Mother Launches Free Prom Outfit Hire Boutique for Local Schools
A mother of twin girls, surprised by the high cost of prom dresses, has established a boutique offering free hire of outfits and suits for students.
Tia Kilby created Prom ReStyle Daventry in Northamptonshire to serve pupils at DSLV and The Parker Academy in the town.
After purchasing 10 inexpensive dresses from a resale site for her daughters to try on, Kilby wanted the unworn dresses to be reused rather than discarded, inspiring the initiative.
Students Welcome Affordable Prom Options
Mia, a Year 11 student, expressed that the boutique would
"help lessen the stress and stop the burden of paying £300 for a dress".
Kilby explained her motivation:
"I was looking at outfits and saw how much they were and I went and bought 10 cheap dresses from Vinted. Then I thought what I am going to do with 10 dresses and I thought it would be good to start a project where these dresses don't just get chucked in landfill or in a wardrobe. That's where the idea started and lots of students are very excited about coming to try them on."
Mia hopes to select a green dress and prefers something not "big and puffy". She reiterated:
"I think this project can help lessen that stress and stop the burden of paying £300 for a dress."
Upcoming Fashion Show and Environmental Focus
Students are preparing for a fashion show at DSLV on 15 April, where models will showcase three dresses or suits each.
Tate, a member of the planning committee, described the experience as
"eye opening"and emphasized the initiative's goals:
"It's about not only making sure it's affordable and getting those boundaries removed for everyone, it's also making sure we mitigate our effect on the environment to make sure we have a very stylish and affordable initiative. It's making sure that everyone gets an equal opportunity to have a wonderful night."
Collection Efforts and Student Access
Since November, Kilby has gathered approximately 180 dresses and 70 suits from charity shops, wardrobe donations, online shopping, and resale platforms.
She noted the current stock is insufficient for the 350 students across the two schools:
"We don't have anywhere near enough, we still need a lot more, we've got 350 students between the two schools."
The boutique operates by appointment, allowing pupils to try on multiple outfits, reserve their choice, wear it for prom, and then return it for reuse the following year.
Kilby highlighted the inclusivity of the project:
"Some parents can afford it, some can't and some don't want to spend that sort of money on outfits."
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