Jennifer Baker and Amy Gray spent more than two decades in separate corporate careers, and they had already owned and run a clothing boutique together. In 2023 they took the reins of Blushing Bride & Formal Wear, a formalwear shop on US-25 north of Corbin with a 20-year legacy behind it. Their reason is printed on the shop's Our Story page.
Living in a smaller community shouldn't mean having to travel hours to find the perfect look. Our mission is to bridge that gap.
Anyone who has priced out a prom-season trip to a big city from this part of southeastern Kentucky knows exactly what they mean. The sisters say they hand-pick collections so local shoppers can find the same designs that turn up in major cities, without the gas money and the lost Saturday.
Prom labels you can search before you go
The shop's website lets shoppers filter the catalog for in-store stock and search by size, from 000 up through 32 and 14W through 30W. A student can see what is physically hanging on the racks before the drive, instead of falling for a style that would have to be ordered.
The designer menu is built around prom and homecoming:
- Jovani prom
- Faviana prom, homecoming, and a separate Faviana Curvy line
- Ava Presley, Ava Presley Curvy and Ava Presley homecoming
- Ellie Wilde
- Portia and Scarlett prom, couture and cocktail
- Primavera Couture
- Kate Parker prom and homecoming, Nina Canacci, and Colors Dress homecoming
Prices on the prom page are posted, too.
Posted prom prices
A handful start in the high $300sMost about $400 to $900A few statement gowns past $1,000
That spread, visible before the trip, helps a family set a budget on the couch instead of in the dressing room.
The catalog also sorts by feature, a handy shortcut once a student knows what she wants: dresses with pockets, ruffles, corsets, slits, open backs, two-piece sets. The occasion filter covers Sweet 16, quinceañera and girls' pageant dresses alongside prom, so a younger sister's pageant or a family celebration can be shopped alongside prom.
Corbin, London and the schools along US-25
The store sits on US-25 just north of town, the old main road between Corbin and London, not far from I-75. Corbin High School is the closest big prom, with Lynn Camp nearby and Whitley County High in Williamsburg to the south. South Laurel students in London and Knox Central students in Barbourville are within reach too.
The sisters describe what they bring to a fitting as a strong background in apparel and an understanding of garment construction, fit and styling. They also talk about bringing a sisterly warmth to the floor and treating customers like family, which in a business run by two actual sisters has a literal ring to it.
Tuxedo and suit rentals run through the same store, so a prom date can be sorted out while the gown is being chosen. Bridal runs on its own track, with an appointment request form on the website.
Blushing Bride, before the visit
Can I check whether a prom dress is in stock in Corbin?
Yes. Online, the catalog can be narrowed to gowns physically in the shop, and then again by size, before anyone gets in the car.
Who owns Blushing Bride & Formal Wear?
Sisters Jennifer Baker and Amy Gray, who took over the shop in 2023 after careers in the corporate world and an earlier boutique of their own.