Long gowns, short cocktail dresses, ruffles, sparkles, sequins and dresses of all colors surrounded Emily Huffer, Yorktown High School senior, as she searched for a prom dress Saturday afternoon at Cinderella's Closet, an event at the Alumni Center.
Ball State University's Fashion Merchandising Association sponsored the event to collect used dresses from all around Muncie and sell them back to girls from local high schools at a lower price. The prices for the dresses ranged from $10 to $30.
"I don't want to spend over $100 on something I'm going to wear once," Huffer said. "I also want to find something cheap and simple so I can add things to it and make it my own style."
Co-president of FMA Amy Dodge said she helped organize the event when she realized what a great cause it was.
Dodge said the organization wanted to expand on past years and help girls pick out whole outfits instead of just a gown to add more to the shopping experience. Cinderella's Closet also sold bags, accessories and shoes all for less than $10.
"There are some girls who don't go to prom only because they can't afford a new dress," Dodge said. "We want to help send them there."
FMA faculty adviser Audrey Robbins started the event seven years ago.
FMA co-president Katie Reinhart said the program had fallen through over the past few years because it was not attracting enough customers.
"This year we wanted Cinderella's Closet to be something that FMA would be known for," Reinhart said.
Advertising for the event started before Thanksgiving Break so Ball State students could bring back dresses to donate, Reinhart said. The organization advertised to all Muncie high schools with fliers and an article in The Muncie Star Press encouraging girls to donate. They also made announcements on local radio stations, Reinhart said.
"This was a great opportunity for our club because it's related to fashion merchandising," Reinhart said, "and we were able to help out the charity of our choice."
FMA raised more than $300, and all the proceeds were donated to The Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital.
"We wanted to pick something close to Ball State and not so widely known," Dodge said. "Also, most of the dress donors had family members affected by cancer so they were glad to be giving to a cause so close to their hearts."
Local restaurants, flower shops and stores also donated coupons to give away in a cupcake raffle. Each customer received cupcakes, and those who had a Cinderella sticker on the bottom of their cupcake drew a coupon from a bucket, Dodge said.
Amber's Cosmetology School also donated coupons for "updo's" for five girls for each of the four high school prom weekends. Most of the donated dresses came from FMA members, sororities and Muncie residents, and others were leftovers in storage from last year, Dodge said.
"Prom night is such a special night, and dresses are so expensive," Dodge said. "We just wanted girls to feel great for at least that one night."
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