1. The Ladylike Dress
If you love an ultra-feminine look that remains reserved, then ladylike prom dresses should be your first port of call. Classy and timeless, ladylike dresses will often feature a high neckline. This is because this style typically accentuates your waist instead of showcasing your décolletage. An added bonus is that if your school has a strict dress code for the evening, ladylike formal wear will adhere to it.
2. The Glamorous Dress
If you're an extrovert who is all about turning heads, then look for evening dresses that scream 'glamour'. Glamorous dresses will accentuate your curves, hug you in the all the right places, and tend to make one body feature the star - think low necklines, backless dresses or dresses with a thigh-high split. This is the perfect dress style for fans of bright colours, like your sizzling reds or electric blues. If your school has a dress code for the evening it can be a bit harder to find a glamorous dress that fits the bill, so make sure you allow extra time to find a dress that will make a splash, but won't cause a fuss.
3. The Bohemian Dress
You want something flowing, modern and comfortable? Maybe boho evening dresses are the way to go. Bohemian style gowns feature soft prints, pastel colours and usually some lace or chiffon. A significant benefit of a boho dress is that they are excellent value for money (let's face it, who wants to only wear a dress once?) With the right accessories, you can make bohemian long formal dresses look high-end. Take away your jewellery and hair-do, and you can wear this style on your average weekend!
4. The Statement Dress
Up-and-coming designers, lots of beading or embroidery, asymmetrical lines - statement dresses are the ideal way to stand out from the crowd. The chance of someone wearing the same outfit as you is very slim if the designer is the new kid on the block, and it's so easy to look fashion forward when you can pull off a gown that looks a bit Met Gala. NB: You don't want to look any more than 5% Met Gala. If you decide to go with Katy Perry's wings, you'll never make it into your limo.
If you don't fall into any of these style categories, it doesn't matter. You're the one that knows what you look best in, and if you take a trusted friend or family member along to a few formal dress shops you'll definitely get an honest opinion.
Now, for our list of formal dress stores - we've got you covered for formal dresses Australia wide!
#14. The Volte, NT
Store Name: The Volte
Product Range: The Volte has dresses that are suitable for cocktail events, balls, formals, black tie events and evening events.They also stock playsuits and jumpsuits. Expect fashion by Alex Perry, Copper Street and Zimmerman. You can check out their full list of designers here.
Price Range: Prices range from $30 - $2000 , there is more than enough to chose from.
What's On Offer? : Dubbed 'The Air BnB of Fashion', peer-to-peer company The Volte is an online store that allows you to rent your dress out for a bit of extra income, or borrow a dress from other members. If you want to wear a high-end designer for your special night, but don't want to commit to the full retail price, The Volte is your answer! On the flip side, if you end up investing in a costly formal dress, The Volte is a great place to recoup some of your costs.
Reviews: You can check out some real-life customer reviews on The Volte's Instagram story
You can find them here: The Volte
#13. Echanté Bridal & Formal Wear, ACT
Store Name: Enchanté Bridal & Formal Wear
Product Range: Enchanté get new styles delivered in store every few weeks, so that you always have a fresh range of dresses to choose from.
Price Range: While the prices of dresses aren't advertised directly on the store's website or social media channels, Enchanté do state that they cater for all budgets and that lay-by options are available.
What's On Offer? : Enchanté offer a range of both international and Australian brands, and cater for all body types (which is good news if you're a local looking for plus size formal dresses) You can also book an appointment through their main boutique, so that staff will be ready to help you find your dream dress on the day.
Reviews: Enchanté scores a 4.3/5 on their Facebook Page.
You can find them here: 59 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick, ACT, 2609. Or visit their website here.
#12. Timeless Elegance Bridal And Formal Wear, TAS
Store Name: Timeless Elegance Bridal and Formal Wear
Product Range: Timeless Elegance stock formal gowns, evening gowns, cocktail dresses and bridesmaids dresses, which can sometimes work as the perfect formal dress too. Got to keep an open mind when you're on the hunt for formal wear.
Price Range: There are no prices stated on Timeless Elegance website or on their social media platforms, but their stockists include Tania Olsen, Poseur, Elle Zeitoune, Barijay, Cizzy and Jadore.
What's On Offer? : The standard size range at Timeless Elegance goes from size 2-28, and larger sizes can be ordered in advance. Many of the styles in stock can also be ordered in a huge range of other colours, which is great if you find your dream style but just don't like the colour. Timeless Elegance have a professional seamstress and tailoring team onboard so that your formal dress will fit just as it should.
Reviews: Timeless Elegance scores an impressive 4.8/5 on their Facebook Page
You can find them here: Shop 1, Hotel Grand Chancellor, 29 Cameron Street, Launceston TAS. You can also visit their website here.
#11. Mia's Boutique After Five, SA
Store Name: Mia's Boutique After Five
Product Range: Mia's Boutique After Five stocks a wide range of formal dresses
Price Range: The store's price range is mid-high, but they seem to have frequent sales and deals.
What's On Offer? : Not only does the store have an incredible selection of modern and classic formal dresses, many customer reviews make a point of mentioning what wonderful in-store service they received. That's what we like to hear!
Reviews: Check out 'Visitor Posts' on their Facebook Page. There are a lot of happy mums and daughters posting about their formal dress purchases.
You can find them here: This store has two great locations. You can find Mia's Boutique After Five in Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre, 727 Tapleys Hill Road, West Beach and you can also find them at 645 Shop 5, Lower North East Road, Paradise.
#10. Goldilocks Boutique, WA
Store Name: Goldilocks Boutique
Product Range: Goldilocks Boutique have a gigantic range of ball gowns and cocktail dresses for you to chose from.
Price Range: From $75.00 - $998.00
What's On Offer?: Goldilocks Boutique has an impressive selection of striking, high-end dressed. Expect lots of sparkle, embroidery, thigh-splits and fish-tail style gowns. Appointments aren't necessary, so you can just walk on in.
Reviews: Check out the glowing 'Visitor Posts' on their Facebook Page. Our favourite is one customer who walked in 10 hours before her ball ... and still found her perfect dress!
You can find them here: Shop 2/222 Main Street, Osborne Park WA. Check out their Instagram @goldilocksboutique
#9. After Dark Boutique, SA
Store Name: After Dark Boutique
Product Range: After Dark Boutique stocks ball tie gowns, cocktail dresses and bridesmaid wear, all of which is suitable for most school formals.
Price Range: Prices range from $150.00 - $1085.00
What's On Offer? : Sizes range from a Size 6 to a Size 30, although not every brand is available in every size, so it may be worth calling ahead or sending the store an email. Individual appointments for formal wear are not necessary, so you can drop in from Monday to Saturday.
Reviews: After Dark Boutique score a 4.5/5 on their Facebook Page.
You can find them here: Highgate Village, 432 Fullarton Road, Highgate SA. Check out their Instagram @afterdarkboutique
#8. Haute on High, WA
Store Name: Haute on High
Product Range: The store has a large range of both long gowns and shorter, cocktail style dresses.
Price Range: Haute on High's current price range from long dresses is from $139.00 to $559.95.
What's On Offer? : Everything from mermaid gowns and strapless numbers to off the shoulder and backless dresses. Haute on High have lots of sparkle and bold colours on offer for you glamour girls out there! Expect both local and international brands.
Reviews: Haute on High has lots of 'Visitor Posts' on their Facebook Page, mainly from happy formal dress customers!
You can find them here: 15 High Street, Freemantle. Follow them on Instagram @hauteonhigh
#7. Formal Wear of Melbourne, VIC
Store Name: Formal Wear of Melbourne
Product Range: Formal Wear of Melbourne stock dresses suitable for debutantes, formals and bridesmaids, and they also stock cocktail dresses. These are only available at their Wantirna store.
Price Range: Prices are not available on the store's website or social media.
What's On Offer? : Formal Wear of Melbourne has been operating for 60 years, so you can tell that they know their stuff! They specialise in both mens and womens formal wear.
Reviews: Formal Wear of Melbourne's Wantirna store scored a massive 4.9/5 on their Google Reviews page.
You can find them here: 432 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna, Victoria.
#6. LUV Bridal & Formal Melbourne, VIC
Store Name: LUV Bridal & Formal Melbourne
Product Range: The product range at LUV Bridal & Formal is astounding. They have a small selection displayed on their website, but they have hundreds more gowns in store so they recommend you send them an email if you don't see anything online that catches your eye. If you can't find a dress you like here, it probably doesn't exist!
Price Range: Prices start at roughly $399.00. This isn't the place to try and find cheap formal dresses, but the styles on offer are just breathtaking.
What's On Offer? : Lots of embellished material, full skirts, sequins, and backless gowns.
Reviews: LUV Bridal & Formal Melbourne have 4.6/5 stars on Google Reviews
You can find them here: 714 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC . Follow their Instagram @luvbridal
#5. Sassy Boutique, NSW
Store Name: Sassy Boutique
Product Range: Sassy Boutique stocks dresses for school formals, evening wear, cocktail dresses, bridesmaid dress and red carpet wear.
Price Range: Formal dresses start at $160.00 and go up to $690.00
What's On Offer?: 'Why fit in, when you were born to stand out?' is the store's motto, and it's easy to see why. Any of their gowns would set you apart from the rest at formal.
Reviews: Sassy Boutique scored 4.7/5 on their Facebook Page
You can find them here: 1473 Canterbury Road, Punchbowl. Check out @sassyboutiqueandbridal on Instagram.
#4. A Formal Affair, QLD
Store Name: A Formal Affair
Product Range: A Formal Affair stocks the widest range of formal gowns in Brisbane - need we say more?
Price Range: $109.00 - $1,350.00
What's On Offer? : A Formal Affair is open 7 days and no appointment is necessary, you can just walk on in. They stock sizes 0-30 and have a large range of leading designers to chose from.
Reviews: A Formal Affair score 4.5/5 on their Facebook Page.
You can find them here: 1/15 Samford Rd, Alderley, Brisbane. Check out their Instagram @aformalaffairbrisbane
#3. LUV Bridal & Formal Brisbane, QLD
Store Name: LUV Bridal & Formal Brisbane
Product Range: Although they only display a minimal selection on their website, LUV Bridal & Formal Brisbane have a much larger range in store.
Price Range: Price start at $399.00
What's On Offer: Flattering and dramatic gowns that are bound to suit everyone.
Reviews: LUV Bridal & Formal Brisbane have 4.8/5 stars on Google.
You can find them here: 10/8 Springlands Drive, Slacks Creek
#2. Glam Corner (all states except TAS)
Store Name: Glam Corner
Product Range: Glam Corner currently has 155 formal dresses and gowns for hire.
Price Range: The lowest dress rental price is currently $49.00, the highest is currently $369.00
What's On Offer?: Glam Corner currently have 43 designers that you can chose from in the Formal wear category, including Camilla & Marc, AE'LKEMI and Alice McCall
Reviews: Glam Corner has 4.9/5 on their Facebook Page
You can find them here: www.glamcorner.com.au
#1. Dress For A Night, (all major cities)
Store Name: Dress For A Night
Product Range:
Price Range: Under $199.00 - $450.00
What's On Offer? : Dress For A Night have more than a thousand dresses to choose from. You can rent their dresses from 4-8 days and although they offer express post and next-day delivery (check your postcode) you can also come into the store and try dresses on if you want to gauge your perfect fit. An added bonus for social media lovers: if you snap a picture in a Dress For A Night dress, and they decide to use it on their Instagram, you get $20.00 off your next hire!
Reviews: Dress For A Night scores 4.8/5 stars on their Facebook Page.
You can find them here: Shop 5, 5/245 Pacific Highwy, North Sydney. Follow them on Instagram @dressforanight
These are 14 of the best formal dress stores in Australia. Start looking for your dress early and try on multiple styles. Remember, the most important feature of your formal dress is that it should make you feel beautiful.