy for people like Kumiko Okimoto and Pualana Lemelle of Masako Formals and Chuck Santos of Men’s Wearhouse, who are responsible for helping students look their best.

"What struck me when I first started working with the girls was that prom is really their first time being a woman," Lemelle said. "Teenage girls are comfortable in shorts, sweats and slippers, but prom means putting on heels, being sexy and being elegant for the first time. For a lot of the girls, it’s their first time wearing a heel, and it’s exciting to see them transform when they put on a dress."

Lemelle, a stylist/consultant for Masako Formals, said that given her own love for fashion, she was surprised that many girls are not swayed by the sight of candy-colored dresses.

"I thought they would be rushing to the racks, but many girls are very hesitant to try on dresses and are very shy about it. It’s interesting to see the dynamic with their moms, who are pushy in a certain way because they’re reliving prom through their daughters."

This year it seems that anything goes for prom, although there are more gowns than short looks. Last year’s big-screen return of "The Great Gatsby" inspired a number of Gatsby-themed proms, with plenty of glitz, feathers and pearls to capture the spirit of the Roaring ’20s.

Another of the year’s popular looks for girls is the look of peplums combined with a long-short hem the better to show one’s legs in front while keeping the posterior covered, sometimes with a bustlelike train.

This season also marks the return of bling, with not an ounce of shyness. Stones, faux stones and sequins run big up to an inch tall and are sure to light up the night when catching beams from a dance-floor strobe.

The back also serves as the new erogenous zone, with crisscrossing straps creating a peekaboo effect that could break school dress codes. Lemelle said an in-house tailor can work with students to create mesh overlays to help them stay within their school’s codes.

Masako Formals carries prom brands such as Sean Collection, Milano Formals and Faviana Couture that aren’t available at retail stores. Dresses and gowns generally range from $100 to $300.

Lemelle said that while most students come in a month before their proms, the shop does see stragglers who don’t start looking until the week of the event, which is a mistake.

"They think it’s like shopping for any other dress, but the gowns may need to be taken in or hemmed, or have the straps adjusted for a perfect fit because girls tend to be petite here."

For girls, almost any Easter hue from pale peach to deep purple can suit her skin color. When it comes to boys, blue is big, according to Santos, who has seen students try on the range of powder to iridescent blues available at Men’s Wearhouse.

Those who don’t relish the idea of an amazing Technicolor tux can opt to play with color through details such as vests, ties and pocket squares.

"It’s not just women who are able to have fun with color anymore," he said.

A boy will usually come in with a photo of his date’s dress and parents who are footing the bill for the tux, with slim fits more popular than the boxier styles of the past.

Tux rentals start at $59.99; a complete package with accessories can run from about $89 to $179. A student can get a free rental by referring five friends who rent a tuxedo.

Men’s Wearhouse also works with schools, donating funds for every one of its student rentals toward the school’s general fund, Project Graduation or other school fund.

Tuxedos available for purchase start at $229. "Quite a few parents are opting to buy because their son is going to multiple proms, whether it’s for junior and senior year, or he goes to one school and his girlfriend goes to another," Santos said.

Far from shying from tux shopping, Santos said boys today tend to be confident about their sense of style, which they can indulge with a range of colors much to their parents’ dismay.

"You hear a lot of When I dressed for my prom, this is what we did,’ and I see a lot of kids rolling their eyes."

Masako Formals is at 716 Cooke St. Call 593-7930. Men’s Wearhouse is at the Ward Entertainment Center, 310 Kamakee St. Call 593-9151.