When Nikole Shurn-Perkins hit me up over the weekend with a request to help get the word out that her Fairy Glam Project is currently accepting donations for her organization’s annual prom dress giveaway, I was reminded why I always try to make young women aware that these types of resources are available to them.
For some reason her e-mail, which announced that she was once again partnering with clothing recycler USAgain and that encouraged young women to register for the March 9 event at All Nations Christian Church, triggered me to think back to how a donated dress made all the difference during my own high school experience.
In 1993, I was a junior in high school. It wasn’t my senior year, but it was going to be the last prom ever for Northwest High School graduates. The building had already been shut down and we students were sharing McKinley High School with Beaumont while that high school was under renovation. Come 1994, we would all become Blue Jackets. But those of us who became a family at 5140 Riverview Drive wanted to help the class of ’93 go out with a bang by kicking it with them at their prom.
The fanciest thing in my closet at the time was a pink and purple Reebok wind suit with a visible iron burn on the knee. We creased everything in the early 90s – yes, wind suits too. I was committed to wearing it if I had to. Actually, I had committed to wearing it because I knew I had nothing else. I had saved up $30 dollars, which even in ’93 didn’t amount to much of anything along the lines of formal wear. I figured I would get my hair done and some new earrings from the beauty supply store inside Dynamite Foods to match my wind suit and that would be the extent of my prom attire.
But Viola Whitmore, my aunt on my dad’s side, had recently closed her bridal shop and had a surplus of dresses. She gifted me a teal off the shoulder bridesmaid gown. A 90s bridesmaid gown in every sense of one’s imagination –big puffy 90s sleeves, a bow on the back and an A-line hem that looked like a train. It was so extra. I loved it. And it fit. I got a lopsided $10 French roll from Mr. Ron’s Pine Lawn Beauty Salon that he made cute with pearl hair pins along the tilt. I found a pair of white Highlight pumps on clearance at the Payless in Northland Plaza and stopped by Walgreen’s for some suntan pantyhose. I got a pink tube of Wet and Wild lipstick from the beauty supply and you couldn’t tell me a single thing. I believe I marched into the prom to the pace of “Here Comes The Bride” to amuse myself.
When I walked in, I thought I looked cute. My classmates were kind and encouraging. What people don’t tend to say about the inner-city schools – particularly at that time when the narrative of our school was that of unrest because they merged schools that were bitter rivals (from neighborhoods that were enemy gang turfs) – is that in all of the systemic disparities and issues, we overcompensated with genuine love and support for each other. In hindsight, I’m sure I looked a hot mess and I’m grateful to the universe that no photos exist to prove me right.
There was a moment looking around when I felt like everyone else’s dresses looked better than my gifted one. I slumped my shoulders down in my seat. A classmate came by and scared me half to death when she pulled my shoulders back from behind. “I’m the bride – and you’re my maid of honor,” she said. I turned around and she had a white crushed satin dress that bunched all over her tiny frame with white stockings and white heels she couldn’t walk in. We laughed so hard both of us doubled over before making our rounds to fellowship with everyone. I wish I could remember her name. But I will never forget how much fun I had that night.
If hadn’t been for that dress, I never would have had that amazing memory – and Shurn-Perkins has been blessing young women in a similar manner for nearly a decade.
“What stared off as just an opportunity to help a few girls, has turned into one of the most anticipated events of the prom season,” Shurn-Perkins said.
Over the years, the Fairy Glam Project has become a full-on expo that gives girls tips and tools for what will for many be the biggest memory of their high school experience. This year’s Fairy Glam Project Prom Dress giveaway will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at All Nations Christian Church, 10047 Jeffrey Drive, St. Louis, MO 63137. Dresses are free, but potential shoppers must register at www.fairyglamproject.org and bring a printed ticket as proof of registration.
For those seeking to donate new or gently used gowns, dresses may be dropped off at green and white USAgain bins located throughout the area. Bag surplus dresses, label the bag PROM with a permanent marker and drop off the dresses in the local USAgain bins. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit www.usagain.com or www.fairyglamproject.org.
