Students prep for prom with free formalwear boutiques
After a successful run last year at a Corte Madera mall, Redwood High School students have doubled their stock of free prom dresses and other formal attire and are expanding their offering to all Marin high school students.
“This year, we wanted to get the whole community involved, because last year it was just for Redwood,” said Charlotte Lacy, 16, a Redwood junior and leadership class member. “This year, we've opened it up to all of Marin County.”
Co-organizer Olivia Villanova, 18, a Redwood senior and fellow
member of the leadership class, said donations this year have totaled about 500 dresses, up from about 250 least year.
“We have dresses, shoes, ties, handbags and a couple suits,” Villanova said. Most of the dresses are new and some are gently used, she said. Many of the new dresses are extras or closeouts from several apparel companies that wanted to donate to the project, she said.
The prom boutique runs March 23-24 and March 29-30 at a large storefront near Macy's at The Village at Corte Madera, 1400 Redwood Highway. A Redwood-only preview will be held Thursday.
The shop is open from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. March 23, 24 and 30, and 4 to 8 p.m. on March 22 and 29.
David Plescia, a leadership class teacher at Redwood, said the project gives students an opportunity to serve their peers, learn organization skills and help foster more community connections.
“Prom can be a cost-prohibitive experience for many, and we want to make it accessible to all students,” Plescia said. “It's also a fantastic option for students who want to reuse dresses and make prom season more sustainable.”
About 50 leadership students have signed up for two-hour shifts to staff the boutique over the two weekends, Villanova said.