My Prom Dress Story Started at Nixon’s in Pace
I still remember pulling up to Nixon’s on a late February afternoon, the kind of day in the Florida Panhandle where winter feels more like a suggestion. The sunlight was soft, the parking lot quiet, and inside the boutique, the light caught just enough shimmer off a sequined hem to make me pause at the door. I hadn’t planned on making any big decisions that day, but that’s how Nixon’s works — it doesn’t rush you, it welcomes you.
There’s something grounded about this place. Maybe it’s the way the space opens up just enough, never overwhelming. Or maybe it’s the mix of new styles and old traditions — designer gowns side by side with local recommendations, tux rentals offered with the same thoughtfulness as formal dresses. I came looking for a prom dress, but what I found was a store that understood how important this moment was for me — and for so many girls like me, walking through those doors with their moms or their best friends, nervous and excited all at once.
A Boutique That Knows Its People
What struck me first was how the staff didn’t jump into selling mode. They asked me questions. About school, about the kind of look I was drawn to, about what felt comfortable and what didn’t. It wasn’t about finding the flashiest dress — it was about finding something that felt like mine. Nixon’s carries some of the top names in the game — Sherri Hill, Jovani, Ashley Lauren, Portia & Scarlett, even Ava Presley — but they never made it about the label. They made it about the girl.
I watched a mom help her daughter into a fitted beaded gown while her son got measured for a tux just a few feet away. It’s that kind of store — where siblings can shop for different parts of the same event, and both feel seen. Nixon’s offers tuxedo and suit rentals, plus accessories and shoes to pull the whole look together. It’s a real one-stop shop, but never feels commercial.
From Local Legacy to Lifelong Moments
Being in Pace, Nixon’s has deep roots in Santa Rosa County. Families have come here for generations, and the staff knows it. They remember names. They remember dances. They remember the way a girl lit up when she finally zipped the right dress.
Walk-ins are welcome, which I appreciated. But appointments are suggested if you want help narrowing down your style or coordinating pieces. I ended up coming back on a Saturday with my aunt, and they already had two new arrivals pulled for me to try. That kind of memory — and intention — makes a difference. You don’t feel like a number here. You feel like a person with a big night ahead of her.
“The dress you pick becomes part of your story. Nixon’s just helps you write it.”
Looking back, I didn’t choose the dress I thought I would. It wasn’t the color I expected or the shape I had in mind. But it felt right — strong and soft all at once. And that’s what Nixon’s gave me: not just a dress, but a place to land while figuring out who I wanted to be, if only for one night.
That’s the thing about Nixon’s — it’s more than zippers and hems. It’s memories stitched into fabric, quietly waiting for someone to claim them.