Extraordinary Special Occasion Fashions

Convenient to Philadelphia, New York City and Surrounding Areas
Appointments Never Needed

News and Frequently Asked Questions

Today’s News:

Sterling’s has been nominated for the 2012 Happening List by Bucks Happening! in the Retail/Apparel/Formal Wear category. To vote for us, click here:

Shopping Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that shopping for that once-in-a-lifetime affair can be a little intimidating.  At Sterling’s, we want you not only to find the perfect gown, dress or suit, but also have a great time doing it.

• Come with an open mind.  It’s great to have an idea of what you’re looking for, but many clients have found that the styles we recommend turn out to be that “dream dress,” even though they may not ever have chosen it themselves.
• You really must try on a dress to know whether you like it.  Special occasion fashions are designed to look good on the body, not necessarily the hanger.  More often than not, our clients are surprised and amazed at how different a dress looks when they try it on.
• Shop early (begin at least four months in advance of the affair) for the best selection.  Lately, this is more important than ever before, as the economy has forced designers’ companies to reduce their stock of dresses and fabrics.
• Sizes on special occasion gowns and dresses do not correspond with ready-to-wear garments.  Sterling’s works with each designer’s recommended measurements to choose the best size to order your gown.

What is so different about shopping for special occasion apparel?

If it’s your first time shopping for a Mother’s gown (don’t worry, you’re not alone), you may not realize that the process is somewhat different.  Placing special orders, proper sizing, choosing colors and other decisions require special knowledge and experience.  We’ve explained many of these differences in the answers below.  But by coming to Sterling’s you’ve taken the most important step. For more than 25 years we’ve been the region’s most highly recommended and trusted special occasion boutique.

How is Sterling’s different from other boutiques?
On your first visit to our store it is evident why the overwhelming majority of Sterling’s new clients come from referrals by delighted clients. Our focus on the client is demonstrated by:

• Our store hours.  We’re open 363 days a year.  You shop on your schedule, not ours.
• Our huge selection.  An enormous inventory of styles, colors and sizes is available same-day in our store.  Also, hundreds more can be ordered from our designers.
• Our styles.  You won’t find matronly dresses at Sterling’s.  Knowing what looks good on our clients, our buyers select the “best of the best” from the designers. We choose only what’s unique, elegant and youthful.Our fashion consultants.  Each one is a seasoned expert – not an hourly employee – who helps the client navigate through this wide array to select the styles and colors that are most flattering to her.
• Our on-site seamstress.  Our seamstress specializes in gowns and employs her unique expertise to ensure the best possible fit and highest quality craftsmanship.
• Our store owners.  On-site at least six days a week, we interact personally with nearly every client.  We know how important each client’s dress is to her, whatever the occasion.  We are committed to making each client happy, whatever it takes.  As an expression of our gratitude, we pay a portion of alterations on all non-sale items.

Do I need an appointment to shop at your store?  What about for a fitting?
No. We’re open 7 days a week, 363 days a year (closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day) for your convenience. Fittings are at your convenience as well.  We do fittings until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Why is my gown size so different from my regular dress size?
Special Occasion designers size their gowns and dresses on a different scale than ready-to-wear manufacturers.  Most people wear a larger size in special occasion, but the number’s not important. What is important is that sizing is done by our highly trained and experienced staff, so that you are ensured to have the best possible fit.

When should I start shopping for my gown?
To give yourself the widest selection possible you should start shopping four to six months in advance of your wear date. Made-to-order gowns often take three or four months to make, and you want to build in extra time for alterations, just to make sure everything is perfect on that special day.

What if my event is right away?
Come on in. Sterling’s has hundreds of dresses in-stock and available immediately. Our on-site seamstress, along with in-stock undergarments, hose, shoes, handbags and jewelry will create the perfect ensemble in one visit to our store.

You have such an enormous selection — How do I decide on just one gown?
When a client walks into our store and sees the racks and racks of gowns, dresses, suits and separates, it can be a little overwhelming. But our expert sales consultants are there to help you, making sure you have the best possible experience at our store. They’ll ask what kind of affair you’ll be attending, what your wear date is and what kinds of styles you like.  They know all the different styles and they’ll help you choose those that will accent your best features. Working with our sales consultants, your shopping trip will never feel like a chore. Instead, you’ll actually have fun, and you’ll leave here feeling great about how you’re going to look at your event.

What is the process for buying a gown from Sterling’s?
After asking you some important questions, our sales consultants will pull several garments for you to try on. You may not like them all on the hanger, but trust us, often they look completely different on you. Eventually, you will decide which is the perfect dress for you. (Having a supportive friend, husband, mother, daughter or sister with you will help you make your decision.) In most cases, we will order your dress in your size and in the color you have chosen. After your dress is ordered, we will tell you the estimated date we expect your dress to arrive in our store. Then when your dress arrives, we’ll contact you to tell you it’s here. At this point, we recommend that you come in to try on your dress as soon as possible just to make sure it is everything you expected. If your wear date is still some months away, you can come back at a later date for alterations. We recommend you come in for alterations about 6 weeks before your wear date. This timeframe is close enough to your wear date that your shape won’t change very much, yet allows enough time for you to get final alterations and have the dress safely in your closet as the big event nears and the stress of getting all the details finished increases.

Can I shop for a gown on your web site?
The Internet is wonderful for many things. Buying a gown is not one of them. You really need to see the dress in person, and above all, try it on. Gowns that may not appeal to you in a picture often look fabulous when you get them on. And conversely, something you absolutely love in the picture on that gorgeous model may not emphasize your best features.
Also, gown shopping on the Internet can be risky.  We have heard from many clients who have had bad experiences.  Just look at the dozens of rules and disclaimers on any Internet gown seller’s web site to get an idea of what can, and often does, go wrong.

I live a long distance away, is it convenient for me to shop at Sterling’s?
We have clients from all over – quite a large number from New York City, Washington, DC and all points between. It’s not uncommon for a client to tell us she has driven several hours to shop here. The reason is that we are unique – we have a large selection of the highest quality merchandise and we are trustworthy and a pleasure to deal with. As we have said, we are committed to making your experience with our store a great one and we will go out of our way to ensure that. We will do what we can to minimize the number of trips here – shipping your garment whenever possible or doing what we can to make your trip more convenient.

Does Sterling’s discount?
Our prices are competitive. When comparing prices it’s important to note the actual final price of your purchase including alterations. If you have any questions, just ask!