White Lace Bridal makes a bold claim on its prom page, the kind a county seat this size can check in a single afternoon of shopping.
White Lace is the only prom shopping destination in Indiana, PA with stunning designer prom and special occasion dresses you won't find anywhere else.
For students at Indiana Area Senior High School, that makes White Lace the hometown option. It sits in a big red brick building at the corner of North Avenue and Oakland Avenue, and the shop's own directions send you through the Martin's Food and TJ Maxx complex to reach its lot.
From an Etsy shop to a prom floor
The business did not start as a dress shop at all. The Indiana Gazette profiled co-owners Cari Bailey and Jodi Bartholomew.
2014
Begins with an Etsy shop while renting decor and linens
2016
A storefront on North Fifth Street in Indiana Borough
2017
A move into White Township
They eventually landed at North Avenue, and along the way they set aside a dedicated space for prom and homecoming gowns, short and long.
In that Gazette profile, Bailey described the whole venture as a chance to pursue what the two of them love to do, and she offered advice that sounds a lot like the shop's own path: take small steps, keep trying and surround yourself with supportive people. Bailey also said that helping prom customers had been an exciting part of the business since the formal side was added. Homecoming gets the same attention each fall, with short and long styles side by side.
The team has a local feel. Several consultants are Indiana University of Pennsylvania students or recent graduates, and Bartholomew runs White Lace Design, the in-house invitation studio, alongside the dress side. Its About page promises that you are never just another appointment.
What the prom section offers
The prom page lays out the basics, and they are strong ones for a shop this size:
- Designers
- Jovani and JVN, Tiffany Designs, Primavera Couture, Ellie Wilde, Colette, Alyce Paris, Panoply and Alana Rose
- Sizes
- 000 to 28
- Registry
- A school-specific dress registry every season
- Appointments
- Recommended, with walk-ins welcome when available
- For dates
- Prom tuxedo rentals, with seasonal specials
The registry is the headline feature. In a county full of small and mid-size high schools, logging each dress by school is a real service. The shop puts it simply: no one wants to show up to prom in the same dress as someone else.
The size range is just as useful. Prom collections that run from 000 all the way to 28 give every student a real chance at finding something on the rack, and the store reports stocking hundreds of prom dresses in a wide spread of colors, silhouettes and styles, from sequins and sleek satin to florals and full ball gowns.
The tuxedo side is built to match.
Built to match
Prom tuxedo rentals
Bring
A color swatch from the dress
Coordinating
Vests, ties and pocket squares picked with the store
Cuts
Modern slim fits to classic cuts
Offers
Extra offers when the date's dress comes from White Lace too; new tux specials closer to prom
Indiana County schools and beyond
Indiana Area is the closest large school, but the shop pulls from all over Indiana County, Pennsylvania and well beyond it. Homer-Center, Marion Center, Penns Manor, Purchase Line and United students shop here, and so do River Valley families from Blairsville. The store itself names shoppers from Johnstown, Altoona, DuBois, Punxsutawney, Kittanning, Ebensburg and Greensburg.
The best time to go is early. The shop's own advice is that selection is strongest as soon as new collections arrive, so a January visit beats an April scramble. Appointments are recommended for the best experience, and taking photos in the fitting room is encouraged. Brides still have the shop's private bridal suite for their own appointments, so a prom visit on a busy weekend runs more smoothly with a time on the books.
One planning note for families: the store's FAQ says purchases other than bridal gowns are paid in full at the time of sale, and it takes all major credit cards, cash and checks. Knowing that ahead of time makes it easier to set a prom budget before the trying-on starts.
Registry, alterations and sizes at White Lace
Does White Lace Bridal have a prom dress registry?
Yes. The shop keeps a school-specific registry every prom season so your dress stays unique at your school.
Does White Lace do alterations?
Not in the shop. White Lace will gladly recommend local alteration experts, and you are free to choose your own.
What sizes are available for prom?
The prom collection runs from size 000 to 28.