A small shop that books you in
Some prom shoppers want a packed floor and a hundred gowns to flip through. Others want a quiet room, one stylist and an hour that belongs to them. The Dressing Room is built for the second kind. It's a bridal and formal boutique on Oleander Drive, the midtown road that runs out toward Wrightsville Beach, and its prom business works the same way its bridal business does: through a personal, one-on-one appointment.
The formal side covers more than prom. According to the shop, its formal collection is meant for prom, galas, military balls, weddings and other special events, with designer styles, evening gowns and more affordable formal wear in a range of colors, sizes and silhouettes. Mother-of-the-bride dresses and wedding gowns fill out the floor. The shop also displays a 2022 Wedding Rule Editors' Choice Award, earned on the bridal side.
Booking is simple. The online form asks what you're shopping for, and prom falls under "Formal Dress." It asks your dress size and your budget, in brackets that start under $500, and it lets you pick which stylist you'd like to work with. Fill those fields in with care. A stylist can only steer you well if she knows what you need before you walk in.
The store names its own service area as Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Jacksonville. That covers a lot of New Hanover County prom traffic: Hoggard, New Hanover, Laney and Ashley students, plus girls from Carolina Beach and the Pleasure Island side who come up for an appointment. Weekday hours are limited, so check the schedule on the site before you plan an after-school visit.
How to get the most out of the appointment
The shop publishes its own plan-ahead advice, and it holds up just as well for a prom gown as for a wedding dress.
The Dressing Room's plan-ahead list
- Reserve your date well in advance, so you get the best choice of dates and enough time to try different styles without feeling rushed.
- Set aside real time. Appointments here are meant to be unhurried.
- Browse silhouettes, necklines and fabrics beforehand, and bring inspiration photos.
- Know your budget before you arrive. It narrows the options and makes the hour more fun.
- Wear nude undergarments, and a strapless bra if you have one.
- Bring shoes close to the heel height you plan to wear on prom night.
Don't skip the shoe tip. A floor-length gown pinned at the wrong heel height is a hem that has to be redone. If you're coming from anywhere in southeastern North Carolina, the shoes ride in the car with you.
Everything at The Dressing Room runs through that appointment, and the booking page says as much.
Finding your perfect dress starts with a personalized one-on-one appointment.
Questions about prom at The Dressing Room
Does The Dressing Room carry prom dresses, or is it only bridal?
It carries prom. The shop's formal collection is built for prom, galas, military balls and other special events, alongside its wedding and mother-of-the-bride gowns.
How do I book a prom appointment?
Book through the shop's online scheduling page. Choose "Formal Dress" as what you're shopping for, add your size and budget, and pick a date and time. The shop will confirm the appointment.