The 22nd Annual President’s Ball is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26 on Bellarmine Lawn. Overlooking the beautiful view of the Long Island Sound, “Pres Ball” is a Fairfield University tradition for students to come together, dress up and have a night to remember! The attire for the Pres Ball is formal wear, girls often opting for dresses, and boys dressing in button-down shirts and khakis. First-years and other students who may not be familiar with Pres Ball at Fairfield can find it daunting to find a lovely dress within a limited time frame. I took the Stag Bus to take a look at Fairfield students’ favorite boutiques in town, Apricot Lane and Ciao Bella, to explore the options for the perfect dress purchase!
Apricot Lane, a boutique chain, is located on Post Road, near the Fairfield University bookstore. This boutique has so much to offer, from adorable tops for a night out, to trendy, comfy sweat sets, to formal dresses. I spent about an hour in Apricot Lane, trying on a few dresses, and absolutely falling in love with the choices they had. They have a large section dedicated to formal gowns, making it easy for students to find them, as they are separated by color. Their options were a wide variety of colors, styles and materials, leaving room for everyone to find their perfect dress.
Apricot Lane’s prices are moderately priced for a good quality dress. From the dresses I explored, the prices ranged from $59 to $65, not including the 15% discount for Fairfield students when a Stag Card is shown.
The other option on Post Road is Ciao Bella, a smaller boutique that only has two locations. Walking in, Ciao Bella has a different vibe than Apricot Lane. It’s more unique and specific to the Fairfield aesthetic. They had plenty of Fairfield University-inspired decor, cute gifts, comfy sweaters and two large racks of formal dresses. They had great styles, colors and options for dresses for attending Pres Ball, ranging in beautiful colors and lengths to stand out.
I spent about an hour at Ciao Bella, exploring not just the formal dresses but also the other items they sold, and fell in love with the vibe. It truly is an authentic boutique and has a style that I adore!
Their prices are similar to Apricot Lane, as they carry similar and identical dresses at both establishments. Ciao Bella also provides a 15% discount on full-priced clothes for students with Stag Cards.
While going to these boutiques requires taking a trip into town, online shopping is always an option if you are unable to get to town. Searching Amazon for “Formal Dresses” should give you a plethora of options, with quick shipping to get to the mail room in time for the big night. Accessibility is key, so searching online for the perfect Pres Ball dress is a great option to explore!
As students, we are so lucky to have unique boutiques to explore options for Pres Ball. With the event right around the corner, Fairfield students don’t have to look far to find the perfect dress. Whether you’re drawn to Apricot Lane’s trendy selection or Ciao Bella’s authentic boutique vibe, both shops offer plenty of options at student-friendly prices. Pair that with the convenience of online shopping, and there’s something for every budget, style and timeline. No matter where you decide to shop, what matters most is feeling confident to celebrate one of Fairfield’s best traditions.
