Uniquely Yours

In a county where the same kids see each other at Friday night games all fall, nobody wants to walk into prom and find a classmate in the same dress. Uniquely Yours built its prom business around that worry. The family-run boutique on North Court Street buys thin on purpose, keeps only a dress or two of each prom and homecoming style, and registers dresses by school when it does carry more than one.

The shop has been part of downtown Circleville since 2002. By its own account, its focus from the beginning has been the occasions that matter most in a small Ohio town: Daddy-Daughter Dances and Little Miss Pumpkin Show, along with homecoming, prom and weddings. Over the years it moved once within downtown and kept adding to what it offers. Pam Kerns is the owner, and the store describes its team as family members and people who feel like family.

How prom shopping works here

Walk in. Prom, homecoming, pageant and formal shoppers don't need an appointment during regular hours. Only bridal is booked ahead. The store's homepage explains the thinking behind its buying:

We believe everyone deserves to stand out. That’s why we carry only 1-2 of each dress style for prom and homecoming.

Registration follows from that. The FAQ is careful to say it registers prom dresses by school whenever possible, and that exclusivity can't be guaranteed, but the system is there to help students shop with confidence. Seniors at Logan Elm or Teays Valley have a real reason to buy locally rather than click "add to cart" on the same dress a hundred other girls are ordering.

The specifics, straight from the store's FAQ:

• Prom and homecoming sizes run 000 through 32, with availability varying by style and designer.
• Special orders are available for prom, homecoming and pageant dresses, and they need to go in well ahead of the event.
• Layaway is offered, and a 24-hour dress hold costs $25 if you need a night to think it over.
• Shoes, jewelry and accessories are in the shop, so shoes and jewelry can be matched to the dress on the spot.

Tuxedo rentals sit on the same FAQ, with a schedule of their own.

Pageant gowns, gifts and Pumpkin Show dresses on North Court Street

Pageant isn't a sideline here, and in Circleville, where Little Miss Pumpkin Show is part of the fall calendar, that makes sense.

• Pageant

  Pageant dresses and special-occasion styles, with pageant special orders

• Little girls and babies

  Dresses and special-occasion outfits suitable for pageants and formal events

• Mothers

  A small selection of mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom dresses

• Bridal

  Gowns by appointment; bridesmaid dresses ordered from designer books

Unique gifts and casual wear round out the shop. The store's tone is low pressure. Its site promises help rather than a hard sell, says the team works with any budget, and leans into a one-on-one, take-your-time kind of visit. That suits a shop where a mom, a daughter and a grandmother might all weigh in on the same dress.

Circleville is the Pickaway County seat, and the boutique's prom traffic comes first from the county's own high schools: Circleville, Logan Elm, Teays Valley in Ashville and Westfall in Williamsport. Chillicothe High School families come up US 23 from neighboring Ross County. According to its site, the store also welcomes shoppers from West Virginia and Kentucky and from across the country, which fits a county seat on US 23 in south-central Ohio. Hours change with the season, so check the site before you make the trip, and remember that downtown fills up during the Pumpkin Show in October.

Uniquely Yours FAQ

What prom sizes does Uniquely Yours stock?

Sizes 000 through 32 for prom and homecoming, though availability varies by style and designer. Special orders are possible if you place them well ahead of the dance.

Will someone else at my school have the same dress?

The store carries just one or two of each prom style and registers dresses by school whenever possible, though it notes exclusivity can't be guaranteed.