Dressing for Prom Success

Amid Tough Economic Times for Many, High School Teens Pick Out Gowns at Giveaway

Amid the worst recession in decades, the second annual "Ciao Bella" prom gown giveaway at the Hilton in Silver Spring yesterday had the feel of Christmas in April. And it was hard to tell who was more giddy at the thought of getting a stunning dress for free: the dozens of high school girls trying them on, or their mothers.

"Oh, yessss. I like this," said Yolanda Sharpe, 44, of the District, as her daughter Ashley twirled around in a regal red taffeta number with matching bolero jacket. Ashley, 22, who took several extra years to graduate because of special education needs, broke into a relieved smile.

"I've been looking for such a long time," she said. "But everything was way too pricey -- like $300 or $400." That would have been a tall order for Sharpe, whose hours at a retail store were recently cut to part-time because of the economy and whose husband only just returned to his job as a Washington tour-bus guide after being laid off for several months.

"I'm so happy, I'm overwhelmed right now," Sharpe said, wiping a tear as she watched Ashley pore over a table of silver and rhinestone jewelry in search of a free matching necklace and earrings.

Self-described fashionista Alandria Bademosi, 17, who attends Springbrook High School in White Oak, said the giveaway had saved her from a fate possibly worse than having no prom dress at all: wearing the same dress as someone else.

"Everyone's going to the same stores to find bargains," said Bademosi, who settled on a sophisticated black and white gown reminiscent of the vintage Valentino in which Julia Roberts claimed her Oscar. "But then you have to worry that you all get the same dress. What are the odds that anyone is going to be wearing this!"

Lovetta Richardson, 45, an elegantly dressed insurance claims representative from Bowie, said that although her daughter could have afforded to buy a dress if necessary, the giveaway offered a chance to show her daughter the value of looking for deals. "I try to teach [my children] that yes, you should dress well, but at an affordable price. You can buy nice things without splurging your entire paycheck."

A few feet away, organizer Susan Jamison surveyed the room with a pleased, if slightly tired, expression. By her own admission, the 53-year-old is an unlikely founder of such an event. A modest dresser with little interest in fashion, she said she can't even remember what her own prom dress looked like.

But Jamison said she gained an appreciation of the challenges of making ends meet through her work with various charities. Five years ago, after spotting a wedding dress on eBay for $25, she started a nonprofit organization in Bethesda called St. Anthony's Bridal, which offers free gowns, decorations and other accouterments to brides on a tight budget.

"I think a woman's wedding day is very important, and I'd hate to think somebody couldn't have that experience because they couldn't afford it."

Last year, that sentiment led Jamison to add the prom gown giveaway. The event is open to any 12th-grader, regardless of income, in the District and Montgomery, Prince George's and Fairfax counties.

Starting with bridesmaid dresses from her shop, Jamison and her network of volunteers quickly amassed more than 600 dresses from an ever-expanding pool of friends, merchants and members of the Silver Spring chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Despite the enthusiasm of the girls who came and free publicity from radio host Angie Ange at WKYS, attendance was actually slightly lower this year. Although there were enough dresses, jewelry, shoes and other accessories to outfit at least 200 girls, only 140 signed up and only 70 showed up, compared with 100 last time.

"Maybe more people feel they can't even afford prom tickets this year," Jamison mused.

Still, Jamison said she was hopeful that more girls would be able to pick up the remaining dresses Saturday, when they will be sold at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, at 5820 Riverdale Rd. in Riverdale. Although that event is a fundraiser for St. Anthony's Bridal and is open to the general public, girls who are purchasing dresses for their prom will be charged only $10 to $25.

"I think that every girl deserves to go to the prom and have a beautiful dress to wear," Jamison said.