Prom gowns up front and tuxedo rentals in the back: that is the layout at Whimsy on Main, and in Dalton it is a rare one. Couples here usually end up getting the dress and the tux from different places.
In the back of our store, we have a special area for the guys to pick out their perfect tuxedo rental for any special, formal occasion.
That description of the back room comes from the shop's About page. She tries on gowns up front. He gets measured in back. Nobody has to drive across town to finish the job.
Downtown, not a strip mall
Whimsy on Main sits in what the store calls the revitalized downtown Dalton area, on the busy stretch of Hamilton Street lined with local boutiques, shops and restaurants. That location changes the feel of a prom outing. You park once, shop, and walk to lunch afterward. For a group of friends shopping together, it is a better afternoon than a mall run.
The stylists work one on one, which is how the shop approaches every appointment. Appointments are available during and after business hours, through the website's request form or by phone.
On the dress side, the store's designer list includes La Femme, a label prom shoppers know for sleek evening gowns and bold color, and its Prom/Hoco page promises "multiple unique styles and colors from diverse designers." Homecoming shares that collection with prom, so the same rack works for a fall dance and a spring one.
The guys' area in back
Geno's Formal Affair, a rental company
Based in
Lexington, Kentucky
Choices
Suits and tuxes in many colors and styles
Owning one
Both rent and purchase options, so a senior who wants to own his suit can buy instead of renting
The people behind the counter
Whimsy on Main is run by Katie and Wendy, two sisters from Dalton who come from a family of small business owners. In the spring of 2022 they bought the shop, then called Whimsy in White, and rebranded it under its current name. Two local sisters, one downtown storefront, and a habit of treating every customer like family. The reviews Whimsy posts keep coming back to the same thing: patience, kindness and no rushing.
Bridal fills much of the shop, with gowns, bridesmaid dresses and mother-of-the-bride styles, but for local teenagers the draw is the pairing of a prom dress floor with a tux counter in the same building.
Its site lists North Georgia, Chattanooga and the Atlanta area as its service area. Closer to home, prom shoppers come from Dalton High School, Southeast Whitfield County High School, Northwest Whitfield County High School and Coahulla Creek High School, with Murray County High School and North Murray High School just over the county line. For families across northwest Georgia, a downtown shop that handles both outfits saves a second trip.
Try-ons with family, and the tux room in back
Is there room for family during try-ons?
Yes. Each dressing room has its own private sitting area, so a mom, a best friend or a grandmother can sit in on the whole fitting.
Who supplies the tuxes in the back room?
Geno's Formal Affair. The shop rents and sells suits and tuxedos through the Lexington company, with a dedicated area for the guys in the back of the store.