Estelle’s Dressy Dresses lays claim to being the world’s largest all-occasion mega dress shop. The story behind that line is a good one. Founder Estelle Schlossberg started in 1992 with a single rack of clothes in a small Farmingdale warehouse, and the business grew into a 37,000-square-foot store on Broadhollow Road that the store describes as one of the largest female-operated businesses in the metropolitan area. It is still family run, with Estelle and her children managing it, as the Farmingdale Patch reported in its anniversary story.
For a Long Island, New York prom shopper, the size shows up where it counts: on the racks, in your size, without an appointment.
Sizes on the floor, not on order
The store lists four size ranges for its dresses:
Four size ranges on the racks
00 to 24
- 00
- 0
- 2
- 4
- 6
- 8
- 10
- 12
- 14
- 16
- 18
- 20
- 22
- 24
Juniors, 00 to 14. Junior plus and women’s, 14W to 24W. Misses, 2 to 18. Petite, 4P to 16P. The dashed line marks a typical 00 to 16 run.
Estelle’s says everything it offers runs from petite to plus size. In prom season the payoff is simple: a senior in a 20W or a 6P can try on a gown in her own size rather than imagine it.
The prom labels run deep. The store’s list includes Sherri Hill, Jovani, La Femme, Morilee, Alyce Paris, Clarisse, Terani, Portia and Scarlett, Primavera Couture, Tiffany Designs, Ellie Wilde, Ava Presley, Jessica Angel, Dave and Johnny, Scala, Colette and Cinderella Divine, among dozens of others.
Prices are posted by tier, so a family can set a budget before the first try-on.
Posted price tiers
Moderate designer dresses
$50 to $200
High-end designer dresses
$200 to $1,000
Sweet 15 and Sweet 16 designer gowns
$200 to $2,000
Bags, shoes and jewelry are on the same floor, and prom shares it with other occasions.
Sweet 16 and quinceañera
Gowns in a section of their own
Bridal
Bridal, mother-of-the-bride and bridesmaid dresses round out the store
Getting to Estelle’s on Route 110
Broadhollow Road is Route 110, the north-south spine of this part of the Island, which makes the shop an easy run from both shores. Farmingdale High School students have the shortest trip of anyone, while the Bethpage, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy and Massapequa high schools sit in neighboring districts. Suffolk families come in from Babylon, West Islip and the Half Hollow Hills district up Route 110.
No appointment is needed at Estelle’s, so when you come is your call.
If you view prom dress shopping as more of a sport than shopping, you probably want to come on a Saturday or Sunday.
That tip comes from the store itself. If you would rather have the floor to yourself, go on a weekday.
Prom shopping questions
What does a prom dress cost at Estelle’s?
The tiers are posted. Moderate designer dresses run $50 to $200, and high-end designer dresses run $200 to $1,000.
Can I get my dress altered?
Yes. The store recommends a separate alterations business that works on the premises, and pricing is handled directly with them.
Can I put a dress on layaway or return it?
Layaway is available, with items held for one week. All prom dresses are final sale, so make the decision in the fitting room.