Westcott Street comes up fast whenever Syracuse families talk about prom dresses. By its own account, Boom Babies is the largest prom retailer in Central New York, with thousands of dresses in the store and a size range that runs from 000 through 26W. It does not look like a mall store, and it does not try to. It sits on Westcott, just outside downtown, in the neighborhood a lot of people know for its coffee shops, its theater and the university students up the hill.
The shop started in 1986, when founder Lorraine opened it out of a love of vintage and all things unique. Over the years prom took over the floor. Today it is run by Meag and Kenz, and the vintage roots still show up in a small way: the store still sells casualwear and vintage pieces alongside the gowns. But from the day after Christmas into June, this is a prom store first, and the fitting rooms prove it.
The designers on the racks
The store's prom pages list a long run of labels, and most of the big names are here. Shoppers can compare Sherri Hill, Jovani, Faviana, La Femme, Primavera Couture, Ellie Wilde, Amarra, Alyce Paris, Clarisse, Jasz Couture and Colette by Daphne side by side. Kate Parker, Colors Dress, JVN, Nina Canacci and MLNY round it out. La Femme and Primavera both have curvy collections listed, which fits a store whose site welcomes individuals of all shapes and sizes.
One note the site is careful to make: an online listing marked in stock may be available for special order rather than hanging in the store. If you have your heart set on a specific style, phone the shop first.
For some shoppers the trip is a long one. A staff member told NCC News that the shop gets a lot of customers from Canada and from all over the states, and that the busy stretch runs from February through June. Saturdays can mean 40-plus people waiting on fitting rooms.
How a prom appointment works
Boom Babies has turned the visit into a system, and it is spelled out on the store's "plan your prom trip" page. The registry is the part every school group cares about.
Through our dress registry, we will not sell the same dress in the same color to the same dance.
That pledge sits on the same planning page.
How the one-hour appointment runs (a guide)
First
Your stylist checks the registry for your school, so you do not fall for a dress that is already spoken for
Then
Try on up to six dresses to start
Last
Decide, or book more time if you need it
The rest of the basics, as the store puts them:
Booking
Same-day appointments are possible online or by phone, but about a week ahead is recommended. Weekends and school breaks fill first.
Walk-ins
A hostess registers walk-ins, but appointments take priority, so the wait can be substantial.
Guests
Two per appointment, because space is tight.
Accessories
Buy your dress here and get 20% off formal accessories up until your event.
Layaway
30% down, two weeks to pay. Deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Read the house rules ahead of time. All formalwear is final sale. Shoppers under 18 need a parent or guardian's permission, either in person or by phone with the stylist, before a purchase. And there is no public restroom in the shop, but the store has an arrangement with Recess Coffee across the street, no purchase needed.
Students come from all over the city and suburbs: Nottingham, Corcoran and Henninger in Syracuse, plus Jamesville-DeWitt, Fayetteville-Manlius, Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse. The store suggests weekdays, earlier in the day before school lets out, for the calmest visit. For other shops across Central New York, browse the stores listed here.
The non-prom side gets a quick mention: mothers' gowns, evening dresses for galas and military balls, and a non-traditional bridal selection for the eclectic wedding. It is a nice extra, but the spring lines outside the fitting rooms are about prom.
Alterations, sizes and holds at Boom Babies
Does Boom Babies do alterations?
No. The store does not offer alterations, but it will give you a list of seamstresses it recommends. Book your seamstress at least two months before the event.
What sizes does the store carry?
Sizes 000 through 26W. The stylists will suggest sizes, since every formalwear company's sizing runs a little differently.
Can I put a dress on hold?
No. The store does not hold dresses, but layaway is available with 30% down and two weeks to pay it off.