For years, Onslow County's older sisters knew the prom shop on Gum Branch Road as Classics. The shop is still there, in the same suite, with the same phone line. It just has a new name. Something Bleu Bridal House, formerly Classics Bridal and Prom, is the Jacksonville boutique that kept the racks and changed the sign, and for prom shoppers in Onslow County it remains one of the first stops of the season.
The old web address now forwards to the new site, so a search for the former name still lands in the right place. Families who shopped here before will find the same location and the same idea: one store that can dress a teenager for prom, a groom's party for a wedding, and everyone in between.
We are your go-to destination for all things formal. From picture-perfect wedding gowns to show-stopping prom dresses and beautiful ball gowns.
That is the shop's homepage pitch. Prom dresses sit second in the sentence, but on the racks they get generous space.
The prom labels on the floor
Something Bleu groups its eveningwear under a "Formal and Prom" heading, and the list is short enough to memorize before you park. Five labels make the cut:
- Ellie Wilde by Mon Cheri, listed on the site as the shop's first prom label
- Amarra, with the widest price spread in the online catalog
- Morilee Prom, from the same house behind the shop's Morilee bridal gowns
- Alyce Paris Prom, with a deep run of styles on its collection page
- LaDivine, where many styles carry an "In Stock!" tag
Between them, those five houses give the Classics prom rack a wide spread of styles and prices. The online catalog lists Ellie Wilde, Amarra and Morilee prom gowns at designer list price, starting around $300 and climbing into the high $800s, and many styles carry a "Quick Delivery!" tag. The site is careful to note that a price tag in the shop may differ from the online figure, so the catalog works best as a way to shortlist styles before you come in. Screenshot a few style numbers. It makes the appointment move faster.
The size filter on the site runs from 000 up through 32 and into 14W through 32W, and the collections can be narrowed by feature, color, neckline and silhouette. Plus-size shoppers do not have to guess whether the shop bothers with their range. The filters say it does.
The appointment form on the store's booking page lists the formal slot as "Prom, Ball, Gala, Formal Event," and in Jacksonville that last word is no afterthought. With Camp Lejeune and New River in town, long-gown season is not only spring. The same racks that dress prom-goers from Jacksonville, Northside, White Oak and Southwest high schools also suit military ball season, when long gowns are in demand well outside the spring rush.
Booking a prom visit
Bridal appointments are required, and the site says so in its banner. Prom works a little differently. The homepage invites shoppers to call or stop by to browse new arrivals and set up a personalized appointment, and the online booking page has a dedicated formal wear slot. The booking page spells out a few details:
- Length
- The formal wear appointment is booked as a 60-minute visit, and booking it online costs nothing.
- Group size
- The guest limit is four, and children under 10 are not permitted. Larger groups can call the store to ask for approval.
- Tuxedos
- Tux rentals are booked separately, with single, small group and large group options, and the site links to Jim's Formal Wear and Generation Tux for rental or purchase.
- Accessories
- There is a short accessories appointment as well, and the store stocks shoes and jewelry to go with the gown.
That tux setup is the quiet advantage here. A prom date who needs a rental can be booked alongside the gown, which saves a second drive across Jacksonville in March.
The shop also advertises that it was voted a Best of North Carolina Regional winner in the Bridal and Formal Shops category, and its site lists it as family-owned and operated. Its About page talks about welcoming customers of every shape, size and budget, and about stylists who aim for a pressure-free visit. Bridal remains a real part of the business, with Casablanca, Lillian West and Morilee gowns on the bridal side, but students do not need to feel like an afterthought in a bridal house.
From Swansboro to Holly Ridge, Onslow County prom shoppers
The shop pulls from well beyond the Jacksonville city limits. Students from Swansboro High School on the coast, Richlands High School to the north, and Dixon High School in Holly Ridge shop here too. Lejeune High School, the Department of Defense school aboard Camp Lejeune, adds another prom date to the local calendar, and its families often arrive new to town and short on time. For any of them, Something Bleu is one of the established formal shops in eastern North Carolina.
Same shop, new name: Something Bleu answers
Is Something Bleu the same store as Classics Bridal and Prom?
Yes. The old website now forwards to Something Bleu Bridal House, which operates from the same Gum Branch Road suite under its new name.
What prom sizes does Something Bleu stock?
The size filter on the site runs from 000 through 32, plus 14W through 32W, and collections can be narrowed by neckline and silhouette.
Which prom designers does Something Bleu carry?
The site lists Ellie Wilde, Amarra, LaDivine, Morilee Prom and Alyce Paris Prom under its Formal and Prom collections.