In Addition to that, you will find an extraordinary selection of Prom & Homecoming Gowns registered by the school from top designers including Sherri Hill, Primavera Couture, and Jovani.
That sentence sits in the middle of The Winner's About page, and the four words prom shoppers care about are registered by the school. In the Shenango Valley, where students from neighboring districts end up at the same dances, the same restaurants and the same photo spots, that is the detail that keeps two girls from showing up in the same gown at the same prom. When you buy, tell the staff your school and your dance so the dress goes on the list.
The Winner has been on West State Street since 1988, and it is not a one-room boutique. It is a downtown store for women's fashion, spread over four floors, with petite, missy and women's sizes, sportswear and casual wear, swim and cruise wear, accessories and handbags alongside the formal departments. Prom and homecoming have their own territory on the first floor and the lower level.
The prom designer list
The store's prom designer page is long.
- Alyce Paris
- Amarra
- Blondie Nites
- Chandelier
- Clarisse
- Colette by Daphne
- Colors Dress
- Dave & Johnny
- Ellie Wilde
- Faviana
- Jovani
- Morgan and Company
- Morilee
- Primavera Couture
- Rachel Allan
- Scala
- Stella Couture
- Tiffany Designs
The About page adds Sherri Hill to the mix. With eighteen labels on one page, the spread of silhouettes and price points is wide. A shopper who wants a fitted, heavily embellished Jovani and her friend who wants something simple from Dave & Johnny can make the trip together and both leave happy.
Size range is a strength. The store's FAQ lists sizes 0 to 32, and the prom filters online run through W sizes as well. Curvy shoppers used to trying on samples that come nowhere close to their size will notice the difference.
Not every dress on the website is in the building, and the prom page says so directly. It points shoppers to an in-store prom category online, or to a call for availability. Use that in-store filter first, and if you have your heart set on a specific style number, the FAQ says a consultant can check live inventory for you.
Finding your way around the building
With four floors, it helps to know where you are headed. The store posts its layout on every page:
- Prom and homecoming
- First floor and lower level
- Mother's and special occasion
- Second floor, no appointments required
- Bridal and bridesmaids
- Bridal salon, by appointment only
Bridal is strictly by appointment. For prom, the FAQ says shoppers do not need an appointment to look at prom and homecoming accessories, and you can request an appointment online or by phone if you would like a consultant set aside for you. In March and April, requesting a consultant ahead of time is the safer bet.
The Winner is also a Mori Lee Bridal Boutique store with a full-service bridal salon, so the bride and the prom-bound sister can shop the same building on the same afternoon.
Settling up
Four things to know at the register.
Layaway
6-month layaway on dresses purchased off the floor, with 25% down and a $5 fee.
Final sale
Prom and homecoming purchases are final, so settle on the size and color before you reach the counter.
Alterations
Handled by outside seamstresses; the store keeps a list of recommended ones from different areas, depending on where you are traveling from.
Military
10% off with proper ID, so mention it at checkout.
That note about seamstresses "depending on where you are traveling from" hints at how far the customer base reaches. Downtown Sharon sits right at the Ohio line along the Shenango River, and shoppers come from well beyond the city. Closest in are Sharon High School and Hickory High School in Hermitage. Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Farrell students come in from the neighboring boroughs, and families from Grove City and Greenville make the trip across Mercer County. For prom shoppers anywhere in the Shenango Valley and western Pennsylvania, this four-floor store handles the dress, the shoes, the bag and the registry check without a second stop.
Prom questions about The Winner
Does The Winner keep track of prom dresses by school?
Yes. Its About page says its prom and homecoming gowns are registered by the school. Mention your school and dance when you buy.
What sizes does the store carry?
The store's FAQ lists sizes 0 to 32.
Can I put a prom dress on layaway?
Yes. Dresses bought off the floor qualify for 6-month layaway with 25% down and a $5 fee.