Prom season is here, and with it a million questions: do you go with your BF or your BFF? Are corsages still a thing? But the most important question of all is, what are you going to wear?
There are tons of online shops with hundreds of options, of course. But sometimes you need to see a dress IRL to know if it’s *the one*. That’s why we enlisted the help of our Localist correspondent in Halogonia to find the best brick-and-mortar shops for cute dresses, jumpuits and more.
Scroll down for her top picks—and get ready to have the night of your life! Even once your prom is over, you should still check out our fave prom stores across Canada for any fancy occasion you have coming up.
All Dressed Up
Biscuit
Address: 1661 Argyle St., biscuitgeneralstore.com
Vibe: For the not-so-classic prom dress. You’ll find brands like Free People as well as lots of Canadian brands exclusive to the shop. Also, lots of great accessories and shoes, from cute sandals and flats to simple heels that you can pair with your more boho-chic prom look.
Tailoring on-site: No
Appointments? No
Price range: $100 to $250
Sweet Pea
Address: 1542 Queen St., sweetpeahalifax.com
Vibe: Definitely for the not-so-traditional prom-goer, a lot of the dresses here are considered more semi-formal since they have a lot of shorter styles.
Tailoring on-site: No, but they do carry a local independent designer, Katrina Tuttle, who is known for her incredible handmade custom dresses. Katrina designs a line for the shop called The Sweet Pea Collection.
Appointments? No, but they are always focused on their customers and provide tons of helpful info and opinions if you want them.
Price range: Under $200
Envy
Address: 5657 Spring Garden Rd., envyclothing.ca
Vibe: Definitely more edgy, so you won’t find that classic prom dress here. They have tons of accessories, from handbags to simple jewellery.
Tailoring on-site: Yes
Appointments? No
Price range: $150 to $400
All Dressed Up
Address: 1479 Dresden Row, alldressedup.ca
Vibe: Definitely the most traditional prom-style store in Halifax. It’s a huge space with tons of options, so there’s something for everyone: short, long, poofy, two-piece, lace, sequinned, printed, and boho. They carry popular brands like Sherri Hill, Jovani and La Femme.
Tailoring on-site: Not right in the store, but they do offer discounts at local tailors right down the street.
Appointments? No, but they always have tons of helpful sales associates who are really knowledgeable and helpful.
Price range: $400 to $1,100
Bonus: They keep a list of dresses purchased for prom for each school to avoid repeats!
