Eclectic Boutique is the kind of store where a mom picks up a candle and a pair of jeans while her daughter tries on prom dresses. It sits downtown on North Market Street in Mount Carmel and sells a little of everything: women's and men's clothing, shoes, jewelry, home goods and gifts. The prom and homecoming side is bigger than that mix suggests, though, and it is the reason the shop shows up in this guide.
A real prom section in a general boutique
The store's Special Occasion collection, which its site introduces as a hand-picked selection of prom and homecoming dresses, lists more than 500 styles online. The vendor names on those listings include several of the labels that dominate prom season:
- Sherri Hill, by far the deepest line in the online catalog
- Ashley Lauren and Ellie Wilde
- Jovani, Rachel Allan and Faviana
- Ava Presley, Portia & Scarlett and Scala
- Sydney's Closet for plus sizes, along with Blush Prom and Colette for Mon Cheri
Sizes in the collection run from 000 up through 30, with women's sizes 16W to 20W as well, and online prices top out under $1,000. Because the shop also stocks heels, special occasion jewelry and handbags, a shopper can pair the gown with heels and jewelry without leaving downtown.
Every listing in that online collection shows the designer, color and size in stock. That is handy for narrowing the field from home. Homecoming dresses come out of the same Special Occasion collection, so fall is a good time to get a feel for what the store carries before prom season starts.
Formals are final sale. The store's exchange policy lists formals alongside clearance, jewelry and a few other categories as items that cannot be returned, exchanged or credited, so try the dress on carefully before you buy.
Tuxedos for the date
Eclectic is a Jim's Formal Wear Elite Dealer, with styles to rent or buy for weddings, proms and special occasions. Tuxedo rentals do require an appointment, so book a time and the staff will be ready for the fitting. You can browse Jim's styles online first or build the look with the stylists in the store. The shop's tux page answers its most common question, whether it is too late to place an order, with reassurance: it prefers generous lead time but can work with you in a time crunch.
For families across southeastern Illinois, that pairing is the main draw. The dress, the shoes, the jewelry and the tux can all come from North Market Street, which counts for a lot in a part of the state where the next big shopping trip can mean a long drive.
Mount Carmel High School is the local school. Edwards County and Lawrenceville high schools sit in the neighboring counties, and Vincennes Lincoln is just across the Wabash River. The homepage carries customer reviews praising the selection of colors and sizes and the helpfulness of the staff, and the store's own self-description is just as short and sure of itself.
A small town boutique based that is BIG on style.
The About page spells it exactly that way, capital letters included.
Mount Carmel prom and tux basics
Does Eclectic Boutique carry designer prom dresses?
Yes. Its Special Occasion collection includes Sherri Hill, Ashley Lauren, Ellie Wilde, Jovani, Rachel Allan and other prom labels, in sizes from 000 to 30.
Can I rent a prom tux at Eclectic?
Yes. The store is a Jim's Formal Wear Elite Dealer and rents or sells tuxedos for proms. Tux rentals are by appointment.