THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502100188
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, Kempsville High School's gymnasium will magically turn into a ballroom - complete with chandeliers, white-skirted tables and beautiful music - when seven of the city's high schools come together for the fifth annual Formal Fashion Fling.
This year's fling, the citywide consignment sale of gently used formal dresses, tuxedos and accessories, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25. The admission is $2.
``It's a unique opportunity to be able to acquire new dresses without the expense of purchasing them at retail cost,'' said Cynthia Sidner, co-chairman of the event. ``There will be more of a selection here - in one day, at one location - than at any one store.''
The fling is not only a sale, it's also a benefit for the city's Celebrate Life committee. All proceeds will go to the ``All Night Drug and Alcohol Free Celebrations'' held in Beach high schools.
``This is a very worthy cause and an opportunity for students to look great on their special night,'' said Cathy Perry, publicity chairman.
More than 20 racks, donated by the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, will be packed with formal attire of all colors, shapes and sizes. Dresses, the most popular items, will average from $40 to $150 and range from size 3 to 16.
Two dressing rooms will be available.
Twelve-year-old Joy Mossman, a sixth-grader at Brandon Middle School, got a dress from last year's fling, even though she didn't go with her mom and sister.
``My mom bought me this dress, and we call it the Cinderella dress,'' Joy said. ``It's really big and we have to put clothespins in it. It's for a teenager, so we have to make it fit.''
Joy said she might go this year because she wouldn't mind having ``another pretty dress.''
Besides the threads, 20 different vendors, specializing in everything from floral arrangements to hairstyling to makeup, will be on hand to answer questions and to give lucky shoppers door prizes and raffle gifts.
A Formal Affair at KempsRiver Crossing will sponsor a fashion show, where Kempsville High cheerleaders will model the store's latest prom fashions.
Preparation for the event will begin as early as this week for some schools, when they collect formal garb from locals who wish to sell it. Nearly 1,000 items were collected last year.
For a consignment fee of $5 per dress or tux, and $2 per accessory - which goes to the schools - students, teachers, parents and other members of the community can set the price of their items the day they drop them off at any school. Volunteers will be available to help decide upon a suitable price.
If the item doesn't sell, the owner gets it back. Consignment participants should pick up their money or items by 4 p.m. on the day of the fling.
Mothers working on individual school committees are encouraging their daughters to participate, by either selling or buying.
Sidner's daughter, Natalie, a sophomore at Kempsville High School, is going to see what she can find to wear to CBN's Alternative Prom. She won't be wearing last year's outfit.
``You can't be seen in the same dress twice,'' Cynthia Sidner said. ``That's the feeling among many women and girls.
``This event gives them the opportunity to get something new this spring.''
Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of co-chairman Barbara Douglas, plans to look for a dress to wear to her prom.
``This is an alternative to buying the traditional, formal, sequined dresses you get in expensive retail shops,'' said Elizabeth, a senior at Kempsville. ``Since almost all of the beach schools are participating, there will be a wide variety of dresses. You won't have to worry about having the same dress as someone else.''
More than 900 people stopped by last year's sale, but this year's organizers are hoping for a crowd of ``over 1,000 eager, formal wear purchasers,'' Sidner said. ``Ideally, we hope to raise enough money to make the graduation party free for all graduating seniors.''
Sidner's advice is simple. ``Get here early, look at the dresses, enjoy the music, watch the fashion show and browse through the vendors,'' she said. ``People are here to help you with your prom-planning needs.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Kirsteen Braidwood models a sequined dress from last year's Formal
Fashion Fling.
Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Cynthia Sidner, co-chairperson of the event, shows off a prom dress
ready for sale at Kempsville High. Her advice: ``Get here early.''
by CNB