Prom USA has been dressing Douglasville since 1990. It is family owned and still works out of the Cloverleaf Village Shopping Centre on Fairburn Road. The store says it has thousands of prom and pageant dresses, and that the staff would love to show you a few you never would have saved to your phone.
Trusting the stylist on a floor of thousands
Come with an open mind. That is the store's first tip. A style or color in mind is a fine starting point, but plenty of shoppers here have fallen for a gown they would never have pulled off the rack themselves. "Trust your stylist," the store says, "and we think you'll be pleasantly surprised."
Sherri Hill, Jovani and La Femme, from 000 to 30
The designer list is long. The store carries Sherri Hill, Jovani and JVN by Jovani, along with Portia & Scarlett in prom, couture, ball gown and cocktail groups. Rachel Allan brings its Couture, Curves and Prima Donna lines, and Primavera Couture, La Femme and Gigi by La Femme, Morilee, Alyce Paris, Jessica Angel, Dave & Johnny, Tiffany, House of Wu and Studio 17 round it out. Homecoming adds a short-dress group from Aleta.
Size is where Prom USA really stands out. The store stocks dresses from 000 to 30 and plans each season's buying with every body in mind. Ask whether it truly carries 000 through 30, and the answer is a happy "Yes, we do."
Prom sizes
000 to 30
- 000
- 00
- 0
- 2
- 4
- 6
- 8
- 10
- 12
- 14
- 16
- 18
- 20
- 22
- 24
- 26
- 28
- 30
Stocked from 000 to 30, well past the common 00 to 16 range.
As an authorized retailer, Prom USA sells at each designer's suggested price, and the store shares a useful tip: a current style selling online for far less could be a counterfeit. Spanx, jewelry and accessories are in the store too, for the finishing details.
Fit, special orders and the measuring tape
The consultants know formal sizing well. Gowns usually run one to two sizes smaller than everyday clothes, so they will often start you one size above your jean size. Between two sizes? Take the larger one and have it taken in. Most formal gowns, about 90% by the store's count, need a little tailoring, and the staff will point you to trusted local seamstresses with the right equipment. You are welcome to use your own.
Found the perfect gown in the wrong size or color? Ask about a special order. If the designer has your size and color in stock, it usually arrives in about 7 to 10 business days, and rush options are available. You are fitted at purchase and sign a special order form. The gown is made in a standard size, so plan on alterations either way. One thing to know before you buy: all sales are final, and the store does not rent gowns or buy them back.
Buying elsewhere but want a proper fitting? The staff will measure you for $15.
The Jim's Formal Wear counter for prom dates
Dates are covered too. Tux rentals run through Jim's Formal Wear, and the store keeps no tuxes on site, so it helps to order at least two weeks ahead, and four to six weeks is best. A complete rental includes the jacket, pants, basic shirt, vest and tie, with shoes and upgrades available.
For your date
Tux rental through Jim's Formal Wear
To order
Measurements and at least half down from each member
Order by
Two weeks out, four to six recommended
Try on
By the Thursday before the event
Measurements can be taken in the store or phoned in from a professional, and groups of three or more can call ahead to be measured together. Tuxes usually arrive a few days before the event, and a try-on by the Thursday before leaves time to fix anything. Returns are due the next business day, with a $25 daily late fee.
Becca's Closet and the Douglas County schools
Prom USA supports Becca's Closet, a nonprofit that gives formal gowns to students, with a chapter at Douglas County High School serving metro Atlanta. Douglas County High is one of the county's public high schools, along with Alexander, Chapel Hill, Lithia Springs and New Manchester. For more shops in west Georgia and beyond, see our Georgia guide.
One bride at a time in the Douglasville bridal suite
Brides have their own private suite, and it takes one bride at a time. Book ahead, because a bride who walks in during someone else's appointment usually cannot be seen in the suite that day, and Saturday bridal visits need an appointment. The store carries Morilee with its Blu, Grace, Julietta and Voyage lines, Allure in its Bridal, Romance and Women groups, Wilderly Bride by Allure, Jovani and Signature by Sydney's Closet. The store gives the same 000 to 30 size range for bridal as for prom, and wedding gowns can be bought off the rack or ordered from the designer.
Bridesmaids choose from the Morilee Bridesmaid Collection and Primavera Couture Bridesmaids. Mothers have two Alyce Paris lines, Black Label and Special Occasion, along with La Femme Evening and MGNY by Mori Lee, and flower girl dresses come from Rosebud Fashions. Younger pageant girls get a Little Girl Pageant group from Rachel Allan Perfect Angels, and quinceañera shoppers get Fiesta and Morilee's Vizcaya line.
Prom USA questions, from guests to appointments
How many people can come to a Prom USA prom appointment?
Two guests. Seating is cozy.
What if I need to cancel an appointment?
Let the store know ahead of time. The store lists a $50 fee for no-shows, and requests for an appointment less than 24 hours out go best by phone.
Can Prom USA tell me my size before I shop?
Staff measure you for a specific style, since every designer's chart is a little different. A good starting point is one size above your jeans.
Is the last weekday appointment shorter?
It is a one-hour slot.