“Why, hello! Welcome to (insert overly priced formal wear store name here). What are we looking for today?”
Okay, that was a simple enough one, “Well, a prom dress.”
“Do you have any certain styles in mind?”
“Not really. I haven’t narrowed it down and I’m kind of looking around at everything.”
“Alright then! Let me know if you do need anything!”
Yes! They’re going to leave me alone to myself to complain about how bad I look in orange and they won’t suggest animal prints encrusted with pounds of sequins.
“Do you know if you want long or short!?”
Damn, how did she get to the other side of the store so quick? And why didn’t I see her move?
“Probably long. Seems more prom traditional to me,” I said appeasing the attendant at least a little bit with instruction.
She gave quick nod and disappeared. I turned back to the rack I was flipping through, amazed by how many colors could be forced together on the same dress.
“Are ya looking for a solid? Or are ya more of a print gal!?”
This time she was smiling from the other end of the aisle.
Was I a “print gal”? Not typically, but that didn’t necessarily mean I wanted to rule out every print in the building. It wasn’t fair to the good prints of the world.
“Not sure. Just kind of looking at everything.”
Quick enthusiastic nod #2 and gone. I resumed my perusing. Too bright, this would look better on my sister, way too much cut out of this, could I fit through the door, who wears sleeves on a prom dress?
“Are ya wanting ball gown, mermaid styled, cutouts!? Got any plan in mind?”
Geez woman, I am just browsing! This time she had managed to get right behind with an armful of dresses that she hoped to have me try on as if I was her Barbie. She needed to wear a bell like a cat so I could hear her coming. Honestly, how could she move so silently? Do dressing attendants have special training for that? I didn’t want to be rude, but I wanted to get out of there.
There’s a fine line between what can be seen as assisting or pestering. Yes, its nice to have someone there; help with zippers, let you know the prices or sizes, fetch things for you if you do have a plan in mind, but some of the fancier stores make me uncomfortable. Maybe these stores sell on commission and need you to get a dress for their sake, but it has always turned me off of a store. In my years of shopping, I’ve found that the stores I’m more comfortable are the smaller ones. These ones also happen to be less expensive. Sometimes this is because they might have older styles or a less fancy or lesser known line, but there are still some incredible dresses.
Two stores that I especially like are Augusta Cleaners in Waynesboro and the Fashion Gallery in Verona. Both of these locations have plenty of dresses available for less than $300 and keep a record of what school’s the sell to so that the purchaser is less likely to run into someone with the same dress at their prom. I was not instructed to promote these stores, but with all of the help they have given me in the past four years, I owe it to them.
Alice Barret at the Augusta Cleaners had helped my sister through all of her Homecomings, formals, and proms, and has extended this kindness to me. She is honest and will actually tell me if she thinks something looks bad. Whenever I have been stuck between multiple dresses in the past she has gotten a vote along with my mother, sister, and best friend. Also, the Cleaners provide alterations and cleaning for the formal wear, even if you didn’t purchase it there; definitely beneficial.
At the Fashion Gallery, I have always had an older woman, Jean, serve as my shopping specialist. She was there when I bought last year’s prom dress (only $120) and she was there when I bought this year’s dress (only $230). She always seems to have an actual invested interest in what I’ll be wearing, without badgering me, which I always appreciate. She has even asked me to bring a picture back of me and my date so she can see how we end up looking.
A prom is not a wedding. The day is not about you, it’s about your class. There are quite a few more color options. You may have more than one prom (I know it is possible to have more than one wedding, but the traditionalist part of my brain reminds me that there’s supposed to be just one). But it is important to a teenage girl (quite a few teenage boys too). That’s what I have been to four different dress shops, some multiple times, in the past two months. And I’m one of the more conservative female shoppers. Imagine how the hardcore dedicated shoppers are; everyone knows one and I’m sure someone just popped into your mind.
This past weekend my problems were solved. (Attention: if you’re male you might just want to skip over this paragraph.) I found a dress. Not too flash, not too plain, not too short, a smidge too long but alterations are only $30. It has a large floral pattern at the bottom and around the bodice (guess I was a bit of a “print gal”). The colors are majority white, with red and black; good colors for matching my date. While in the store, four other shoppers complimented it; always a good sign.
So there we are. Nothing more to worry about. Just the hair, makeup, shoes, dinner, pictures, what to do before and after, time constraints …
Suzi Foltz is an AugustaFreePress.com intern and a senior at Wilson Memorial High School.
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