Chrislyn's says it keeps thousands of dresses in stock on Lone Oak Road, in sizes 00 through 26, and prom and homecoming sit at the center of it all. The shop grew into that. When Susan and her daughters Laura and Amanda opened it in 2011, the racks held casual clothes alongside formal wear. The formal side took off fast, and within a couple of years the family gave the entire store over to formal dresses. Brides came on in 2014.
The store carries a separate Rachel Allan Plus collection on the prom side.
The prom labels in the suites
The prom labels include Sherri Hill, Amarra, Ashley Lauren, Ava Presley, Colette, Ellie Wilde, Jovani and its JVN line, Portia & Scarlett, Primavera Couture and Rachel Allan. Homecoming has its own lineup of short styles from most of the same houses, plus Alyce Paris Homecoming. A Quinceañera collection carries gowns from Princesa by Ariana Vara. The shop says prom gowns start at $398.
The shop requires an appointment to try on prom and homecoming dresses, and each reservation comes with a private suite and a stylist for a set block of time.
Prom appointment
Prom, homecoming or other formal occasion
- 1 hour 20 minutes
- One shopper and up to two guests
- Other occasions: pageant, winter formal, 8th grade formal, military ball, gala, sweet sixteen
Every reservation includes a stylist working with each shopper in her suite.
Who makes the trip to Paducah
The closest schools are McCracken County High School, the consolidated county campus, and Paducah Tilghman High School inside the city. Other schools across the Purchase include Marshall County High in Benton, Graves County High and Mayfield High to the south, Ballard Memorial in Ballard County, and Livingston Central to the east, with Massac County High in Metropolis across the Ohio River in Illinois. The store sits on Lone Oak Road, the main road between Paducah and the Lone Oak side of the county.
The store says people travel hours to shop here. It serves families across far western Kentucky from a single storefront.
Tuxedos and suits round out the formal side.
A date's tux
Tuxedo and suit stylists
Measurements
By appointment
Rentals
Through Jim's Formalwear
Seven bridal suites and thirteen wedding lines
The bridal side has seven suites of its own, each set up for a different party size, and appointments are required. Brides are asked to come ready with the wedding date, how many guests will attend and a budget range. After an online request, a consultant follows up to finalize the time, and guests watch the bride in each dress she tries. The store carries thirteen wedding gown lines, among them Pronovias, Maggie Sottero, Casablanca, Rebecca Ingram, Sophia Tolli, Allure Romance, Madison James Bridal, Martin Thornburg, Lo'Adoro and Wilderly Bride.
Chrislyn's prom questions, answered
Do I need an appointment to shop prom at Chrislyn's?
Yes. The shop requires an appointment to try on prom and homecoming dresses. Each one runs an hour and twenty minutes for one shopper and up to two guests, with a private suite and a stylist.
What sizes does Chrislyn's keep in the store?
Dresses are stocked in sizes 00 through 26. Rachel Allan Plus has its own section on the prom side, and the store keeps a separate plus-size prom selection.
The store sums itself up in a single line.
Come see why people travel hours to visit Chrislyn's - the dress destination.