FAQs

Why are you prices so low?

ABC works hard to keep our overhead low and we search the world for the best prices on materials.  We do not do personalized designs for our clients in order to keep prices down.  We strategically place rhinestones for maximum effect and offer you a choice of rhinestone qualities.  Cheap dresses from Hong Kong cost around $200 and look it.

Why are your prices so expensive?

Rhinestones are extremely expensive and labor intensive.  Each ABC dress starts out with a minimum of 10 gross (1,440) 20ss rhinestones.  Each dress is hand made and one of a kind.  Department store clothing is mass produced, often in developing countries, keeping prices low.  Ballroom dresses by their nature must be individually made, especially on bespoke, couture or made to measure items.  A professional dress can easily cost $4,000.  ABC offers the look without the expense.

What is the difference in rhinestones?

Just as a quality lead crystal wine glass will give off a crystal clear ping when tapped and a glass one will made a little thud, so do lead crystals and glass with their shine.  Lead crystal stones have a high brilliant sparkle.  The main difference between Swarovski crystals and Czech crystals is that Swarovski stones have 12 facets and Czech crystals have 8.  Swarovski also has a larger color selection.  Czech glass stones are not lead crystal, but do have a decent shine to them, especially when a few better quality stones are added for highlights for the budget conscious. 

Beware of Korean “crystals”.  There is no such thing as Korean lead crystal stones.  Stones called Korean crystals are really glass and not a very good quality.  They have minimal shine to them.  These are the stones used on  cheap Hong Kong dresses.  They are very obvious in their lack of quality and we do not use them.

Do you have an actual store?

Yes, our store contains hundreds of one of a kind dresses, many more than is possible to show on our website.  Prices at our store range from $120 to $1,200.  We encourage dancers to visit our shop whenever possible for the best selection in dresses and accessories.

Store Hours and Directions

Hours are by appointment are scheduled in one and one half hour slots.  Appointments are available weekdays and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.  Please call or email ahead to book your slot.

ABC Dresses is located in the Eastworks Building in Easthampton, MA.  When you arrive at 116 Pleasant Street you will not see a street number, only signs for Eastworks.  This is a large building so take the entrance furthest to your left, under the movie marquee.  ABC Dresses is located on the second floor in Studio #224.

Isn’t your store in the middle of nowhere?

We realize that Western Massachusetts is a drive for most of our clients but we are in a lovely part of the state, 5 minutes from Northampton, home of Smith College and filled with museums, galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

Can you email pictures of some of the dresses at your shop?

Although we have hundreds of one of a kind styles at our shop we can not email pictures of specific dresses individually.

How do you  clean a ballroom dress?

Do not dry clean your dress!!!!

The dry clean fluid will melt the glue, causing all your stones to fall off.  Dry cleaning can also damage beads and sequins.

You should be able to spot clean your dress with mild dish soap and water and a wash cloth.

You may use Dryell or other home refresher products as long as you use your dryer on the low setting for no more than 20 minutes.

If you feel you need to wash your whole dress, soak it in Woolite or lingerie wash for no more than 20-30 minutes.  SQUEEZE, do not wring the excess water out and then roll up in a beach towel.  Lie your dress flat on a towel to dry in the bathtub.

DO NOT SOAK FADING COLOR DRESSES!!  THEY WILL RUN.

You may iron the chiffon and other areas of your dress that are not stoned.  The heat from an iron will loosen rhinestone glue and they will smudge.  Always iron velvet on the reverse covered with a damp towel to prevent iron marks.