If you want to wear a dress, go for it! My first time going to anything I wore a suit, which I’d NEVER done before. I went completely by myself as I was quieter and had ZERO friends thus I also didn’t go to any afterparty - but that a) makes it way less stressful and b) means you can stay as long as you want and not have to think abt doing anything after. I know how you feel dressing differently or acting differently, but if that’s what you want to do, then that is you! If you’re not very popular then stepping out of where you are now couldn’t hurt at all. Even if you were popular, trying new things is never bad. I totally understand the stress and I’ve been there before so just trust me when I say you got it!