Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Leigh Keller
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Emotions are high. Everyone is talking about glitter, sparkles, flowers and the perfect dress. It is time for prom. I can remember my proms like they happened yesterday, the giant hair, the fluffy dresses and pretending to be so grown up. I don’t know that we completely obsessed over prom the way that our current generation does, but prom certainly was the highlight of the spring. I could tell you exactly what I wore, the group I went with, what my date wore, the car he drove, our theme (Boyz II Men, End of the Road, how sad, really?? High School is NOT the end of the road, or it shouldn’t be, anyway) and where we ate dinner before. I wore a short dress, simply because all of my friends were wearing long ones. Another thing that I do not remember being a huge issue was the cost of prom. My mama and I actually went and rented a gown that I had found in a prom magazine, and that was it. Of course, that was the 90s, and things have changed quite a bit. Now, Prom is big business, and by big business, I mean expensive. A prom gown can run anywhere from $200 to as much as $1000 or more. Add in shoes, jewelry, a bag, hair and makeup, your prom ticket, dinner and prom pictures, and prom is almost unattainable for many students. I grew up in a middle class family where we did not struggle, but I always had a part time job for any of the extra fun things I could possibly need (in addition to my parents providing for my every need). I did not live in the world that so many of my students live in, where they may go home from school to a home without electricity or water, and they might not get another meal until they return to school in the morning for breakfast. I joke about my biggest complaint of adolescence being that Beverly Hills 90210 came on tv on Wednesday nights, and church attendance was pretty non-negotiable on Wednesday nights. What a tough life I had, right? So prom for me was never a struggle the way it obviously is for so many of our kids. When I first moved to Batesville in 2010, I left behind the Fayetteville Glass Slipper Project, which was so dear to my heart. I knew that Independence County had a high poverty rate, and a large prom dress project might be needed here too, but I wasn’t sure how I would balance a new marriage, a new baby and a new life, with a pink room full
of prom dresses and happiness. Fast forward to present day, and we have the BHS Glass Slipper Project in its second year in our new space, and third year in existence. Today, on our first Boutique Day, I personally did fittings for nine beautiful girls for our prom, and twelve gorgeous models for our Prom Fashion Show on April 5th. I realize that a project like this is just a drop in the bucket for the need in Independence County, but somehow, in a small way, I hope that by providing the gift of prom for so many Batesville High School girls, we are giving them the gift of hope. In my career as a counselor I have heard so many sad things from children, and know about so many horrible situations that I cannot seem to help them out of. But you cannot imagine the joy in your heart that comes when you see the smile on the face of a child who has on the most gorgeous dress, a dress that they never thought they deserved, or would ever be able to have. Last year, through the Boutique, and through tuxedo sponsorships, our project was able to give the gift of prom to 82 BHS students. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, or a cause to support in some way, please consider our little pink world. Our next fundraiser, the Prom Fashion Show is Saturday, April 5th in the BHS cafeteria at 6 p.m. Admission is $5.00 or a prom dress donation. I promise you will not regret investing in our students! N
Savannah Sellers and Crystal Thomas in April of 2010 ready for their Senior Prom.
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