A NEW VIP experience offered by a woman passionate about prom, pageants and parties- Dress Devotion is our trader of the week.

Dress Devotion is a new and luxury dress store based in Bournemouth, boasting a beautiful collection of designer dresses and operating an exclusive appointment-only service to give visitors the whole floor to try the gowns.

The store was opened on March 26 by Romy Simpkins, a 28-year-old from Bournemouth, who enjoys the glamorous lifestyle. She said: “Every dress is a different style. We accommodate all sizes and have different colours and different styles.

“People like the fact there’s so much choice.”

As well as a dreamy-dress collection, Dress Devotion also offers exclusivity of the whole store to people wanting to try on gowns. Visitors can book appointments to try on prom, pageant and party dresses with the assistance of pageant expert Romy.

Bournemouth Echo:

Romy said: “I want people to feel that they have the whole shop to themselves. They can bring mum or dad along. I just want them to feel comfortable.

“Theres so much pressure with prom and sometimes people aren’t used to wearing gowns, but I want them to be able to feel special.

“I love the glamourous lifestyle and I like to make other people feel like that.

“I want to make them feel like VIPs.”

Romy, who has been heavily involved in the world of beauty pageants for over a decade, has big hopes for Dress Devotion.

She said: “I never got a prom. I was gutted. I would’ve loved to have been able to dress up. I think that made we want to go into pageantry.

“One of my first (pageants) was one of the biggest in the UK and I didn’t know what I was doing.

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“Now, I direct pageants and compete internationally. I think pageantry comes with business opportunities as the girls (competing) are always looking for gowns, so I thought I’d step into that world.

“I’d like to be Dorset’s best prom shop for the unique experience, the styles and the quality of service.”

Dress Devotion offers payment plans and deposit schemes for the gowns, and prom students will also receive 10 per cent off their purchases for the foreseeable future.

So, with prom and pageant season upon us, Dress Devotion is a must visit.

The store can be found at 1219 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth, BH7 6BW. Appointments can be made via https://www.dressdevotion.co.uk