Sizes from 000 to 32, and pageant gowns too
The size range is the first thing to love here.
Prom sizes across both shops
000 to 32
- 000
- 00
- 0
- 2
- 4
- 6
- 8
- 10
- 12
- 14
- 16
- 18
- 20
- 22
- 24
- 26
- 28
- 30
- 32
Gowns from size 000 through 32, stocked between the two shops.
The Prom Store and its sister shop up in south St. Louis County, Prom & Beyond, share that run, and the family that runs both calls the pair Missouri’s number one prom locations. Thousands of dresses are spread across the two floors. The Festus shop is the one on East Main Street, in the old downtown, and for Jefferson County students it is the closer of the two.
The designers are a prom-heavy group. For larger sizes, the store runs a separate section called Curvy Girls, and beyond prom and homecoming it has collections for pageant and for quinceañera.
Prom and homecoming
- Sherri Hill
- Jovani
- Amarra
- Primavera Couture
- Clarisse
- Ava Presley
- Alyce Paris
- Faviana
- Atria
- Nox Anabel
- Amelia Couture
Curvy Girls
Pageant
Students come from Festus High School and Jefferson High just outside town, from Crystal City and Herculaneum next door, and from Hillsboro and De Soto out west along Highway 21. Festus and Crystal City sit side by side near the Mississippi on the county’s east side, with I-55 running past both, so the drive in from most Jefferson County towns is a familiar one.
Homecoming gets its own push each fall.
How a fitting works on East Main
Walk-ins are welcome, and a reservation is strongly encouraged, since it sets aside a stylist and a full hour just for you. Here is how booking works.
Slots
Each shopper books a separate one-hour slot, so two friends need two appointments.
Confirmation
A text arrives after the slot is scheduled.
Guests
Two may come along with each shopper, and young children are best left at home.
Dressing area
Bags, large purses and strollers stay outside, so the room stays clear for gowns.
Inside the fitting room, the staff handles the hardware. The store describes it this way.
Your stylist will lace and zip up all your dresses. We ask that friends and parents do not assist in this process to limit dress damage.
Moms who have wrestled with a corset back at home will appreciate that rule. The person lacing the gown is also the one giving the second opinion.
Dresses are not put on hold, but a shopper who loves a gown and needs time to pay can use layaway, which takes a 30 percent deposit that is not refundable. The store also offers a price match on full-price, non-sale dresses it carries: bring proof of a lower current price before buying, and the store will match it.
A date or a brother is covered as well, with suit and tuxedo rentals through Jim’s Formal Wear.
The store’s advice on timing is short: shop early for the largest selection. For other shops in Jefferson County and southeast Missouri, the state page on this site has the full list.
Questions about The Prom Store in Festus
Is The Prom Store connected to Prom & Beyond in St. Louis?
Yes. The two stores share a family and a designer list. Each keeps its own phone line and its own racks.
Does the Festus store sell pageant gowns?
Yes. Pageant is one of its named collections, with Portia and Scarlett gowns in the lineup.