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Web Watch by Deborah Richardson
Alright girls, you know you dream about it — walking into a room
and suddenly all eyes are captivated by your presence, your exquisite
beauty. It is no secret that what you wear goes a long way toward making
the difference between a so-so appearance and the spotlight. The difficulty,
though, sometimes lies in finding the gown that was made just for you
amidst the thousands of available choices. With the convenience of
the Internet, you are more likely to find your perfect gown, narrowing
your choices, without using your valuable time in vain. You can spend
more time trying on the gowns you’ve chosen.
Each retail location offers its own personalized touches and special
services to make shopping for your attire a pleasant and rewarding
experience. Some may even be nearby in your own back yard, others are
well worth the travel. So, read on to discover the retail locations
that we at Pageantry magazine feel are a must-see.
**All
URLs listed below are active links. Click the
web address or the relevant pageant web site
image to link directly to the individual pageant
site.**
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Adora,
Inc
 Adora’s
New York-style urban elegance web site is your first
hint that this web site offers high style in both pageant
and prom styles. All aspects of pageant fashions are
covered, including formal wear, interview, swimwear,
appearance and talent attire, as well as shoes and jewelry
and everything else needed for your competition. Thumbnails
in the online gallery show just a few of the styles Adora
has to offer. Visit the store, or contact them for additional
options. If you still haven’t found that perfect
gown, Adora can produce your custom design.
Known for their exceptional knowledge and friendly
atmosphere, Adora is also the only recognized pageant
store in Indiana, and honored to be the official gown
sponsor for Miss Indiana USA, Miss Indiana Teen USA,
and Mrs. Indiana America. As you scroll through Adora’s
web site, you will recognize many of the beautiful ladies
as past and current title holders. |
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The
Arlington Dress Shop
 Located
in Little Rock, Arkansas, Arlington Dress Shop has been
in business for over 11 years, and has dressed pageant
contestants from all over the nation, including New Mexico,
Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
The Arlington Dress Shop specializes in special-occasion
clothing, carrying interview suits, swimsuits, evening
gowns, cocktail attire, sportswear, talent costumes,
and much more for all of your special-occasion needs.
In addition to stocking all the major designer lines,
if The Arlington Dress Shop doesn’t have what you’re
looking for, they can make it for you! Please browse
their catalog of photos, or their Custom Gowns to view
current inventories. Each image enlarges with enough
detail to know exactly what you are getting. Jessie Davis,
the new owner of The Arlington Dress Shop, is no stranger
to pageants; having won numerous titles and bringing
numerous years of pageant experience to the business,
she has the experience you need to help you dress your
best. |
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Catan
Bridal & Fashion
 As
you shop Catan Bridal & Fashion, you will see for
yourself why they are a leader in the retail fashion
industry. At 54,000 square feet, Catan Bridal & Fashion
is a “true fashion experience.” You will
find the finest couture selection in northeast Ohio;
exclusive gown and dress lines only available at Catan
Bridal & Fashion. You can also browse the latest
selection of prom, homecoming, and social occasion fashions.
See weekly fashion and trunk shows on location, and when
you find your perfect dress, an on-site alteration department
will make your gown fit perfectly. Catan Bridal & Fashion
offers an extensive jewelry and accessory collection
to complement every dress or gown you choose. If you
are shopping for an upcoming wedding, bridal partners
are on-site to help you make many of the decisions associated
with your wedding day or special occasion. |
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Cinderella’s
Pageant Salon
 Scott
Gray and Cinderella’s Pageant Salon, Ltd., a pageant
fixture in the Northeast, have dressed many local, national
and international winners. Cinderella’s carries
a full line of bridal, brides maid, formal wear, and
pageant attire, including gowns, suits, and swimwear.
The web site offers directions to the store as well as
competition photos showcasing gowns provided to both
national and international winners for the years of 1997
through the present, illustrating their mission, which
is to give personal assistance to each of their clients
so they may dress their best.
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Dee’s
Studio Ltd.
 We
love gowns at Dee’s Studio. Located in Gresham,
Oregon, Dee’s is fast becoming the premier gown
shop in Oregon, dressing winners such as Miss Teen U.S.A.
Tami Farrell and Miss America 2002 Katie Harman. Dee’s
studio is about pageants, employing Darla Harman, mother
of Katie Harman, and Miss Oregon 2003 April Robinson.
In the shop’s pageant room, located on the upper
level, you can have all the privacy you desire while
trying on gowns, and walking the store’s runway,
with its mirrored walls. Many clients come in just
to practice their walk, and the staff is available to
give advice and encouragement. Watch for a schedule
of pageant seminars with an impressive list of pageant
winners speaking on their area of expertise.
Dee’s Studio carries all the top designers,
with a fabulous collection of performance gowns, swimsuits,
and interview suits, as well as gorgeous jewelry and
accessories. Clients often return because of their fantastic
prom selection. Because they sell exclusively to each
client, Dee’s customers know that they will not
see their dress on anyone else. |
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Elizabeth
Michaels
 When
every detail counts and service is a must, you need the
very best. Elizabeth Michaels prides themselves on customer
service and personalized attention. They understand that
nothing is unimportant. Elizabeth Michaels is owned by
Jane Engelke, who has more than 10 years experience as
a competitor and a winner, and she understands the need
for great selection, quality, pricing, and knowledge.
You will find your complete pageantry needs with custom
designs, top-line pageant designers, swimwear, interview
suits, gowns, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and more.
Operating the shop by appointment-only, Jane is able
to give individual attention to every client. Once you
have made your selections, alterations and custom fittings
are available. Elizabeth Michaels can also help with
your personal consulting and photography needs.
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Encore
Pageant Apparel
 Encore
Pageant Apparel.com, one of the only specialized formal
and pageant wear consignment stores on the Internet,
has a goal — to make pageantry affordable for all.
And it is succeeding, offering high-end designer pageant
gowns, business and interview suits, swimsuits, resort/casual
wear, talent apparel, and custom accessories at prices
well below market cost. Pageant contestants can purchase
last season’s and barely worn gowns for half, or
even one-third, of the original cost, and use them in
competition or for a formal event. The fashion retailer
currently boasts clothing consigned by more than 250
former pageant competitors, debutantes, and retail stores
from across the United States and internationally.
Encore Pageant Apparel.com offers a pageant-friendly,
safe environment where competitors are able to not only
purchase clothes but access local and national pageant
information, spa items, and seminar instruction. The
web site also boasts pageantry links and a bulletin board
for Boot Camp for Beauty Queens, the company-sponsored
weekend-long pageant-training seminar. |
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The
Encounter
 Nestled
in a cove near the Greenbelt walking trail in Tennessee
is one of the most exciting women’s clothing stores
in the Kingsport, TN area. Newcomers are often surprised
to find this New York-style boutique right in this great
mountain region, but after more than 27 years in retail,
The Encounter knows the fashion needs of women. The main
navigation areas of the site are “Pageant Dressing,” “Business
Dressing,” “Wedding,” and “Prom.” In
each of these areas, The Encounter presents thumbnail
photos of the gowns and business wear in their lines.
A click on any thumbnail will open a larger image of
that particular style.
Testimonials have become part of The Encounter’s “history
of fashion.” The needs of women and their wardrobing
have changed. For those who are discouraged with today’s
self-service economy, you will be delighted with the
personal attention the capable staff provides to each
customer.
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Gregory
Ellenburg
 Beautiful
one-of-a-kind gowns are what Gregory Ellenburg has become
known for, though major pageant designer gowns and competition
swimwear are also available. You will also find a beautiful
array of suits and designer knit suits. While Gregory
has a staff of knowledgeable employees to help you choose
the perfect wardrobe, he has a degree in Fashion Design
from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology
in New York City and attributes his ability to get the
perfect fit to his knowledge of total garment construction.
Gregory’s true talent lies in getting to know the
contestant and her desires and using that collaborative
effort to make her dreams come true.
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The
Pageant Shop By Michaels
 With
the introduction of their web site in 2001, The Pageant
Shop By Michaels quickly became a frequent stop for the
discerning pageant contestant. Each salon is clearly
marked: Pageant, Consignment, Prom, Bridal, and
Accessories in a neat and easy-to-navigate layout. The
selection of high-end consignment apparel is nearly impossible
to beat and the web site is constantly being updated
and requires frequent visits to stay on top of their
ever-changing inventory. If you see an item on the consignment
page that is not in your preferred size and/or color,
owner and operator Sarah Moses can almost always order
a new gown to your exact specifications. The interactive
Consignment Salon allows for searching based on size,
color, designer, price, and style. Password-protected
access is available to allow clients to list and
sell their personal gowns on their “own” consignment
page, so, the inventory is constantly changing and things
sell fast!
A full-service pageant salon, The Pageant Shop by
Michaels also carries interview suits, competition swimsuits,
prom gowns, shoes, and jewelry. Be sure to make a stop
at their web site, because you never know what you might
find!
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Queen
Anne’s
 Queen
Anne’s is the newest pageant retail location in
the Northeast, but its owner, Sylvia Gomes Duarte, is
a longtime successful pageant competitor who has serviced
pageant contestants throughout the country as a result
of this web site. It features many of the store’s
in-stock gowns, suits, swimsuits, shoes, and even accessories.
Ordering can be done by phone, and fast, friendly, reliable
service can help you find anything you’re looking
for — even if its not on the site — at a
competitive price. Shopping around for that great designer
gown can save you hundreds. Also, be sure to visit the
evening gowns page for the latest styles, and the clearance
page, which features national competition-level gowns
at half the cost. Check in often, because this page is
constantly being updated. Every shoe height and type
can be found on the shoes page, along with a description
of materials and pricing. A consulting page describes
the services available.
Queen Anne’s prides itself on experience, a
great selection, and customer service that is friendly,
reliable, and tailored to you. Service is one-on-one
with a professional, and finding everything you need
for pageant competition at Queen Anne’s makes this
web site a must-see.
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The
Crowning Touch
 Located
in New Bedford, MA, The Crowning Touch, Inc. is New England’s
first and only full-service pageant boutique. They have
become a leading wardrobe provider to many local, state,
and national pageant winners of any age, providing clothing
for every phase of competition, as well as consulting
services and much more. The shop operates by appointment
only, providing undivided attention from the staff for
guidance in merchandise selection for any budget. You
will find your perfect selection appropriate for the
pageant system you are entering.
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For
the complete behind-the-scenes story and all the
details on this and other exciting competitive events
from across America, as well as a wealth of advice
to improve your chances of victory, be sure to order Pageantry today. |
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YOU CAN GET IT ALL!
Click and see for yourself!
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