This prom season, students are finding a way to help others on top of enjoying the prom themselves: Marshall’s Prom Boutique. The Boutique takes place from April 30 to May 19 in the career services center.
The Prom Boutique is an opportunity for people to give away old prom dresses for underprivileged students, allowing everyone to go to prom in style.
Since the cost of prom has been rising for the last couple of years—this year, for example, the averge cost of prom was $1,078, while last year it was $807—the prom boutique is a good way to keep prom affordable.
The Boutique works by inviting students to donate old dressesfor others to wear to prom.
“I donated a long pink dress with a purse. I donated this dress because I wanted others to have an opportunity to wear the beautiful dress at prom,” senior Mariah Raskin said.
While the Boutique can benefit all students, it is especially aimed at those who are economically disadvantaged and might otherwise struggle to afford prom.
“The goal of the Prom Boutique is to allow kids at Marshall who are less fortunate to still be able to have a great night at prom and look and feel beautiful,” senior Penny Tsiaoushis said.
Tsiaoushis created a Facebook page for the Boutique to publicize the event. The page was successful: many participants got involved with the Boutique through social media.
“I got involved when there was a Facebook group made to donate dresses,” Raskin said.
Accoring to Humphries, the Boutique has branched out this year by offering other items necessary for prom, particularly accessories like shoes and purses.
So far the Boutique has been a success, Tsiaoushis said.
“It has been going well; there are so many beautiful dresses in there that are open for anyone at Marshall to look at and take with them. I even found a dress I really liked!” Tsiaoushis said.
Additionally, students should keep the Boutique in mind for other formal events: as Humphries points out, some formal items may come in handy for occassions like the upcoming graduation.