It's all about the dress. Oh, and the date.

        This prom season, look for girls wearing a lot of flowers, a sprinkling of handkerchief-cut or ruffled hems and lots of diving decolletage to keep them hiking up bodices throughout the big night.

        Heels will be high, earrings dangling, nail polish and lipstick shot with glitter.

        Gloves — the longer the better — are on the hot list this year, say Sara Singleton of Eastgate Mall's Afterthoughts and Sean McDonald, Claire's Eastgate assistant manager, who has posted a list of high school prom dates at the store.

        Here are 10 accessories on many girls' prom radar screen.
— Joy Kraft

Grandma's gloves take on a satin shine in long and short pastel and chrome versions or ladylike stretch lace, $10-$16 at Afterthoughts and Claire's. (Purse, $9 at Afterthoughts). | ZOOM |

Twinkle toe shoe clips with faux pearls and diamonds transform everyday shoes into Cinderella's slippers for just $6.25. At Afterthoughts. | ZOOM |

Sophisticated or sassy, platform or petite-heeled, shoes must have sparkle on the strap. Left: LifeStride “Alecia” with triple rhinestone rows. Right: Delicious “Truman” acrylic platforms with a high-rise heel. Both $39.99 at Shoe Sensation. | ZOOM |

Earrings drip with Hollywood glamour. These pastel strands have 12 Austrian crystals. $8 at Claire's. | ZOOM |

Bobbed boas with beaded strand trim are easy to handle for divas-in-training. Black, red-and-black, black-and-white. $14 at Afterthoughts. | ZOOM |

Pint-size purses won't break the budget and are just big enough to hold a cell phone, a few makeup necessities, safety pins and some “emergency” money. $9-$14 at Afterthoughts and Claire's. | ZOOM |

Choker charmer is 16 inches of tiny black beads entwined with acrylic “lace.” $6.25 at Claire's. | ZOOM |

Princess tiara in filigree and faux pearls with side clips, $12. Combed headband with black faux pearls, $6.50. Both at Claire's. | ZOOM |

       
       

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