The front door is open to anyone. A Pink Boutique, which trades as A Pink Boutique & Blk Tux, sits on South Illinois Street in downtown Hobart and posts "Walk-ins welcome!" as an open invitation that holds through prom season. A student can come in after school with a friend, pull a few gowns and try them on without booking a slot weeks ahead.
A Pink Boutique and Black Tux in Hobart, Indiana features Prom Dresses, Homecoming Dresses, Accessories and more for your special occasion!
That line from the store sums up the business: prom first, homecoming close behind, accessories to go with both, and evening gowns for the galas and formal dinners that come up later in life.
The designer wall
The labels are what draw shoppers from across Northwest Indiana. The shop lists its designers by name, and the prom collection leans on three of them.
Prom headliners
The full lineup
Prom styles run from bold sequins to classic ballgowns and high-slit gowns. Homecoming has its own section on the floor, with short party dresses and longer gowns from Amarra, Tiffany Designs and 2Cute Prom among others. Weekday hours here tilt toward the afternoon, which suits students coming straight from class. The racks turn over with the calendar.
For a Hobart family, the appeal is simple: a deep rack of name-brand gowns, a door that opens without an appointment, and a downtown address instead of a mall parking deck.
Where the shoppers come from
Hobart High School students are the hometown regulars, and River Forest High School, also in Hobart, sends its share. Merrillville High School and Andrean High School are a few exits away in Merrillville, while Portage High School, Crown Point High School and Lake Station Edison are close by in Lake and Porter counties, and families from Valparaiso and Chesterton head west into Lake County for it as well. The menswear side of the name, Blk Tux, suits couples planning a prom night together; ask about tuxedo options when you visit.
Shopping A Pink Boutique
Which designers carry the prom collection?
Sherri Hill, Jovani and Ellie Wilde headline the prom racks, backed by Primavera, Ava Presley, Amarra and the other labels the shop names.