We know the concept of borrowing a dress for prom might not be new, but there can often be questions around the process. We try to answer those questions here as well as share some tips to help keep the dresses looking as beautiful as possible for the next student to borrow.
How it Works: Getting a Dress
During February - Mid-April we open our boutique which has 1000+ prom gowns in various colors, styles and sizes (0-26).
By appointment only with our volunteer style consultants, students can browse the dresses and try them on. These are one-on-one appointments with the stylists and are in 1-hour increments.
When the student finds their perfect dress, they are welcome to browse our shoe, jewelry and purse selection and pick anything they will need. The consultant will check out the student, wrapping their dress to keep it safe.
At check out, we ask for the students information as well as a parents. This includes their school and event(prom) date. We are looking to get the dress back within 2 weeks from the prom date and want to have accurate information in case we need to reach out.
CAN YOU ALTER THE DRESS YOU BORROW? Yes. It will be up to the student to do the alterations they need. If you need help with recommendations see our list here.
DOES THE DRESS NEED TO BE CLEANED BEFORE IT IS RETURNED? It is not necessary, but it is very much appreciated as it will help our volunteers focus on other tasks.
WHO CAN COME TO THE APPOINTMENT? Getting your prom dress is a big deal and we want to make sure you have as much fun picking out a dress as possible! You should bring family/friends with you that will help you pick the best dress for you. With that said, keep in mind especially during the weekends that we sometimes have up to 3 consultants with appointments at one time and one mirror to view yourself in your dresses.
MORE THAN ONE PROM/CAN YOU BORROW MORE THAN ONE DRESS? Yes, we just ask for a $20 suggested donation per dress.
ARE WALK-INS ACCEPTED? No. You will need to make an appointment. You can do that here.
OTHER QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us.
FAQs about borrowing a dress/our boutique:
Shop with Purpose - Please only try on dresses you truly see yourself wearing. Reracking and steaming is a labor of love for our volunteers. Let’s work together to keep the prom closet organized!
Be Gentle - Our gowns are delicate. Please be extra careful with zippers and lace. Never force a dress on or off. If you need a hand or a zipper feels stuck, just ask your Style Consultant.
Be Mindful - Some of our gowns may have been to a lot of proms, but we hope they remain looking brand new. Sometimes deodorant, self-tanner, body lotion/oil, or makeup can mark up a dress. If this happens, please let your consultant know. We want to keep the dresses smelling as fresh as possible as well, so if you for any reason feel like you may need body spray, don’t be embarrassed and please let the consultant know as we have some available, or if you notice a dress has a smell please let your consultant know. We try really hard to make sure all dresses are fresh.
The Sizes are Just a Number - Many of our dresses have been previously loved and/or altered for another person. An "8" might fit like a "4" and vice-versa! Keep an open mind and focus on how you feel, not the number on the tag.
Pro-Tip: Fit the Largest Part - To find the best silhouette, choose dresses that fit the largest part of your body comfortably. It is always easier to tuck a dress than to force one that is too small.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone - Don’t be afraid to try a style you’ve never considered. Sometimes the dress that looks "simple" on the hanger looks magical once you put it on!
Tips for your visit to our boutique:
Remember, you do not own this dress and that another student will most likely be wearing it to next seasons prom.
Stains/marks - Sometimes deodorant, self-tanner, body lotion/oil, or makeup can mark up a dress, please be mindful of these things while wearing your dress. Also, while walking, try to lift the bottom of the dress to keep from dirt or grass stains. If after wearing your dress you notice any stains or marks, we ask for you to try to get them out. If you cannot - please notify us when returning your dress so we can place it in our database.
Rips/repair - We know things happen, especially with dresses that have attended many proms. If a rip/tear/break happens on your dress that you cannot repair yourself, please notify us when returning your dress so we can get the dress to repairs before next prom season.
Lost/misplaced - Although we hope this doesn’t happen, it’s possible. We ask if this happens, to please let us know and if possible we ask for a replacement, a prom dress that you pick up from a thrift store/on discount that you can give to us in place of the one we lent you.
Tips for borrowing a prom dress: