Effie’s Boutique has been part of 86th Street in Bensonhurst for decades, by its own count, long enough that many local families have been through its fitting rooms more than once. The D train rattles overhead on the elevated West End line, the 20th Avenue stop is about a block away, and the B1 bus runs the same street. For a Brooklyn, New York prom shopper without a car, that is about as easy as a dress appointment gets.
The shop works by appointment only, booked online. Booked time means you are not competing for a mirror on a packed spring Saturday, and the visit runs on your schedule instead of the store's busiest hour.
The designer floor
Effie’s is an authorized retailer, per its site, and the designer page lists labels Brooklyn seniors already know from their feeds:
Mainstream prom
Heavier beading, statement silhouettes
Classic evening looks
Rounding out the list
- Terani Couture
- Colors Dress
- Marsoni by Colors
- Rina di Montella
If you have a specific style in mind from one of these labels, mention it when you book. It is the quickest way to find out whether it is in the building or would need to be ordered.
Prom is the center of the business, and the store posts its prices, including a sale section, so you can get a sense of the floor and your budget before you book. Look online first, then come in knowing which three or four gowns you want to see on.
Homecoming, sweet 16 and pageant
Gowns on the same racks as prom
Bridesmaids and mothers of the bride
A smaller selection
Accessories
Jewelry, bags and other accessories are sold too
Bensonhurst schools along the D train
The neighborhood’s own prom traffic comes from New Utrecht High School and Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, both in Bensonhurst, with Fort Hamilton in Bay Ridge and Edward R. Murrow in Midwood not far off. Bay Ridge and Sheepshead Bay families make the trip as well, many of them on the same D train and B1 bus that stop outside.
Bookings, alterations and the trip to Effie’s
When you find a dress, start looking for an alterations provider immediately.
The advice is from Effie’s prom blog, and it is meant literally.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. Effie’s is by appointment only, and you can book a time online through its website.
How should I plan for alterations?
The store’s prom advice covers both money and fit: build the cost of alterations into your budget from the start, and bring your prom heels to the fitting so the hem is set at the right length.
Can I see prices before I book?
Yes. Prices are posted, sale section included, so you can set a budget before the visit.
Can I get to Effie’s without a car?
Yes. The 20th Avenue stop on the D train is about a block away, and the B1 bus runs along 86th Street.