Wilma's Dress Shop is a name that has stuck around Carter County for a long time. The dress shop on Hord Street in downtown Grayson now goes by Violet's by Dianne, answers the same phone number the old Wilma's Dress Shop listing carried, and still points its racks at the dances that fill the spring and fall calendars for East Carter and West Carter students. The welcome on the new website lays out the mix in a single sentence.
From stunning bridal gowns and elegant prom dresses to stylish homecoming looks and other formal wear, our collections are thoughtfully curated to help you shine with confidence and grace.
The About page adds that every appointment is personal and every dress is chosen with care, and it closes with a nudge toward the store's everyday side, with new boutique clothing arriving weekly.
The prom designers on Violet's list
The Designers page splits the store's lines into wedding, bridesmaids and prom. On the prom side it names well over a dozen labels, grouped here the way the page itself groups them.
- Named as sought-after prom designers
- Ellie Wilde, Jasz Couture, Jovani and JVN by Jovani
- Listed for prom and bridesmaid looks alike
- Alyce Paris, Amarra, Ashley Lauren and Clarisse
- Rounding out the prom list
- La Femme, Portia and Scarlett, Primavera Couture, Tiffany Designs, Johnathan Kayne, Tarik Ediz and Rachel Allan
That lineup leans toward statement gowns. Johnathan Kayne, Tiffany Designs and Jovani all carry pageant-weight pieces, so a contestant can shop beside a junior picking out her first prom dress. Homecoming draws on the same labels, and the shop adds Sunday afternoon hours during prom and homecoming season.
The homepage invites shoppers to see the store's "floral elegance in person," and the violet theme carries through the new branding. Its sign-off line asks customers to let Violet's be the shop for all of their special memories, a fair summary of a store that handles a freshman's first homecoming dress, a senior's prom gown and, a few years later, a wedding. For prom specifically, the advantage is a long designer list in a county seat, so families can compare Jovani against Ellie Wilde or Rachel Allan without leaving Carter County.
Timing questions get a reassuring answer. The FAQ notes that some dresses are special order but promises something for every timeframe, a relief when a homecoming invitation arrives late. Walk-ins are welcome, and the same FAQ encourages shoppers to bring their favorite people along. Bridal gowns from Allure, Casablanca and Sottero and Midgley share the floor, with discounted sample gowns for sale rather than rentals.
Carter County schools and the I-64 exit
Grayson is the Carter County seat, and Interstate 64 has an exit at the edge of town, which links the shop with Olive Hill to the west and the Boyd County line to the east. East Carter High School in Grayson and West Carter High School in Olive Hill are the home schools. Elliott County High School in Sandy Hook, Rowan County Senior High School in Morehead and Boyd County High School all fall within about 30 miles, so shoppers across northeast Kentucky have a prom stop that doesn't require a trip into a bigger city.
Questions about the Hord Street shop
Is Violet's by Dianne the old Wilma's Dress Shop?
Yes. The Hord Street shop that long operated as Wilma's Dress Shop now trades as Violet's by Dianne and keeps the same phone number.
Does Violet's carry homecoming dresses?
Yes. Homecoming is one of the store's named specialties alongside prom, and Sunday afternoon hours are added during both seasons.