Formal dress shopping can be an absolute pain. You have to find the right size, shape, color and type along with making sure it’s within a reasonable budget and won’t fall apart while you’re dancing. It can be exhausting for everyone, but hopefully, these suggestions will help the process be a little easier. We have compiled a short list of shops and stores with various price ranges and sizes to help you find the dress of your dreams this prom season.
Arden – Westshore Mall
If you have a bigger budget and don’t want to make an appointment, Arden in Westshore Mall is a good first option. They have a large selection of different colors and styles and can usually order different sizes if you find a dress you like but doesn’t fit just right, plus the staff is super helpful and kind. The one issue is that their current selection runs pretty expensive, usually between 400-500 dollars, so if you’re a baddie on a budget it may be difficult to find a dress you like within your price range. However, when I went, there were plenty of dresses that fit and were in my budget, they just weren’t what I wanted, so it’s definitely worth a shot! They also have tuxedos and suits for those who aren’t looking for dresses, so the whole group can come shopping!
Thrift Stores
For the ultimate baddie with a budget, thrift stores can have some underrated gems for dresses! Prices can depend on the store, but they are considerably less expensive than department and small stores. However, be prepared to work and search if you want something specific, you could go through dozens of racks and not find a decent dress. I would recommend Sunshine Thrift and potentially Avalon Exchange, as well as online sites like Poshmark and Depop. The only downsides are being prepared for a lot of disappointment and more than likely some alterations to help make something fit.
Windsor – Westshore Mall and Brandon Mall
If you want an actual dress store that’s cheap with tons of selection, Windsor is the place for you. Located in Westshore and Brandon Mall, you can find dresses in plenty of different styles for between 80-120 dollars on average all in one place. There are also plenty of short dresses if long dresses aren’t your cup of tea. The store itself is your basic mall dress shop and the service can vary, but you can order any dress online and easily return it at any Windsor location. A bonus of going to the Westshore Mall is that you can go to two dress shops (see Arden), so you can get double dresses on one trip.
Esmeralda’s Boutique – Dale Mabry
Located on Dale Mabry, Esmeralda’s is the perfect spot for someone with an unlimited budget. The dresses are very high quality, and an impressive number of dresses are available in a small space. Appointments are appreciated and will be prioritized over walk-ins, it’s easy to make one and the store is generally not super busy. The staff are incredibly helpful and assist you with putting dresses away, finding ones that might fit your budget and zipping/lacing up dresses for you. Most of the dresses are in the 500s range, but there is a decent amount below and above that range for you to look at. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend someone with a strict budget for this shop, but I would definitely recommend it if your budget is higher.
Hopefully, this list provides you with new inspiration for dress shopping and leads you to your dream dress! The best part about living in Tampa is that there are dozens of formal dress shops wherever you look, so even if these stores don’t have the dress you want, there are many options outside of this list.
