The Woman’s Club of Evanston and the Ivy Pearl Foundation partnering with Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc., Delta Chi Omega hosted the Dreams Delivered Prom Boutique for local high school students.
Formalwear dresses, shoes, accessories and jewelry were provided free of charge to students by appointment from April 16 to April 18 in downtown Evanston at the Woman’s Club of Evanston.
The club was decorated festively with balloons and flowers. A step and repeat photo opportunity backdrop was used to capture memory making “Say yes to the dress” moments.
“Prom is an important event to celebrate the end of high school, but it can be very expensive,” said Sheila Best, a seven year Evanston resident and co-chair of Dreams Delivered of the Woman’s Club of Evanston. “Dreams Delivered allows any student choosing to wear a dress to be able to go to prom, looking fabulous, because they found a free dress, shoes and jewelry.”
The green aspect of the event is also important, according to Best, as students can pick from a wide variety of secondhand dresses instead of purchasing a new one made from new materials.
“I’ve heard from students and parents, many times, that without Dreams, they would not be able to go to prom,” Best said.
The dress collection began in 2007 with Best estimating about 1,000 options for prom goers with variety in sizing from 0 to 30. Since then, Dreams Delivered has outfitted more than 900 students.
“We try to keep the collection current by culling it regularly of dresses that have been around for a while,” Best added. “We do a collection in the community to help replenish the inventory and fill in gaps of sizes by purchasing some dresses, using donated funds.”
Emily Felts, 18, a senior at Evanston Township High School, was searching to find a dress on Sunday afternoon with her mother Susan Felts and Emily’s friend Faith Crowe-Barnes of Evanston, and of the ETHS of 2022.
Emily’s mother hoped her daughter’s prom experience would include her looking “fantastic and fabulous.”
“I used to volunteer at the Woman’s Club for this event so I have been looking forward to this event for years and years and years,” Susan Felts said.
Emily said, “I want, like, a bright color” for her prom dress. “I was thinking maybe orange.”
Emily talked about, “going with a bunch of friends” to the ETHS prom which is May 13 at Chicago Navy Pier. The evening’s theme is “Lights, Camera, Action!” and will be held in the AON grand ballroom.
The “Say yes to the dress” moment for Emily including ultimately selecting a bright red gown.
Julie Chernoff of Evanston assisted as Emily’s personal shopper. Many of the volunteer personal shoppers wore rhinestone tiaras to make the experience fun with the benefit of making volunteers easily identifiable among the rows of dresses and gowns.
“It is a sea of dresses,” said Chernoff, a Woman’s Club of Evanston member for over 25 years. “This is something that’s really special to me.”
Emily’s friend Faith Crowe-Barnes found a shiny teal prom dress at the boutique last year, taking about an hour to select after trying on multiple dresses.
“Everyone here should try to find their best version of their own ‘Yes to the Dress,'” Faith said.
Macy Hoeveler, 17, an Evanston senior at ETHS, was seen favoring a red dress and trying on high heels.
Each boutique day requires about 50 volunteers serving in roles ranging from personal shoppers to seamstresses.
To those making the boutique possible, Macy Hoeveler said, “Thank you, I mean, it’s really incredible.
“I’ve been thinking about my prom dress since I was like, really little, so it’s great to be able to not have to worry about how expensive dresses are going to be because people really overprice those things,” Macy said. “It’s just a weight off my shoulders to like, get the chance to wear my perfect dress without having to worry about wasting a million dollars on it.”
Hannah Hoppa, 17, a senior at ETHS, selected a silver blue gown with floral shimmery patterns.
“I’m saying yes to the dress because it’s really beautiful and I love the pattern,” Hannah said.
Laurie Alltop of Evanston and her mother Joyce Williamson, both of Evanston, volunteered as seamstresses with Laurie’s mother using a sewing machine.
Alltop said about any dress, “It’s just more confidence building if it fits right.”
Williamson was here to sew, “because it’s something I know to do well.”
Hannah’s personal shopper was Sophia Levinson of Chicago, whose mother is an Evanston volunteer.
“I loved shopping for my prom dress,” Levinson said, “and I just want to make sure every girl feels like they’re a princess for the day because that’s what they deserve to feel.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
