Tom and Patricia Kahn opened Top Cat Formal Wear & Accessories on Woodward's Main Street in 2013. Their About page explains the motivation in parental terms: as the parents of four daughters, they knew what it took to find the right outfit for every big occasion, and they built a store around that experience. In a part of northwest Oklahoma where the next large formalwear selection is a long way down the highway, that background shows in how the shop is set up. The About page credits the Kahns with a welcoming atmosphere where clients can trust that they will find what they came for.
Prom is the part of the inventory the Kahns single out. Rather than stocking racks of the same style in a run of sizes, they buy prom gowns one at a time, so a girl from Woodward High School is not going to find her dress hanging three more times on the same rack.
Our selection of prom dresses is particularly noteworthy; each piece is one-of-a-kind, guaranteeing that no two dresses are alike in store.
That promise from the homepage applies to what is on the floor at any given time. It is a buying policy rather than a school-by-school sales log, but for students from Woodward, Mooreland, Sharon-Mutual and Fort Supply who share a small set of proms, buying single pieces does much of the same work.
The homepage size list comes with the line "Every Body deserves to look beautiful." The dresses cover all ages, so a younger sister or a mother can shop alongside the prom-goer.
Sizes on the homepage list
0 to 30
- 0
- 2
- 4
- 6
- 8
- 10
- 12
- 14
- 16
- 18
- 20
- 22
- 24
- 26
- 28
- 30
The homepage size list runs from 0 to 30.
Suits, tuxedos and the date's side of prom
Top Cat is a formalwear store in the full sense. Suits and tuxedos are a large part of the business, and the services page spells out how the rentals work.
Suits and tuxedos
Complete rental packages
Package
The suit, shoes and accessories
Also stocked
Ties, bow ties, cufflinks and pocket squares
Consultation
Personal and complimentary, scheduled through the site
Tailoring
Aimed at suits; the store says it guarantees the fit
Families who live outside Woodward have an option as well. The homepage asks out-of-town shoppers to inquire about Direct Delivery, a help for families in Harper, Ellis and Major counties who would rather not make the trip twice.
Because each prom gown is a single piece, the racks change as dresses sell through the season. A shopper who sees something she likes on an early visit should not count on it still hanging there a few weeks later, so a dress that fits and feels right is one to settle on that day.
Walk-ins are welcome for prom. The one exception the store makes is bridal, where it asks for an appointment so the bride gets a one-on-one experience. The shop has also begun adding higher-end business and everyday fashion to the mix.
Shopping Top Cat on Woodward's Main Street
Will another girl at my prom have the same dress from Top Cat?
Not from this store's current floor. Top Cat buys its prom dresses as single pieces, so no two are alike in the shop at the same time.
What size range does Top Cat carry?
Sizes 0 through 30, according to the homepage.
Can the suit and the prom dress come from the same shop?
Yes. Top Cat rents suits and tuxedos as full packages with shoes and accessories, so a couple can plan both outfits on Main Street.