Story By: Madeleine Matherne

If you’re driving through Birmingham, Alabama, you might pass a large, two story brick building. You may notice a sign telling you that the building houses several businesses, one of which is called The Clothes Tree. What you may not know is the legacy The Clothes Tree has or the stories that the owner and employees can tell.

The Clothes Tree, located on Rocky Ridge Road in Vestavia Hills, has been dressing women across the country for almost 60 years. The business also sponsors the Miss Alabama competition, providing formalwear, appearance outfits, and a Miss America wardrobe for each titleholder.

According to their website they “are a specialty boutique that carries fun and fashionable couture clothing and accessories…Whether your style is contemporary or traditional, The Clothes Tree has the perfect look for you.”

However, to say that the only thing you can find at The Clothes Tree is a prom dress would be a complete understatement! David Inghram is a sales associate who has over 40 years of experience in formalwear. He sees the industry as something more than just buying and selling dresses. 

“When I see that look on their face, you know, they feel like a princess…they come in, and they don’t think they’re going to find anything. When they actually find something that they really like or actually really love, just the look on their face is priceless.”

Keeping in-store shopping alive

We’re known for giving that one-on-one, VIP experience to our customers

It’s true that dress shopping can be a nerve wracking experience for anyone. Oftentimes, formal dresses are made differently than regular clothing items, causing differences in size, fit and styles. When looking for inspiration, many people may see retouched photos of models wearing the dresses, causing them to compare themselves to the photos. It can be hard to navigate formalwear on one’s own, but this is where stores like The Clothes Tree can help fill in the gap. 

“You’ll see one thing on the computer screen, but when you’re actually getting it in person it’s totally different and doesn’t look anything like the picture. It’s hard to really know the fit.” says Inghram. “So it’s best to actually come in, see it in person so you can actually see whether you really like it or not.” Customers often comment that they feel more confident after finding “the” dress. Others find that they like how new colors and styles look on them, and they learn more about their personal sense of fashion. Some even enter the store just wanting to look around, but end up leaving with their dream gown that same day.

 With online shopping on the rise, some may wonder why shops like The Clothes Tree are even necessary anymore. Inghram sees the value in a brick-and-mortar store. “We’re known for giving that one-on-one, VIP experience to our customers. We’re almost like a personal assistant.”

In the community

One of the most notable aspects of The Clothes Tree is their sponsorship of the Miss Alabama Competition. Every year, each contestant receives a custom cocktail dress for the opening number, and the new Miss Alabama has her wardrobe for appearances and the Miss America Competition, sponsored. Because of this sponsorship, The Clothes Tree has become very well known in the pageant industry, with contestants and titleholders from many different systems choosing to purchase some or all of their competition and appearance wardrobe there.

In 2022, a new location opened in Nashville, giving Tennessee residents the opportunity to shop without having to travel to Birmingham. Pieces are often brought back and forth between the two stores to give customers a chance to see a larger selection of dresses.

Though The Clothes Tree works to provide quality customer service in-store, shopping isn’t limited to those that live in the South. A website was created to give people all over the U.S. the opportunity to experience the same sense of hospitality that customers get in store. The website assures online shoppers that their experience is value and important too, stating, “Please call or email us, and let us help you, the same as we would if you were here to visit.”