Exclusively You

Exclusively You runs on appointments, and that's not a formality. According to the shop's contact page, it is open by appointment only, with no walk-ins, and its prom page repeats the point: an appointment is required to shop for a prom or formal dress. Phone the shop, pick a time, and you get a staff member's full attention for the visit. The shop also notes that hours can change during winter storms, which in this part of the state is something to keep in mind for a February fitting.

The shop sits in downtown Bloomsburg, on West Main Street, and it doesn't think small about its reach. Its site presents it as Northeastern and Central PA's premier bridal, prom and formal wear shop, serving the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Williamsport markets and beyond. Closer in, girls from Bloomsburg Area, Central Columbia, Berwick Area, Danville Area, Southern Columbia Area and Millville Area shop here as well, which covers most of Columbia and Montour counties.

Kim's shop

Kim Angelo Keck has owned Exclusively You since 1996. The shop's About page says she'll humbly tell you she has learned a lot in her years as owner, but she loves the store and the job as much now as when she started. She treats the work as a real responsibility. Gown, tux or formal dress, Kim wants every customer to look and feel their very best.

That philosophy shows up in the shop's promise about pressure. Everyone who walks in should have an enjoyable, stress-free experience, the store says, and you should feel comfortable and at ease, never pressured into a sale. A nervous sophomore in her first long gown needs that promise more than she needs another rack.

The store also promises consistency. From your first visit until the day you leave with your dress or tuxedo, it says, you'll get the same high level of service every time. You can shop with Kim herself or one of her staff members, and the shop invites everyone in for a personal, one-of-a-kind experience. That personal approach is the heart of its pitch to shoppers well beyond Columbia County.

Seven labels on the Bloomsburg prom floor

The prom collection is chosen fresh each season to stay on trend, with the goal of having something for every personality. The staff work with you on silhouette, color and shape rather than just pulling sizes. The labels named on the shop's prom page:

• Alyce Paris
• Ellie Wilde by Mon Cheri
• Colette by Mon Cheri
• Faviana
• Jasz Couture
• Jovani
• Mori Lee

That's a wide spread, from Jovani's red-carpet glamour to the softer, romantic side of Ellie Wilde and Colette. The shop's prom page explains why it takes the job seriously:

Everyone remembers their high school prom, and we want to help make your dress search and prom a memorable experience.

For semi-formals and dances that don't call for a full gown, the shop also carries Rebecca Ingram by Maggie Sottero, a fashion-forward line of special occasion dresses. The prom page keeps a gallery of Exclusively You prom girls, which is a good way to see how the dresses look on real students before you book. Shoes, belts, jewelry and hair accessories are in the store too, so belts and earrings can be tried against the gown before it comes off.

The shop has its own in-house seamstress, and the staff are careful about sizing from the start so alterations stay minimal.

Your date is covered too.

Wedding gowns and other family occasions fill out the store, but prom gets its own labels, its own page and the same one-on-one attention. For a formal dress in central Pennsylvania, it's a full-service stop.

Prom questions for Exclusively You

Can I walk in to shop for a prom dress?

No. Exclusively You is open by appointment only, and that includes prom and formal shopping. Call the shop to schedule a time.

Does Exclusively You rent prom tuxedos?

Yes. The shop rents tuxedos from Jim's Formal Wear and Sarno and Sons, with in-store measuring and fittings the week of the event.

Can the shop alter my prom dress?

Yes. Exclusively You has an in-house seamstress who handles alterations on dresses bought there.