Donated dresses from surrounding areas. Picture by: Anyssa Alonso
By Anyssa Alonso
Prom is one of the most anticipated events for a girl in high school. With the hassle of finding a date, deciding where to go for dinner, what shoes to wear, what hairstyle looks the best, and most importantly finding the perfect dress, prom can also be one of the most stressful events to plan. However, Tri Kappa’s Promenade to Prom can provide desperately needed relief from these.
On Friday, February 25 in the LifePlex gymnasium, gently used prom dresses will be sold for $10. Donated from the surrounding areas, the dresses will be cleaned and then gathered in the gym and sold from 4:00–7:00 that evening. Store dresses can be priced for hundreds of dollars, even though they are only worn for one night. Rather than letting them collect dust in one’s closest, area girls have decided to be of service and donate their Prom dresses to this event in order to make someone else’s night special.
Prom is all about glamor and looking like a million bucks. And if one is not careful, it could end up costing him or her an amount close to that. Costs add up quickly and one should be aware of what they are paying for. Not everything has to be expensive. One could easily save a lot of money just by doing a few things themselves.
Girls tend to have more fun in the preparation process of Prom; they also have a lot more to prepare in order to live up to their high standards for the night. One can not pull off the perfect dress without the perfect hair style to accompany it. Salon prices can cost an arm and a leg, so seeking other options would be in one’s best interest.
One should look for local hairstylists that work from home or no longer work for a business. These kinds of stylists have the same resources and skills as business employed stylists, but not the same fat bill as one. Even better would be to research and test hairstyles on one’s own. Beauty magazines always have step by step instructions to the latest hairstyles for those willing to try hairstyling themselves. And for even more detailed instructions, one should research the hairstyle they wish for online where videos and images are available. It does not take a lot of effort and one could learn new skills that could be useful for future occasions.
Instead of making a trip to the salon to get a manicure and pedicure, one should buy the products to “do it yourself.” The saying, “The bigger the better,” contains much truth. One should keep this thought in mind when purchasing beauty products for Prom. Hosting a preparation party with numerous people all pitching in to the cost of the beauty products they all need and use, would be very conservative. Guys can get in on the “do it yourself” savings as well. Buying a bouquet and splitting up the flowers to make corsages will not only save one money but also add a personal touch. Sharing rides and splitting the costs of fuel also provides savings.
Also something that should be kept in mind is not everything needs to be new. One should reuse items they already have in order to refrain from spending too much money on new items. If the thought of repeating and item is too horrific for one’s mind, he or she should begin to plan a budget and start saving money now.
Conservative actions will lead to many savings and a night of fun without financial regret. In order to achieve this goal and provide a relief to one’s wallet, one should start their smart spending by attending the Promenade to Prom event. If having an unused dress, one can add to this event by dropping off their dress at Argos High School, Culver High School, Triton High School, Plymouth’s Fernbaugh’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, or Plymouth Maurice’s. These locations will be accepting donations until the event on February 15th. Along with dresses, gift certificates for accessories, and money donations to the Tri Kappa organization (PO Box 325 Plymouth, IN), one can surely find a way to make Prom night special and memorable.