Saturday, February 27, 2010
COLUMBIANA — Talia DiRocco and her mom, Gretchen, are thinking toward the future instead of the immediate gratification they might get from plunking down a small fortune on a prom dress.
The two shopped Saturday at a gently worn gown sale sponsored by Columbiana Women’s Club, 121 N. Main St. The Gowns Galore event continues from 1 to 5 p.m. today.
Talia, a senior at South Range High School, took pictures of dresses on her phone to show a friend but didn’t find one for herself. Her mom said the petite girl didn’t find anything in her size and is pretty particular when it comes to what she wears.
The girl wants to major in English and is looking at Ashland University and Wooster College. Her mom said that though prom is an important event, the cost of higher education is a bigger priority for their family right now.
Even though they didn’t find anything Saturday, the DiRoccos said they still plan to hunt for a bargain and can take advantage of the club’s second gown sale in March.
Janet Tatman is a member of the women’s club and the committee that planned the first gown event. She said many young girls and their parents can’t justify spending a few hundred dollars on a dress they’ll wear once, especially in this economy.
“We wanted to do this as a service for the young people,” she said, explaining that the sale is not a money-making event for the organization.
About 50 dresses were offered during the cash-only sale Saturday, priced at $15, $25 or $45. The club keeps $5 for each dress sold, and the rest of the money goes to the original owner.
Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com