Walk in. That is the entire booking process for prom at Azalea. The store requires appointments for bridal gown shopping only, and says all other dress shopping is walk-in. A student who wants to see a Jovani in person on a weekday afternoon can simply show up.
Owner Tara Camardo is a Guilderland native who grew up in Altamont and graduated from Guilderland High School. Her published bio traces the path: a fine arts degree in fashion design and marketing, a start in the garment district as an account executive at a dress company, then twenty years across retail management, merchandising, buying, bridal consulting and private seamstress work. The Altamont Enterprise covered the opening in September 2018, when she named the shop after the azalea, a flower she described as bright, long-lasting and resilient.
The prom and ball racks
Azalea organizes its designers by occasion, and the prom list is the longest one on the site. The store's designer pages break down this way.
Evening and guest of wedding
- Faviana
- Jovani
- Nicole Bakti
Mother of the bride and groom
- Jovani
- Nicole Bakti
The store's Faviana page calls the label the perfect blend of traditional and trendy, with styles sought after by celebrities and seen in People and US magazines. Between Jovani's two lines, Faviana and La Femme, there is a wide spread of silhouettes and styles for a single room.
And it is a single room. The Enterprise put the shop at 1,750 square feet when it opened, and the store invites shoppers to take a virtual tour of its simple, elegant boutique before visiting. Prom, senior ball, homecoming, winter formal, sweet sixteen, bat and bar mitzvah and graduation dresses all share that floor, along with accessories.
Finding it on Carman Road
The shop is in Carman Plaza, in the Town of Guilderland, though its mailing address reads Schenectady. That spot on Carman Road makes it a natural stop for more than one school district. Guilderland High School is the hometown prom, students from Mohonasen and Schalmont in neighboring Rotterdam are close by, and Bethlehem Central sits to the south in Albany County. Tara's lifelong ties here are the point, too: the store's stated aim is building lasting relationships with clients from the surrounding communities of New York's Capital Region.
On a small floor, the selection in your size can shift quickly in the spring, so earlier visits give you more to choose from. The About page frames every visit around communication.
We realize the importance of communication from the moment you walk through our doors, until the moment you leave. We want you to look and feel your very best while attending your special occasion.
Azalea prom FAQ
How big is the Azalea shop?
About 1,750 square feet, according to the Altamont Enterprise at the opening, and the store offers a virtual tour on its site.
Which prom designers does Azalea carry?
The store's prom and ball list includes Jovani, JVN by Jovani, Faviana, La Femme, Nikki B and Chandalier.
What other occasions does the shop dress?
Senior ball, homecoming, winter formal, galas, sweet sixteens, bat and bar mitzvahs, graduation, guest of wedding and mother of the bride or groom.