At Dublin Formals, the prom dress and the fitting that makes it look right both happen in the West Bridge Street shop. The racks hold prom and homecoming gowns, the back of the shop rents and sells tuxedos, and the store's own tailors handle the hem, the bodice and the date's jacket sleeves. For families in Dublin, Hilliard and Powell, that cuts the spring errand list roughly in half.
The shop is easy to visit without a plan, but it is upfront about what happens if you do. Its FAQ answers the appointment question this way:
No, but we strongly suggest appointments, specially over the weekends, we welcome walk-ins, but we can’t guarantee you a empty fitting room to try things on.
Appointments are free, cancelling is free, and each one runs an hour with a consultant who helps with zippers and layers. Each fitting room fits up to two guests. The store's own advice is to come on a weekday if you want a quieter, more relaxed visit, which is good advice in February when every junior at Coffman and Jerome seems to be shopping the same Saturday.
What it costs, from the store's own numbers
Dublin Formals publishes its price ranges, which makes budgeting simple for families across central Ohio. The FAQ and collection pages give these figures.
- Dresses, entry to top of the floor
- $130 to $1,500
- Homecoming dresses
- $150 to $400
- Eight-piece suit or tuxedo rental
- $149 to $209
- Off-the-rack suits and tuxedos
- From $99
- Custom suits and tuxedos
- From about $599
Payment plans are available on in-store purchases. Alteration work is priced separately from the dress, quoted by the job.
The prom floor draws on labels the store names in its own collection: Ellie Wilde, which got its own spotlight on the shop's blog as one of the staff's favorite prom designers, along with Alyce Paris, Jessica Angel, Faviana, Terani Couture, Tiffany Designs, Ladivine and Aerie Couture. That mix covers fitted beaded gowns, soft ballgowns and the shorter homecoming range.
Sizes, special orders and working backward from prom night
In-store prom sizes run 00 to 20, with more sizes available by special order, and the collection includes a plus-size section. Any dress on the floor can be bought off the rack the same day or ordered in a different color or size., and the wait depends on the designer's own stock.
Ordering a different color or size
In stock with the designer
About a week
Not in stock, per the FAQ
Two to three months
Then add alterations. A standard in-house job takes about ten days, per the prom page, and the FAQ asks for two to three weeks before the event as a cushion. Rush work is possible but treated as the exception, and same-day or next-day jobs carry a surcharge of up to 100 percent. For an early-May prom, that math points to shopping in January or early February.
Returns are limited, so read the policy before you buy. The shop doesn't take returns except for its own size or color errors. New, unaltered, unworn off-the-rack dresses with tags can be exchanged within seven days of pickup for another in-store dress. Special orders, custom pieces and anything altered are final sale.
The tailoring room is the real difference
The alterations page reads more like a tailor's than a dress shop's. The list covers prom and bridal dress alterations, suit and tuxedo work, shirt alterations, zipper repairs, hemming and measurements. According to that page, the store has specialized in custom tailored men's and women's suits and shirts since its establishment, with fabrics from mills around the world, hand-sewn full canvas jackets and hand-cut buttonholes among the options.
Two details matter for prom. The tailors will alter a dress, suit or tuxedo bought somewhere else. And the tux side runs on a short clock.
Rented or purchased
Tuxedos and suits
Single rental
Order at least two weeks before the event
Custom suit
About four weeks; the store suggests a two-month head start
A couple can settle a gown, a rented or purchased tux and the fittings for both in the same building.
The shop also carries a deep mother's-dress collection and runs seasonal sales and trunk shows, while wedding gowns live at its sister site, Dublin Bridal. Bridge Street itself is prom, homecoming, tuxedos and tailoring.
The address is a bonus. West Bridge Street runs through Historic Dublin, and the Dublin Link pedestrian bridge crosses the Scioto to Bridge Park, so a fitting can turn into dinner on the other side of the river. The shop's natural audience is the three Dublin City Schools high schools, Coffman, Scioto and Jerome, plus Hilliard Davidson, Hilliard Bradley, Olentangy Liberty in Powell and Upper Arlington across the northwest suburbs.
Dublin Formals FAQ
Does Dublin Formals do alterations on prom dresses?
Yes. Alterations are done in-house, including on dresses bought elsewhere. The prom page quotes a standard ten-day turnaround, and rush work is available for a surcharge.
Can I rent a tuxedo for prom there?
Yes. Eight-piece rentals run $149 to $209. Order a single rental at least two weeks before the event, or buy off the rack from $99.