Formal shop in Vandergrift closing for renovations
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Wednesday was the last day of the year to shop at Get Dressed Formals, a formal consignment shop in Vandergrift. The store will be closed for renovations through Jan. 2.
Michelle Wehrle opened the shop in April but has quickly outgrown the 1,500-square-foot space. She has more than 1,200 consigned dresses in the store — including bridal gowns, mother-of-the-bride gowns, pageant wear and long and short formals. The store also carries about 150 pairs of shoes and other accessories. It’s a lot of inventory, and Werhle said she’s always receiving more.
“People have come in with 27 gowns at a time,” she said.
Werhle declined to disclose how much the renovation will cost the store but said she’s been unable to accept new consignments due to the lack of space.
As Werhle expects to receive even more brand-new bridal gowns, expansion became all the more necessary. So she decided to move all of the bridal items upstairs, creating a new space dedicated to bridal items. Expanding upstairs will double the store’s square footage, she said.
The upstairs space already received a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting, Werhle said. All that is left is the finishing touches, including new mirrors and lights.
Werhle said she typically sells five dresses a day and will have two or three bridal customers a week.
“The reason for the store is that there is a community need,” she said. “Everybody wants the best dress, but not everybody can afford the best dress.”
At Get Dressed Formals, Werhle said customers are treated as they would be in any formal boutique: They are given one dress at a time, and they are assisted in the dressing rooms. The only difference, she said, is the affordability. Dresses are priced between $30 and $400.