Now here in England, for some strange and patriotic reason, it’s most
certainly deemed cringe-worthy if you are the sort of person who ever gets over-excited
about... well, anything. So
naturally, ‘prom’ on our little island is basically just a slightly better (you’d
hope) school disco with marginally classier attire and nosh (if you’re lucky).
It’s really quite insignificant when compared with how the Americans passionately
go to town on this momentous occasion. I mean, they even have BALLOONS; helium-filled
with pretty ribbons and all.
I really wish we cared a smidge more about it over here. It just seems
so... fun, and I feel like we are missing out, big time. It’s like a rite of
passage. A FUN tradition. And your Mum has probably already mentioned to you, it
is plain WRONG to monkey with tradition. Don’t get me wrong, I love 10p Freddo’s
(I demand to know who signed off on upping the price of these childhood treats while also thinking it ok to make them smaller) and cheese and pineapple on a stick as much
as the next girl, but I would love every girl over here to be treated to just
one fairytale-like night where they can step into Cinderella’s glass slippers... beautiful princess
gowns (you know, the ones that come packaged in their own large pretty ribbon-tied
boxes), chivalrous suited and booted young gentlemen, something a little nicer
than your school hall with someone’s uncle steeping in as DJ, and an evening
without a finger buffet; that’s all I’m asking for.
Moving on... as prom
is a maHUSSIVE deal in America, New York charity ‘Prom Boutique’ collects gently worn formal wear from people all across
Long Island, and then distributes it (free of charge) to girls of families across
the area who simply do not have the budget for a new gown for their prom,
awards ceremony, or even their graduation. High school guidance counsellors,
at-risk youth agencies, group homes, and church outreaches make the
program available to all of their constituents.
Teens who have already experienced one of high school’s pinnacle moments
are kindly donating the special dresses they wore to this cause:
"I got such
great use out of the dress when I got to use it myself and I know what the
dress meant to me," one donor explained, "I hope someone would get the same enjoyment out of it."
"They
are thrilled to be giving their dresses new legs," said Lola
Intagliata of Clear Skin Salon (one of the many collection sites). "They enjoyed wearing it at their
prom, now they're looking forward to having another girl have the experience
they had."
Prom Boutique has donation sites all across Long Island, and
collects about 3000 dresses every year; not only offering girls dresses, but
accessories and alterations too. They are accepting dress donations up until
April 22nd; and for those of you who may be in the area, you can
find the collection site nearest to you here.
Over 1,300 girls benefited in 2011, from 65 different
schools and non-profit youth organizations across Long Island.
Created in 1992 to improve the quality of life for all Long Islanders, the ‘Long Island Volunteer Center’ is a non-profit
organization that encourages people to engage in service to their communities
and mobilizes volunteers and donations to support community service
initiatives.
"They're allowed to shop for dresses,
they find their sizes, it's all colour coordinated," said Anne Sprotte, Prom Boutique
coordinator. "And they go into the
fitting room and they come out and their eyes are sparkling, their moms are
crying."
Donors are very
happy to be a part of making these special moments possible, and have no
reservations about sharing their finest threads.
Prom Boutique is
most definitely style with a cause.
Reading this
article – I’m not afraid to say - got me all excited and very much into the
spirit of prom! I had a little hunt around, and found some absolute gems on the
online Oxfam shop, which are perfect for prom, or a similar swanky evening
affair...
But if you can’t find one to suit your style on there or in
your local charity shops, why not try making your own? Or upcycling an outdated dress you already have? All of you textile/fashion kids
should have no problems at all; but if sewing terrifies you from afar, then
enlist the help of your nan/mum/bestie to whip up your dream dress. Go all out.
No holding back. Remember, you won’t ever get to go back and do this again.
And if you have an evening dress that has long been sitting in the back of your wardrobe, why not donate it to your local charity shop, or someone you know who would really appreciate it? A beautiful dress, after all, deserves to be seen.
Here are a few WOW factor dresses that I’ve discovered and
couldn’t help but share with you for inspiration...
Happy Prom Prepping!
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