Bargain hunters scoured the racks of formal dresses at the first annual prom dress resale held last weekend at St. Benedict Episcopal Church in Bolingbrook.
More than 300 dresses were brought to the church to be sold on consignment, with styles and prices ranging from a midnight blue taffeta priced at $60 to a black velvet dress with a silver cummerbund at $30 and a red antebellum-style gown with black polka dot gauze overskirt priced at $40. The highest priced dress was a cream-colored bridal gown dripping with beading, lace and sequins, priced at $450.
According to Wendy Olson, a member of the church’s fundraising group, the group decided to have a prom dress resale to both help high school students and the church. In December, Olson said, St. Benedict’s was facing a $5,000 deficit. The $400 raised will be put toward the purchase of a new computer for the church and to upgrade Sunday School supplies.
Naperville Central high school student Janet Moran was searching the racks donned in a black sequin and lace Gunne Sax dress priced at $80. Her mother, Beth, had brought her to Bolingbrook.
“I thought this would be a good way to go,” Beth Moran said.
Janet agreed, adding that as a member of a chorus she needs to wear formals to the group’s concerts. “It’s stupid to pay full price for a dress you’re only going to wear once. Plus it’s fun to try them on.”
Likewise Jennike Kinser, a junior at Benet Academy, was looking with her mother for prom and turnabout-dance dresses.
“I was hoping to get a reasonable price for another formal,” said her mother, Laura Kinser. “It works up to quite a bit of money buying dresses for those dances.”
Bolingbrook resident Kawane Crawford said she enjoys going to resale and thrift shops.
“I like to have a variety of clothes,” she said, draping a few dresses over her arm to try on. “Today I’m looking for something to wear on evenings out.”
Christine Wolinski, also of Bolingbrook, was browsing through the racks looking for a bargain. “I like resale shops. I’m just looking for whatever catches my eye that I can use as a formal,” she said. “I get good value for my money, plus it’s recycling, so to speak. I find some real good treasures.”
