Prom coture at cut-rate price
Columbia Falls freshman Kaitlyn Gehres spins around in her newly purchased refurbished prom dress in Mary Behrendt’s classroom at the school on Wednesday. Gehres, who tried on several dresses, decided on this green gown costing $25. “These dresses are so much cheaper. Some are like $250 dresses you can get for $25,” Gehres said. “And it’s fun to make up things that no one has ever worn before,” she said of customizing her dress. <br>Prom couture at a cut-rate price<br>Apparel class sells elegance for less
Garrett Cheen/Daily Inter Lake
Dinner, dancing, decorations - all are important elements in creating the perfect prom. But girls know a truly magical night hinges on one thing: the dress.
For some girls, that means starting the hunt for the perfect dress months before the dance. Price isn't a concern as long as they feel beautiful.
For others, however, the price of the perfect dress might prevent them from going to the prom. For those girls, or for those who simply don't want to spend a couple hundred dollars on a fancy gown, there is Prom Dress Express.
Prom Dress Express, which is put on by Columbia Falls High School's fabric and apparel class, offers new and used prom dresses ranging from $20 to $30. The prices aren't indicative of quality, senior Jessica Rogers said.
"We're trying to sell really pretty dresses," she said. "It's not like we're selling matronly dresses that nobody would want to buy."
Rogers didn't get her dress at Prom Dress Express but said she does have her eye on one there. She may buy it to wear to the Columbia Falls Community Prom, which takes place April 4, the night before the junior-senior prom.
The dress isn't a big deal to her, she said, but she knows many girls disagree. Junior Ericka Smith, a second-year sewing student, ordered her $200 dress two months ago.
Prom is important, she said, especially in a school with few dances.
"It's, like, a pretty big thing," she said.
Although Rogers thinks spending "$100 or $200 is ridiculous," she agreed that prom is a significant event because dances at Columbia Falls High are rare.
"That's a lot of the reason that girls want to dress up and go feel special," she said.
Prom Dress Express began last year with a student who had read about a similar concept being done in other parts of the country, teacher Mary Behrendt said. Some stores also sell shoes, handbags and other accessories, but Columbia Falls isn't ready to go that far, she said.
"We're still trying to decide if it's valuable," she said.
Last year's students collected dresses from their peers and community members - and nearly all of the dresses were usable. Those that didn't sell will appear in this year's store.
A few dresses may end up in the drama department, Behrendt said, because they aren't styles a high school junior or senior would wear.
"We take them all," she said. "We're very diplomatic about it."
They appreciate the donations, she added. For some donors, giving away their dresses is a sacrifice. One woman wanted to help Prom Dress Express but wasn't sure she wanted to part with her formal dress.
"She didn't know if she wanted to give it away," Behrendt said.
This year's class began collecting dresses from classmates and community members the week after Christmas break. As each donation arrived, one girl would model the dress for her classmates, and then they would decide as a group what, if any, improvements were needed.
One dress was stained on the waist, which the girls decided could easily be camouflaged with a ribbon. They opted to move the straps on another gown to prevent the dress from gaping at the bust.
Once the decisions were made, the girls, who range from freshmen to seniors, made the prescribed changes. The dresses then were ready for Prom Dress Express' three sale days.
The first sale was Wednesday afternoon.
"There were more lookers than takers," Behrendt said.
Of the several girls who showed up to check out the dresses, only three took dresses home. They're allowed to return the dresses if their parents don't approve, Behrendt said.
There are about 30 dresses in a variety of colors, sizes, lengths and styles to choose from. The class is still accepting dresses in room 113 and at City Cleaners, 406 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls.
"We need way more," freshman Kassie Rost said.
They hope to get dresses not just for this year's prom-goers but for future Prom Dress Express proprietors, Rogers added.
"It would be nice for next year's class to have it already going," she said. "It would be nice to have it where each year they make more profit."
All money they make goes toward purchasing supplies to repair or alter dresses, Behrendt said.
Prom Dress Express is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday and by appointment. Contact Behrendt at 892-6500, extension 283, for more information.
Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.