Over 800 prom and homecoming dresses in stock. That is the figure Sabrina's gives for itself, along with at least 10 of the most sought-after prom designers, and it is the first thing to know before you head downtown to East Main Street. The shop opened in 1998, grew into its downtown Galesburg location with help from the owner's parents, and set out from the start to offer affordable wedding, prom and homecoming dresses for shoppers on even the tightest budgets. That last part still shapes the floor today.
Prom gowns start at $148. Homecoming dresses start at $125. A sale collection of one-of-a-kind gowns, one size and one color each, pushes the price lower for anyone shopping on a strict budget. And for prom and homecoming, there is no appointment to book. The store is direct about it: walk-ins are welcome.
The prom racks, designer by designer
Sabrina's lists more than twenty prom labels. The bigger names include Sherri Hill, Jovani, Johnathan Kayne, Alyce Paris, Clarisse, Rachel Allan, Ellie Wilde, Faviana, Ava Presley and Dave & Johnny. Tease Prom, Sydney's Closet, Nox Anabel, Amelia Couture and Lucci Lu round out the list. The store is upfront that it carries a limited selection from each collection, so if you have your heart set on a specific style, email or phone the shop to check that it is on the floor.
Prom sizes in the store
0 to 26
- 0
- 2
- 4
- 6
- 8
- 10
- 12
- 14
- 16
- 18
- 20
- 22
- 24
- 26
Prom dresses in the store run from size 0 through 26. By order, sizes run from 000 through 32, depending on the style and designer.
Every dress is for purchase, with no rentals. The advice on timing is simple: it is never too early. Lines for the coming prom season start arriving in December. The hottest, most sought-after dresses sell out first, and a December visit sees the full racks before the spring rush thins them out.
A school list that keeps you from twinning
Small-school shoppers should know about this one. Sabrina's keeps track of which dresses it has sold to which schools, for schools within 75 miles of the store. You can call and ask whether a style has already gone to your school. The list only covers dresses bought at Sabrina's, and the shop checks availability at the time of purchase, but it is still the best tool around for avoiding the same gown twice on one dance floor.
That radius takes in a lot of western Illinois. Galesburg High School is the closest and largest school. Knoxville High School, Monmouth-Roseville High School, Abingdon-Avon High School, ROWVA High School in Oneida and Galva High School all fall inside that 75-mile circle. At a school with a small senior class, one duplicate dress is the whole conversation, so make that phone call before you pay.
Family on the floor, and a tux for the date
Sabrina's is a family operation in the most literal sense. The owner's mom, Debbie, is known around the shop as the "shop mom" and makes it her job to help shoppers reach their "this is the one" moment. The owner's husband, Leno, handles the heavy lifting, from redesigns to setting up and tearing down for bridal and fashion shows. The owner's three children grew up in the shop and help entertain the kids who tag along with shoppers. The shop sums up the attitude: when you shop here, you become part of the family. The shop also notes that it won the 2021 Best of the Best Knox County.
The date is covered too, through a tuxedo rental partnership with Jim's Formal Wear.
Sabrina's and Jim's Formal Wear
Tuxedo rentals
Measuring
An in-store fitting
Matching
Once you find your dress, the shop has tux colors and styles to match
Return
The next business day after the event
Alterations are handled outside the store. Sabrina's does not have a seamstress on staff, but it recommends several skilled seamstresses who have worked with special occasion gowns for years and who set their own prices. Beyond prom, the shop carries more.
Homecoming
Same walk-in floor as prom
Pageant
Pageant and little miss pageant dresses
Bridal salon
Bridesmaids, flower girl and mothers' dresses
Our dreams come true when your dream dress is found.
Sabrina's closes its own story with that line.
Prom shopping at Sabrina's
Do I need an appointment to try on prom dresses?
No. Appointments are not required for prom and homecoming, and walk-ins are welcome. You can still schedule one if you would like dedicated time, and Sunday visits are by appointment only.
Can I find out if my dress has already been sold to someone at my school?
Yes. The shop tracks dresses it has sold to schools within 75 miles and will check availability for your school at the time of purchase.
Does Sabrina's do alterations?
No, that work goes outside the shop. The staff will refer you to independent seamstresses who specialize in special occasion gowns.