A new address and a sharper focus
Gigi's Closette has a new home on Waukegan Road in Glenview, and with the move came a clear statement of what the shop is about now.
We most recently moved to our new Glenview location, where we are focusing on mothers, formalwear, prom/graduation, and lots of casual!
That line sits on the store's About page, and North Shore prom shoppers should read it twice. A long-running family business has stepped back from bridal and put its energy into formal and graduation dresses, prom included. The lineage goes back a long way. Founder Dorothy opened Dorothy's of Wilmette in 1952, then opened Gigi's Closette in 1974, so Gigi's has been open since 1974, and the store says generations of families have shopped here over the decades.
That history shows up in how the shop treats people. Staff here know returning faces and names, and customer service comes above everything else, according to the store. A prom visit is a one-on-one affair in a boutique setting.
The prom floor: designers, sizes and ordering
Gigi's lists prom, graduation, black tie and party dresses among the categories it carries, and its online shop shows the evening labels on the floor. Gowns from Jovani and Mac Duggal appear throughout the store's own listings, and Alyce Paris shows up as well. Those three names cover a wide sweep of prom looks, from sleek column gowns and short beaded dresses to full statement silhouettes.
A few store policies shape prom timing:
Buying
Most dresses can be special ordered or bought off the floor: walk out with a gown the same day, or order the right size and color.
Sizes
Designers carry a full size range from 00 to 30, so a wide range of prom shoppers can find a fit in the same shop.
Prices
Ranges vary by occasion; ask about the prom price range when you call.
Appointments
Call regarding appointments, and phone ahead to set a time, especially in late winter.
Special orders take time, so a shopper eyeing a specific Jovani or Mac Duggal style in a color that is not on the rack should start early. Most proms in this part of the state fall in late April and May, so February and early March is the comfortable window for ordering. If the dress needs to be ordered, ask about the timeline on the first call, not at the first fitting.
A testimonial the boutique publishes captures what a long relationship with the shop looks like. A local photographer wrote that she had been a loyal customer and fan since high school, and that the staff are "honest with their comments and opinions, but never pushy." For a teenager trying on a dozen gowns with a parent in the room, that balance counts for a lot.
Who makes the trip
Glenview sits in the heart of the north suburbs, ringed by some of the biggest high schools in the region. Glenbrook South is the hometown high school, and Glenbrook North in Northbrook is close by. New Trier in Winnetka and Loyola Academy in Wilmette lie to the east toward the lake, and Niles West and Maine South sit to the south. Families looking at other options across northeast Illinois can browse the northeast Illinois prom shops listed here.
Gigi's Closette after the Glenview move
Does Gigi's Closette still sell prom dresses?
Yes. The store lists prom and graduation among its focus categories at the Glenview location, with gowns from Jovani, Mac Duggal and Alyce Paris among its listings.
What sizes are available?
Its designers carry a full size range from 00 to 30, per the store, and most dresses can be special ordered or purchased off the floor.
Is Gigi's Closette still in the old location?
No. The store has moved to Waukegan Road in Glenview. Check its contact page for the current street number.