A rental floor with a prom season
You do not have to buy the dress. At The Showroom, most prom shoppers don't. They rent a designer gown for a long prom weekend, wear it, and hand it back on its hanger, dry cleaning included. City Cast Nashville pointed readers here for exactly that reason, noting that the shop offers prom dress rentals with a team of stylists and rentals starting at $50.
The business was founded in 2015 by Kristin Geyser, a fashion stylist whose eye was shaped by years of styling in Los Angeles. Her shop has grown into what it calls Nashville's designer destination for formal event rentals, with over 6,000 gowns and new styles arriving quarterly. Most of the year, the racks dress women for galas, red carpets, weddings, photoshoots and corporate events. Every spring, prom gets a whole set of rules of its own.
Sizing is inclusive, running XXS and 00 through 4X and 24. Rental prices depend on the dress, anywhere from $50 to $1,000, and the store puts its average between $100 and $250. Nearly the whole inventory can be rented, and about 90% of it is also for sale, so if a gown is love at first sight, ask about keeping it.
How a prom rental works, start to finish
The Showroom's prom FAQ lays out the process in five clear steps. Prom appointments are required and walk-ins are not taken for prom shopping, though everyone shopping for other events can walk in anytime.
Book online
A $50 deposit holds the slot and is applied to your rental
The appointment
Plan for 90 minutes, about 30 browsing and 60 in a fitting room held for you, with stylists checking in and up to two guests
Reserve
Tell your stylist which school you attend; the gown is tagged with your name, school and dates so it is not rented twice for the same dance
Hold
Up to two dresses held for 24 hours, to think it over or get a school's dress-code approval
Thursday or Friday of prom weekend
Pick up the gown for a four-day rental
The following Monday, back on its hanger
Fit is handled with care for the next renter. Temporary alterations may be allowed with stylist approval, and the store recommends a third-party seamstress with a 24 to 48 hour turnaround, paid directly by the customer. If you need extra time with the dress for alterations, you can rent it earlier for an added daily fee. Plans can change, too.
Nothing works on the day
The $50 deposit turns into store credit that never expires, good for a future event or prom accessories.
Swaps
A reserved dress can be swapped up to two weeks before the event with a new appointment.
Cancellations
A cancelled rental becomes store credit.
Weather
If weather moves the dance, the store will try to shift your rental to the new date.
Who it suits, and the 8th Avenue trip
Renting is a smart fit for a student who wants a statement gown for one night at a lower cost than buying. The store describes its gowns as gently worn and well maintained, and promises to replace a dress damaged before your event when possible, or issue a full refund. It is equally clear that the inventory is built for many occasions and ages, which gives the prom racks a different look from a floor stocked only with prom lines. Expect jumpsuits, cocktail dresses and gowns that could just as easily walk a red carpet. Most new spring dresses land in March, so that is a good month to book.
The shop is on 8th Avenue South, just below downtown, and it serves prom shoppers from across Middle Tennessee. Students at Hume-Fogg Academic High School downtown and Nashville School of the Arts are among the closest, while Antioch High School and Cane Ridge High School sit in the southeast part of the county. Shopping is in store only, because the shop does not ship, and the collection is women's only.
The prom FAQ itself sets expectations about what kind of shop this is.
We are not a traditional prom store, and our gowns are designed for multiple occasions and ages.
Rental rules at The Showroom, in brief
Do I need an appointment to rent a prom dress at The Showroom?
Yes. Prom appointments are required, booked online with a $50 deposit that goes toward the rental. Shoppers renting for other events can walk in.
How long is a prom rental at The Showroom?
Four days. Pickup is the Thursday or Friday of prom weekend, with the return the following Monday. Dry cleaning is included.
Can I buy the dress instead of renting it?
In most cases. Roughly 90% of the inventory is for sale as well as for rent, per the store.