Where to Buy Prom Dresses: The Best Places to Shop and What to Spend

Below, we walk through each type of store, what to expect to spend, how to buy a Sherri Hill dress, and how to make sure the dress you buy is authentic.

How Much Does a Prom Dress Cost?

Prom dress prices vary widely depending on where you shop, the designer, the fabric and how much handwork goes into the dress. A simple dress from a department store or a secondhand find will cost far less than a fully beaded designer gown. Before you shop, set a budget for the whole look, not just the dress: include shoes, accessories, alterations, and hair and makeup if you are booking them.

How Much Is a Sherri Hill Prom Dress?

Sherri Hill prom dresses range from $399 to $1,999, the suggested retail price in the U.S. Where a style falls in that range depends on the design, from clean satin and chiffon gowns to fully beaded and couture pieces. You can find the price of a specific style at authorized Sherri Hill retail stores: find your nearest retailer on Find A Store and contact them with the style number.

What Are the Best Places to Buy Prom Dresses?

Formal-Wear Boutiques and Authorized Designer Retailers

For most shoppers, a formal-wear boutique is the best place to start. These stores specialize in prom, pageant and evening gowns, so you will find a wide selection of styles in one place, staff who know how each designer fits, and often an in-house or recommended seamstress for alterations. You can try on as many silhouettes as you like, which is the fastest way to learn what suits you.

Shopping at an authorized retailer for a designer also means the dress is genuine. Authorized stores can check whether a style is available to order in your color and size, which matters if the exact dress you want is not on the rack that day. Book an appointment during peak season, since weekends from January through March can be busy.

Department Stores

Larger department stores usually expand their formal dress selection as prom season approaches. They are convenient if you want to compare several brands and price points in one trip, and their return policies tend to be straightforward. Selection of full-length gowns can be more limited than at a specialty store, so they are often best for simpler styles or shorter dresses.

Online Retailers

Shopping online gives you the widest choice, but you cannot try the dress on before it arrives. If you buy online:

• Buy from a reputable store. If you want a specific designer, make sure the store is one of that designer's authorized retailers.
• Read the return policy first. Check the return window, who pays return shipping, and whether formal dresses are final sale.
• Measure yourself. Compare your bust, natural waist and fullest hip with the designer's size chart rather than ordering your usual size. Our size guide explains how.
• Order early. Allow time for delivery, a possible exchange and alterations.

Many formal-wear boutiques also sell online or by phone, so you can often get the selection of a specialty store with the convenience of shipping.

Consignment and Thrift Stores

Consignment and thrift stores are worth a look if you love vintage style or want something no one else will be wearing. Selection is unpredictable and sizes are limited to what is on the rack, so give yourself time and budget for alterations. These stores are also good places to find one-of-a-kind accessories.

How Do You Buy a Sherri Hill Prom Dress?

In the U.S., Sherri Hill dresses are sold through authorized retailers rather than on sherrihill.com. Here is how to shop:

1. Browse the styles. Look through our prom dresses or the latest runway looks in the NYFW Spring 2027 collection, and write down the style numbers you like.
2. Find a retailer. Go to Find A Store and enter your zip code or city to see the authorized Sherri Hill retailers near you.
3. Call ahead. Stores do not carry every style, color and size. Give the store your style numbers so they can tell you what they have and check whether a style is available to order in the color and size you want. This is also how to get the exact price of a style.
4. Try on and fit. Formal gowns are cut closer to the body than everyday clothes, so try a few sizes and ask the store about alterations.

Sherri Hill sizes run from 000 to 26, though not every style is produced in every size. Returns are handled by the store where you bought your dress, so ask about its return policy before you buy. Only a select few retailers offer custom made-to-measure Sherri Hill dresses.

How Can You Tell if a Prom Dress Is Authentic?

Counterfeit designer prom dresses are sold online, sometimes on websites that use a designer's own photos. The surest way to get an authentic Sherri Hill dress is to buy from an authorized retailer. Authorized stores are listed on Find A Store, and a seller that is not listed there is not an authorized Sherri Hill retailer. If you come across a counterfeit Sherri Hill dress, email info@sherrihill.com with as much detail as you can, including the website or seller, links, screenshots and any order information.

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Prom Dress?

For a spring prom, aim to shop in January or February. Start at least two to three months before the event if you are shopping in person, and a little earlier if you are ordering online, so there is time for delivery, exchanges and alterations. New spring styles begin arriving in stores as early as late October or early November, so start then if you have your heart set on a particular runway look.

Finding the Right Place to Shop

The right store depends on your budget, your timeline and how much help you want. If you want the widest selection of gowns, fitting help and a genuine designer dress, start with an authorized formal-wear retailer, then use department stores, online stores and secondhand shops to round out your search. For more ideas before you go, see the 2027 prom dress trends and our guide to prom dresses for any budget.

For Sherri Hill prices and authorized retailers, see Sherri Hill prices and where to buy.