Prom memories start with the perfect low-cost dress
When walking through San Benito High School this week, it was
impossible not to catch a snippet of conversation concerning prom,
which is Saturday. Girls can spend hours discussing dresses, shoes,
restaurants or limos. It’s an exciting time for them, and why
shouldn’t it be? A high school prom is something that can go down
as someone’s fondest high school memory.
Prom memories start with the perfect low-cost dress
When walking through San Benito High School this week, it was impossible not to catch a snippet of conversation concerning prom, which is Saturday. Girls can spend hours discussing dresses, shoes, restaurants or limos. It’s an exciting time for them, and why shouldn’t it be? A high school prom is something that can go down as someone’s fondest high school memory.
However, for some, prom is expensive enough that it can cause a hardship. It is definitely a possibility in this economy and for many girls whose family simply can’t afford such an elaborate day. Tickets are @5 for ginsles, $38 for underclassmen couples and $35 for senior couples, but the cost can go up exponentially for students who add in the expense of formal wear, limos and dinner out.
“I almost wasn’t going to go to prom,” said Victoria Guzman, a San Benito High School senior. “If you think about how much money it is, and if your parents don’t help you out, and you don’t have a job, prom ends up just being too much.”
Guzman saved money on her formal wear by buying fabric and making her own dress from scratch.
This year, however, English teacher Amy Henneman, junior class advisor, offered something to get more girls to prom – the Dress It Up event and the Princess Project. Henneman said she hoped these events were the perfect answer to the girls who needed help with prom.
The first event, the Princess Project, was originally based in Silicon Valley and was designed to provide junior and senior high school girls, who would otherwise not have the money to afford prom, with dresses and accessories. Girls who wanted to become a part of the program signed up and then were picked on a first-come, first-served basis.
They were then driven to the Westfield Mall, where stores donated new dresses and accessories in all sizes. Places such as Jessica McClintock and Macy donated dresses to the effort. A total of 23 girls were taken from SBHS to pick out dresses and accessories.
Secondly, Henneman supervised the Dress It Up event, which offered formal wear dresses all for under $20. The Dress It Up event was an idea that came with the help of the Class of 2010. They had the idea of collecting and selling or renting out prom dresses to those struggling in the economy. The girls that participated in the Dress It Up event are able to cut out some of the expense that is required when one wants to attend prom. This also allows for girls to rent dresses from other girls so they get more use out of the dress.
“I personally have around 10 unused formal dresses,” Henneman said. “Why let them go to waste?”
The money paid to rent or purchase a dress goes toward the Class of 2010’s prom and senior year activities. It is a win-win situation for all people involved. But mostly it is meant to allow girls the opportunity to have a prom memory.
The rented dresses are due back Monday. Girls are asked to sign a rental agreement that basically says they accept responsibility for the dress. Long dresses are being sold for $20, short dresses are selling for $15, and rentals are $10. Psychology Teacher Chuck Schallhorn has allowed his classroom to become a dressing room and mirrors have been placed all around the room.
SBHS maintenance staff even went as far as building racks from scratch just so Henneman had a place to hang the dresses.
“I want to publicly thank them,” Henneman said. “They really helped me with that. I sent out an e-mail and they made me the racks immediately.”
So far, more than 100 dresses have been donated and girls have been coming and going through the classroom, browsing for new dresses that may have come in since the last time they perused the work. According to Henneman, new dresses were coming in daily.
The selling and renting of dresses was scheduled to continue through Friday since prom is Saturday. Henneman plans to offer the Dress It Up project for the Winter Ball next year as well.
