Most prom shoppers walk into a boutique hoping the right dress is already on a rack. At Fit For a Queen, there is a second option. The Peachtree Street showroom sells designer prom gowns off the floor, and it also builds custom gowns from a sketch with a named designer. By the store's account, it is the only shop in Atlanta offering custom-designed pageant, prom and formal gowns. That is a big claim, and the custom program the store describes is detailed enough to show it is a working program, not a slogan.
Fit For a Queen of Atlanta was established in 2015 by Lady Danzy, whom the shop calls the Lady of the House. The store says she has traveled across the United States and abroad to handpick gowns for what the store calls the exclusive Fit For a Queen Collection. The store places its showroom in the heart of Midtown, steps from the Fox Theatre.
The showroom welcomes walk-ins. If you want to know whether a particular style is in the building before you head over, the store asks you to email or send an iMessage text to check stock. The store's designer list is long for a single showroom, and the Peachtree Street racks pull in several directions.
Beaded, high-shine looks
A more couture finish
Also on the store's list
- Johnathan Kayne
- Jasz Couture
- Terani Couture
- Alyce Paris
- The Jessica Angel Collection
- Colors Dress
- House of Wu
- Sydney's Closet
The store sells gowns in all sizes, with a dedicated plus-size prom section. Prom styles cover beaded and sequin, feather, two-piece, high-low, open back, strapless, lace and more.
The store also carries custom jewelry and accessories, so earrings and other finishing touches are on hand in the showroom.
How a custom prom gown comes together
This is where Fit For a Queen stands apart from a typical prom shop. The store spells out the process step by step.
First
Email your inspiration photos and questions to the store
When you book
Pay the $125 consultation fee, non-refundable and non-transferable. It covers a one-hour consultation with your chosen designer, a design sketch, body measurements and one to three fittings, and is applied toward the final cost of the gown
Consultation
At the showroom, with virtual consultations available on request
Design
Custom gowns start at $1,000, including fabric, materials and fittings; the final price depends on the design and fabric
Four to six weeks
Production, counted from the consultation and the arrival of the fabric
The store names the designers behind the custom work. Randall K. Smith is described as a pageant coach and designer whose clients have won national titles. Linda Bezuidenhout is an award-winning designer originally from Tanzania who is now based in Atlanta. Cleah Murray, the store says, started making prom and wedding dresses for her own customers early in her career and studied merchandising and design in Louisville.
The takeaway: a custom prom gown is not a last-minute plan. Production plus fabric lead time means starting well before spring, ideally in the winter, if you want it ready for an April dance.
Beyond prom
Pageant runs through the store's identity, and the showroom serves several occasions past the prom rack.
Royal Court
Brings together women active in pageantry, with wardrobe sponsorship and access to the store's pageant experts
Take the Crown
A pageant prep workshop
Evening and gala gowns
Plus bridesmaid dresses and mother-of-the-bride styles
Queen for a Day
A dress paired with an on-site photo session for adult milestones
For students, the showroom is a central stop. Midtown High School is just a few minutes away, and North Atlanta High School, Booker T. Washington High School, and Maynard H. Jackson High School are elsewhere in the city, and Druid Hills High School is just over the line in DeKalb County. Families coming in from anywhere in metro Atlanta and north Georgia should know the store points shoppers to a parking lot across Peachtree, where the first hour is free.
The store sums up why it exists:
Fit For A Queen of Atlanta was created with one vision in mind: to celebrate and elevate every woman’s royal moment.
Fit For a Queen FAQ
Who designs the custom prom gowns?
The store names three designers: Randall K. Smith, a pageant coach and designer; Linda Bezuidenhout, an award-winning designer originally from Tanzania; and Cleah Murray, who studied merchandising and design in Louisville.
How long does a custom prom gown take?
The store quotes four to six weeks of production from the consultation and the arrival of the fabric, with pricing starting at $1,000.
Can I check whether a style is in the Midtown showroom before heading over?
Yes. The store asks shoppers to email or send an iMessage text to confirm stock before a visit.