You already know the drill if you live in south Henry County. Somebody needs shoes, somebody needs a jacket, and the whole family ends up at Tanger Outlets on a Saturday. Now a prom dress can go on that Saturday list too. Dernier Cri Gowns runs its second store inside the outlet center, right off I-75, and prom and homecoming dresses are what it pitches straight at students.
The company started in Conyers. It opened there in 2018, and the original shop is still going strong on the east side of metro Atlanta. The Locust Grove store is the newer of the two. Same mother and daughter ownership, same policies, same designer lineup, just closer to home for families along I-75 south of McDonough.
For a prom shopper at the Tanger location, the basics look like this.
- Prom and homecoming open to walk-ins, which the contact page confirms.
- Online booking for a stylist appointment if you'd rather have a set time, with a separate scheduling link just for the Tanger store.
- A popular designer collection that names Amarra, Sydney's Closet, Colorsdress and Portia & Scarlett.
- Sizing the store calls fully inclusive, with gowns chosen to fit every shape and size.
- Jewelry and accessories on hand to go with the gown.
Henry County schools around the outlet center
Locust Grove anchors the southern end of Henry County in south metro Georgia, and the high schools around the outlet center are big ones. Locust Grove High and Luella High are both in town. Ola, Union Grove and Eagle's Landing high schools sit to the north, toward McDonough. Dutchtown and Hampton high schools sit to the west, out toward Hampton. That is a lot of juniors and seniors, and most of them would rather not fight Atlanta traffic in March to try on dresses.
That is the real appeal of this location. It is close. A student from Ola can come straight down after school, try on a few gowns and be home for dinner. A Union Grove family can fold a dress appointment into an afternoon at the outlets. And because the walk-in policy covers prom, a quick look after a game or practice is fair game too.
Dernier Cri writes its service pitch in the second person, to the student.
Turn heads at your school’s biggest night with a stunning prom or homecoming dress that reflects your style, personality, and confidence.
That line sums up the pitch. Homecoming in the fall, prom in the spring, and one shop to handle both. A sophomore who buys a homecoming dress here in October already knows the racks, the stylists and the policies by the time prom shopping starts.
Money, special orders and the fine print
Prom budgets run tight, and Dernier Cri has a few money policies to learn before walking in. The biggest one for students is VIP financing. You can reserve a gown for 30 days with a 25 percent deposit, then pay the balance in installments every 15 days until it is paid off and ready to pick up. For a family juggling prom tickets, photos and dinner on top of the dress, spreading the cost out helps.
If the dress you want isn't on the rack in your size or color, the store can special order it. That takes a non-refundable 50 percent deposit, and the shop calls or emails when the gown arrives. You then have seven days to pay the balance and pick it up. Plan around that window, especially in the busy weeks of late winter.
All sales are final, in the store and online alike. If you shop the website, the store asks you to study the designer's measurement chart before you check out, since orders can't be changed once they're confirmed. Alterations happen off site, with partner businesses on the store's referral list.
Prom comes first, but the store also carries bridal, bridesmaids and mother of the bride gowns, plus charming dresses for young girls. If your family has a wedding coming up the same year as prom, the Tanger store can dress the bridal party and the prom-goer alike.
Closer to home in Rockdale County? The original Dernier Cri Gowns in Conyers carries the same designers and follows the same policies.
Prom questions for the Locust Grove store
What happens when a special order arrives in Locust Grove?
The shop calls or emails when the gown comes in, and you then have seven days to pay the balance and pick it up. Special orders take a non-refundable 50 percent deposit.
Can I pay for a prom dress over time?
Yes. VIP financing lets you hold a gown for 30 days with a non-refundable 25 percent deposit and pay the rest in installments before pickup.
Which designers does Dernier Cri Gowns carry?
The store's popular designer collection lists Amarra, Sydney's Closet, Colorsdress and Portia & Scarlett.