By Erica Thomas, managing editor
SPRINGVILLE — Finding the perfect dress for prom or a wedding can be challenging. Sometimes women may not feel their best when they start to try on dresses that aren’t the best fit. But one new dress shop owner in Springville is hoping to change that with patience and love.
Allison Cambre owns All About That Dress, on Main Street. She carries prom, pageant and bridesmaid dresses and is preparing to carry bridal gowns.
Cambre, who has two sons, says owning a dress shop is a dream come true for her.
“I always wanted to own my own business,” she said. “I have been an event planner for 30-plus years.”
Cambre said her event planning experience has helped her to gain a grasp of what women want when it comes to dresses. However, she wants to go a step further.
“I really feel like God ordered myself to be in this position to be able to kind of minister to girls, in an arms-length kind of way,” she explained. “In the first month that I was open, I stepped into two different dressing room with girls just in tears because their body wasn’t what they thought it should be. So, trying on prom dresses was causing anxiety.”
Cambre quickly learned to teach her staff to be patient. Even if someone doesn’t find their dress at her shop, Cambre says she hopes they leave with something special.
“I want them to feel like they were encouraged and loved on and supported,” Cambre said. “I don’t want anybody to ever feel like they were ignored. Hopefully, we can help them find that dress but I think the goal or the mission for the shop is just that.”
All About That Dress carries a variety of sizes, from 00 to size 30.
“It’s not always the heavier girls that have the body image issues,” she added. “They see something different in the mirror than the reality of who they are. It has been very surprising and humbling to talk to girls and to get to know them. Then when they do find that dress they just glow and they are so excited.”
All About That Dress is located at 6310 U.S. Hwy 11, in Springville. The shop is opened Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.