April hems are an in-store job at Dress It Up: buy a prom dress here, and the alterations happen in the same shop. The shop runs an in-house alterations team, so the person pinning your hem works for the place that sold you the gown. In a season when every senior in Atlantic County wants a fitting the same three weeks, that counts for a lot.
Dress It Up has been inside Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing since 2004, and its site names it South Jersey's premier dress store. It also keeps the visit simple: you do not need an appointment. The store's FAQ answers the try-on appointment question in three words: "No not currently." That makes it an easy add-on to a Saturday at Hamilton Mall, and a natural first stop for a family that has not started looking yet.
The prom rack
The labels Dress It Up names online are Jovani, Portia and Scarlett, Scala and Terani, and according to the shop there are many more. Jovani gets top billing on its prom collection, and Portia and Scarlett and Terani carry the evening and couture side. These are labels most families first see on a phone screen. Here you can actually try them on.
Sizing is a strong point. The store stocks sizes 00 through 26, or XS through 4XL, with plus-size formal wear on the floor and custom sizing available when the rack does not have your fit. Private fitting rooms are available too. That combination of a wide size run and walk-in access lets a mix of body types shop side by side, and nobody has to settle for a sample that only comes in one size.
Prom and homecoming lead the list of occasions, and the same racks cover Sweet 16, quinceañera, evening gowns, mother of the bride and a bridal collection. Prom shoppers will care more about the accessories counter, with jewelry, shoes and evening bags to try against the gown.
How the alterations work
Standard alterations usually take 1-2 weeks. We also offer rush services for time-sensitive events.
That timeline comes from the store's FAQ. Alterations are available on dresses you buy at the store, and the shop describes its team as professional, in-house, and fast. It guarantees the fit, and charges depend on how complex the work is. If you are planning around a May prom, work back from the dance.
Early in the season
Shop while the full size run is on the floor and you can walk in on your own schedule
Not in your size
Ask about a special order: a 50% deposit, and no cancelling once placed
Dress in hand
Book your fitting with the in-house team, aiming for at least two weeks before the dance
Date sneaking up: ask about rush service
Buy early, fit early, and the last week before prom stays about shoes and hair instead of hems. Formal wear sales are final at the store, so take your time in the fitting room before you commit.
Getting there, and who comes in
Hamilton Mall sits on the Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing, with free parking, and the store publishes its own directions.
Exit 12Atlantic City Expressway
Inside Hamilton Mall: 1.5 miles down Wrangleboro Road, then Entrance 3 for the quickest walk to the shop's unit.
From the east, New Road and the Black Horse Pike bring shoppers in from Northfield. The shop's site places it conveniently between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, and it names Atlantic City, Vineland, Egg Harbor Township and Pleasantville among the towns it serves.
For prom, that covers a big slice of Atlantic County, New Jersey. Mays Landing is home to both Oakcrest High School and the Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Absegami High School in Galloway and Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City share Oakcrest's regional district. Add Egg Harbor Township High School, Hammonton High School and Pleasantville High School, and the mall serves most of the mainland county.
Fittings, sizes and special orders at Dress It Up
Can Dress It Up order a prom dress in my size?
Yes. Special orders need a 50% deposit and cannot be cancelled once placed.
Does Dress It Up do alterations?
Yes. An in-house team handles alterations on dresses bought at the store, usually in one to two weeks, with rush service available for tight deadlines.
What sizes does the store carry?
Sizes 00 through 26, or XS through 4XL, are stocked in store, with plus-size formal wear and custom sizing available.