Prom season in Blount County often starts with talk of a long drive to find a dress. Simply Stunning Pageant, Prom and More makes that drive shorter. The family-owned shop sits in downtown Oneonta, and its site promises a wide inventory of specialty merchandise for pageant and prom wear.
The shop's About page lists what that means in practice: designer pageant gowns and prom dresses, fun fashion, interview attire, formal shoes, jewelry, dance wear and accessories. It also promises something you cannot order online, which is a smile and warm southern hospitality when you walk in.
Prom labels, by name
The store's Products and Designers page is a long one, and its gown names fall into a few camps.
Six big names for prom
Pageant weight
Younger contestants
- Sugar Kayne by Johnathan Kayne
- Ritzee Girl
Also on the gown side
- Christina Wu
- Ritzee
- Sydney's Closet
The finishing pieces are on the same list. Benjamin Walk and DeBlossom cover formal shoes, Capezio handles dance wear, and the jewelry case carries Jim Ball, Zibastone, Jewelry Company by Christina Marie Porter and Hollywood Fashion Accessories. A prom shopper can walk out with the dress, the shoes and the earrings without stopping anywhere else.
The interview attire is a clue about who else shops here. Pageant contestants need a polished outfit for the judges' panel as well as an evening gown, and this shop stocks for both.
One tip for prom shoppers: write down the designer and style number of anything you like online before you come in. With this many labels in one shop, it saves time, and if your size or color is not on the rack, it gives the staff exactly what they need to place a special order. Just remember that special orders take a non-refundable down payment of at least half the price, so be sure about the style first.
Come visit us…you know you've always been that "Simply Stunning" girl!
That line closes the shop's About page, and it suits a store run by a family.
Read the store policies before you buy
Simply Stunning posts its policies in full and asks shoppers to read them before purchase.
Sales
All final, with no refunds, returns or gown exchanges.
Special orders
At least half the purchase price, non-refundable, as a down payment.
Alterations
An independent seamstress, Joan Holt Moody, paid directly by cash or check. Costs are separate, and the dress must be paid in full before an alterations appointment is scheduled.
The layaway window is the part prom families should plan around. A deposit placed after Christmas gives you until spring to finish paying, which lines up with a typical spring prom date.
Early
Put the dress on layaway with a minimum 20% non-refundable deposit
Within 120 days
Pay the full balance and sales tax. If the layaway expires unpaid, the item and payments are forfeited.
Paid off
Book the alterations appointment
Well before the dance
The shop also offers shipping, which helps when a relative out of town is chipping in on a gift.
Oneonta High and the Blount County schools
Oneonta High School is the closest school, and the Blount County schools fan out from there: J.B. Pennington in Blountsville, Locust Fork, Cleveland, Hayden, Susan Moore, Appalachian and Southeastern. For most of those families, a Saturday in downtown Oneonta is easier than heading toward Birmingham, and the shop's pageant focus means local contestants can find their competition gown in the same place a classmate finds her prom dress.
Weddings do not drive this business. Prom, pageant and the special events in between do. For more shops across this part of the state, see the north central Alabama prom guide.
Layaway, final sales and the seamstress
Does Simply Stunning offer layaway on prom dresses?
Yes. Layaway takes a minimum 20% non-refundable deposit, and the balance plus tax is due within 120 days.
What if I change my mind after buying?
All sales are final at Simply Stunning, with no refunds, returns or gown exchanges, so be sure before you buy.
Who handles alterations?
An independent seamstress, Joan Holt Moody, offers alteration services. She is paid directly, alterations are not included in the dress price, and the gown must be paid in full before the appointment is scheduled.