Port Washington Dress Tailor Offers Girls Unique Promposal

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — As Port Washington high schoolers grapple with the notion that prom dresses they bought months ago may go unused, a Main Street tailor hopes to cheer them up by providing them a unique opportunity — get glammed-up, come to her shop and strike a pose, while supporting local businesses.

As Patch previously reported, Nancy Sinoway, longtime owner of Nancy Sinoway Tailoring and Alterations Studio in Port Washington, turned her shop — which specializes in making custom dresses for proms, weddings, bat mitzvahs and other special occasions — into a mask-making machine. As the coronavirus forced life to grind to a halt, her clients' events were put on hold or canceled, and the need for dress services came to a standstill.

The abrupt shift allowed her business to survive the pandemic for now, a fate not shared by many other small businesses, including some competitors. The facial coverings allowed her to keep the lights on and pay her staff. Sinoway estimated that she saw a roughly 25 percent drop in business compared to previous years, a steep amount but nowhere near that of other businesses, some of which said they've seen business fall as much as 80 percent.

"The masks were great," Sinoway told Patch in a phone interview Tuesday. "We never expected it to be what it was. When the governor said you couldn't go anywhere without wearing masks, it just took off."

But she knows masks have become commonplace now. It's time to move forward.

"We're kind of getting sick of it, and the whole world is making masks," she said.

Thinking about how to shift gears again, Sinoway came up with an idea that would help girls heartbroken over not being able to wear their dress. She partnered with Port Washington Florist and local photographer Robert Salzbank to hold a fashion photo shoot called "Prom On Main." Girls who have the dress and shoes are invited to come to her shop with their gowns and makeup, and have a professional photographer snap some socially distanced shots.

Girls and boys are encouraged to sign up for the photo shoots individually — no group or couple shots — on her website. The form launched Tuesday and appointments will likely begin June 20.

Sinoway expects to have four or five young people photographed on a day, with 30-minute appointments spaced out 15 minutes apart so surfaces can be sanitized. Participants will get a free mask with their appointment, and all will be required to wear a mask at all times, except for the individual being photographed. The shoot will take place outside, weather permitting, and they'll get about five or six photos. Everyone will have to remain socially distanced, she said.

"If the weather's nice, I'm going to bring my convertible [Volkswagen] Beetle," she said. "If they want to sit on that, they can. We're trying to make it as much fun for them as we can."

Within hours, at least six people signed up, she said.

Hair and makeup is up to the girls, Sinoway said, due to health and safety reasons — they want to avoid physical contact.

"It's not a prom picture standing with your boyfriend," she said. "This is a nice memory photo which you can have to say, "I survived COVID 2020."

Sinoway doesn't know how many people will sign up, but expects the shoots won't continue past the Fourth of July holiday.

Anyone is allowed to sign up for the "Strike a Pose" photos, not just seniors. The shoot costs $135.00 and includes five digital files, props, a backdrop and minor retouching. Those who have not done dress alterations through Sinoway will have to pay an additional $25.

Once they get arrive, what pose they take is pretty much up to them.

"They can do anything," Sinoway said. "They want to jump up and down? They want to bring a hat? They can do whatever they want. And they don't have to wear shoes."