Élan does not undersell itself. The store's About page opens with a line that could double as its sign:
Nobody does Prom & Pageant quite like Élan Formals & Boutique!
Élan backs that up with a designer list that runs longer than you might expect in a Covington County town, and with the store's own word that new styles arrive every day. For seniors in Andalusia and the small towns around it, that means a prom shop close to home that keeps restocking as the season goes on.
The designers on the floor
The store picks out the heart of its selection and says nowhere else will you find a better selection of those names. Sherri Hill is the label it features first, and the full collection list on its site goes further.
The heart of its selection
- Sherri Hill
- Ashley Lauren, including Ashley Lauren Littles
- Tarik Ediz
- Rachel Allan: Couture, Homecoming, Perfect Angels and Prima Donna
- Ava Presley
- Jovani
- Portia and Scarlett
- Johnathan Kayne
Also on the collection list
- Sugar Kayne
- Jasz Couture
- Amarra
- Primavera Couture
- Alyce Paris, long and short
- Tiffany Designs
- Clarisse
- Sophia Thomas
The site lets you sort by style, from two-piece sets and mermaid gowns to high-low and short dresses, and it has a plus-size prom section. Sizes on the site run from 000 to 32, with women's sizing from 14W to 32W, and a filter shows what is actually in stock at the store. That makes it easy to do the homework at the kitchen table and walk in knowing what to try.
Online prices follow each designer's suggested retail, and the store notes that its in-store prices are not necessarily the same as what you see on the site. If you have a style in mind, ask for the in-store price at the counter.
Pageant runs right alongside prom here. Ashley Lauren Littles and Rachel Allan's Perfect Angels line give younger contestants their own racks, while Sherri Hill, Johnathan Kayne and Jovani cover the evening gown round for teens and adults. A senior who competes in the fall and goes to prom in the spring can shop both seasons with the same stylists, and homecoming fills the gap in between with Rachel Allan's dedicated homecoming line and a good run of short styles.
Everything else for the night
A prom look is more than a dress, and Élan stocks the rest of it. High heels and jewelry are on hand.
Spray tans
Saves a separate appointment the week of prom
Earrings
Jim Ball, Crown Jewel Designs and Zibastone pieces meant to catch the light on the dance floor
Everyday wear
Ladies' apparel and shoes in the store, not shown on the website
For the date, Élan offers tuxedo rentals too.
Rentals
Jim's Formalwear and Tuxedo Central
Covers
Prom, wedding parties and other special events
The stylists help with homecoming and other formal events as well, but prom is the season the store is built around. Its motto, printed across the site, is "Where Distinction Meets Elegance."
Andalusia is the Covington County seat, which puts the store near the middle of the county's high school map. Andalusia High and Straughn High, the largest high school in the Covington County system, are the closest schools, and Opp High sits east of town. For other prom options across south Alabama, more shops are listed on this site, but for Covington County families this is the natural place to start. No appointment is needed during regular store hours, though the site lists Sunday visits as by appointment only.
Shopping at Élan
Does Élan carry plus-size prom dresses?
Yes. The site has a dedicated plus-size prom section, and women's sizes run up to 32W.
Can I rent a tux there too?
Yes. Tuxedo rentals come through Jim's Formalwear and Tuxedo Central.
Can I find shoes and earrings at Élan too?
Yes. High heels and jewelry are on hand, and the earrings include Jim Ball, Crown Jewel Designs and Zibastone pieces.