Silver Spoon Formals

Five years running, Silver Spoon Formals has been named a Top 10 Prom Store in the US, with the 2026 honor announced right on its homepage. The shop also claims the title of Southeastern Kentucky's longest continuously operated formalwear retailer, open since 1997, and it has recently moved into a new space in Block 300 of downtown London's North Main Street.

The move put the shop next door to Dogwood Market, its sister boutique under the same ownership, and directly across Main Street from First Christian Church, the pink brick church with the stained glass windows that anyone from London can picture. Parking is free at the curb and in three city lots, one beside the church and two right behind the building. For a family hauling a garment bag and a tuxedo box back to the car in March, that detail is worth knowing.

The prom racks and who designs them

Prom is the center of gravity here, and the store's designer page is a roll call of names pageant and prom girls in southeastern Kentucky already know. The breakdown below comes straight from that page and the collections page.

J. Michael London

The store's own exclusive label, including a Pink Label collection, sold nowhere else

Johnathan Kayne

A Project Runway designer with a studio in Nashville; also supplies shoes

Portia and Scarlett

The international designer from Australia, with more than 1,000 styles

Rachel Allan

A long-time formalwear powerhouse with new prom collections each season

Alyce Paris and Amarra

Two more mainstays of the prom floor

Jessica Angel

Named among the designers in the rotating collection

Sydney's Closet, Johnathan Kayne for Sydney's Closet, Rachel Allan Curves, Tease Prom

Dedicated plus-size collections

That last row matters to a lot of families. Plus-size gowns are treated as their own collections, not a few styles at the end of a rack, and the store describes its sizing as a full range. Shoes from Johnathan Kayne, De Blossom and Nina, jewelry from Jim Ball Designs, and undergarments for the right fit round out the floor.

Each gown sold is registered for the customer, which is the store's way of keeping two girls from showing up in the same dress. There is also The White Collection, gowns in whites, ivories and soft blushes from around the world, which the shop pitches for prom and pageant as much as for weddings.

The judge behind the counter

Owner Jon M. Oliver is a London native who taught music in Laurel County Schools and served on the music faculty at Union College. For more than a dozen years he was State Executive Director and Executive Producer for Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen. He is a Miss America certified judge and has judged local and state pageants in numerous states. In other words, the person helping pick a gown has spent years watching how gowns read from the judges' table.

He also writes a blog for the store, and his prom advice is blunt in a way parents tend to appreciate.

His main point, though, is about hesitation.

And when you find THE dress (or THE dress finds you), then you just need to go ahead and BUY THE DANG DRESS!

The post goes on to remind moms that the prom belongs to their daughter. It is also the most useful thing a first-time prom shopper can read before walking in.

The Tux Bar, and timing a visit

Silver Spoon has called itself "The Tuxedo Experts" for more than 20 years, and a prom date here gets more than a box handed over the counter.

Prom season changes the calendar. The shop opens on select Sundays from MLK Day to Memorial Day and posts those dates on its social media, and it will arrange special hours by appointment. Booking is available online through the Book Now page. The Prom 2026 collection is also on the site as a digital flipbook, a quick way to browse before a trip downtown.

Customers come from both of London's big high schools, North Laurel and South Laurel, and from the surrounding counties. Jackson County High in McKee and Rockcastle County High in Mount Vernon are each within reach of downtown London for a Saturday fitting.

Shopping Silver Spoon Formals

Where is Silver Spoon Formals now?

The store has moved to Block 300 of North Main Street in downtown London, next door to Dogwood Market and across from First Christian Church.

Does the store carry plus-size prom gowns?

Yes. Sydney's Closet, Johnathan Kayne for Sydney's Closet, Rachel Allan Curves and Tease Prom are all dedicated plus-size collections on the floor.

Is the store open on Sundays during prom season?

On select Sundays between MLK Day and Memorial Day. The store announces those dates on its social media pages.