Spybaby Bridal & Prom

Marie Adornato knows the other side of the fitting-room mirror. She grew up in Syracuse, graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in one of its first classes of girls, and competed in the Miss America Scholarship Program into her twenties, which is where she says she learned to appreciate a couture gown. After a business degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz school, she came home and opened Spybaby in 1996. She still runs it, and the store’s site pitches Spybaby as Central New York’s destination for bridal, prom and formalwear.

The shop sits on North Franklin Street in Franklin Square, the old warehouse district just north of downtown and close to the Inner Harbor. It is a stand-alone stop rather than a mall storefront, so plan the visit as its own errand.

What is on the prom racks

The web catalog sorts its prom collection by designer, and the list is long for a single shop in Central New York:

Online, each prom style is marked as available in store, for special order, or both, with listed sizes running from 000 to 26. An extensive collection of plus-size styles runs across its bridal and formal gowns, per the store. Marie’s own made-to-measure label, Adornato Couture, has been on bridal runways since 2017 and also shows up among the prom styles.

Bridal, bridesmaids and mother-of-the-bride are part of the business too, and the wedding side is where Adornato Couture is focused, but prom gets its own full collection rather than a corner of the bridal floor.

Alterations and timing

Alterations and custom work are done by the store’s own team, which it says brings more than 30 years of design and tailoring experience. That includes full alterations for gowns bought at Spybaby, plus custom design, measurements and gown modifications.

Alteration appointments book out quickly. Please allow a minimum of eight (8) weeks prior to your event date for alteration services.

That rule is the store’s, and for prom it means buying the dress well before spring break, not after it.

Prom traffic comes from the city high schools, Corcoran, Nottingham and Henninger, and from the suburbs: West Genesee in Camillus, Liverpool, and Christian Brothers Academy in DeWitt, Marie’s own alma mater. The store warns that its most popular prom dresses sell quickly, so the earlier appointment slots in the season are worth grabbing.

Spybaby sizes, alterations and online orders

What sizes does Spybaby carry for prom?

Listed prom sizes run from 000 to 26, and each style on the site is marked as in store, special order or both.

Can Spybaby alter a dress I bought somewhere else?

It depends on the alterations calendar. Full alterations are offered for gowns bought at Spybaby, and outside dresses may be taken depending on appointment availability. All alterations, measurements and custom design work are by appointment only.

Can I order a prom dress online?

Yes, the store sells online, but online sales are final with no returns or exchanges. If you are unsure of sizing, contact the store before you order, or try the dress on in person first.