Adults looking to experience the Valentine’s Day Big Night Out prom for adults coming up in February can rent a beautiful gown or tuxedo for the event and help a 2017 graduate at the same time.
Gowns and tuxedos for the evening are being rented for $40 by the Glass Slippers Boutique program run by the Boys and Girls Club of Williams Lake.
“It’s like being in a candy store,” says Jen Stirling, who will help program co-ordinator Lora Fairbrother with making alterations on the gowns selected.
Glass Slippers Boutique is a non-profit program which provides gowns, tuxedos and accessories for graduates at no cost.
All of the items have been donated to the program by previous grads and other individuals. In many cases businesses have donated new gowns and tuxedos for the program.
Fairbrother says they have about 500 short and long gowns (including plus sizes) and about 40 tuxedos and formal suits for men.
The gowns, suits and accessories donated are provided free of charge for the graduates for their winter prom and for their graduation dance.
Money raised by renting the gowns for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Big Night Out prom for adults on coming up on Feb. 11 will help with the cost of running the program.
Funds raised are used for dry-cleaning and materials used in adjusting the tuxedos and gowns to fit the individual wearer.
Stirling and Fairbrother both have extensive experience with sewing and are adept at adjusting dresses to fit the individual. If a gown has a zipper in back it can be enlarged by putting in laces.
Stirling, who grew up in Williams Lake, studied fashion design at Kwantlan College before returning to the lakecity to make her home.
Before moving to Williams Lake as a youth worker with School District 27 and the Boys and Girls Club Fairbrother worked as a designer and seamstress in Vancouver.
Some of the money raised may also be used to rent a tuxedo for a boy if there isn’t a suit in the Glass Slippers collection that will fit them.
Given the limited number of tuxedos in the collection, loans of these items are on a needs basis, with a referral from the school or youth worker.
Last year she said Glass Slippers Boutique outfitted about 72 girls with gowns and 30 boys with suits.
She says youth also help with sorting clothing and taking it to and from the dry cleaners after a wearing.
Glass Slippers also provides shoes and accessories and seeks out hairdressers to help out on graduation day.
“I am always looking for hairdressers who might donate some time to help out at grad,” Fairbrother says.
She says she needs to raise about $2,000 a year to cover expenses, and has a wish list for this year which includes donations of more formal gowns in plus sizes for women, black shoes in sizes nine to 12 for the boys, more heavy duty dress hangers with notches to hold the dress straps.
“Any donation is welcome,” Fairbrother says.
“Even though it looks like we have a lot of dresses there is always a size or style missing.”
Fairbrother says Glass Slippers Boutique is fortunate that James Rowse provides them with free rent for the boutique above his clinic at 72 First Avenue South.
Fairbrother says students are already beginning to select their gowns and suits for prom by appointment.
Students and people interested in renting a gown or tuxedo for the Big Night Out can make an appointment for a fitting by calling Fairbrother at 250-267-1467.