Lancer Formal Wear Boutique

photo by Megan Biles

The Lancer Formal Wear Boutique is now taking donations for their WPA shop, set to open in January.

Students can donate both men’s and women’s clothing for school dances and the donated attire will be set up in the choir room after school Friday, Jan 25. Students are free to take home, wear and keep the clothing — free of charge.

“People can bring anything that you would wear to dances,” founder and senior Reagan Smith said. “We are hoping for like-new… something that’s not super worn out because we want to make people feel good about what they’re wearing.”

The idea for a formal wear boutique started when Smith’s mother asked her if East had a program similar to one at Smith’s older sister’s high school in Portland, Oregon. When Smith realized that East did not have a formal wear shop, she started the process for the boutique at East. Originally planned for homecoming, Smith moved the date back due to time constraints.

At the end of the year, donated clothes that have not been picked at the boutique are being donated to one of SHARE’s partner organizations.

“[It] is for anyone to come in and swap clothes or aren’t able to afford it or you just want a fresh look,” SHARE coordinator Sheryl Kaplan said.

Smith wanted the boutique to be for everyone. With dresses, ties, and jackets, all can visit the boutique that afternoon to browse the selection.

“People go last minute shopping all the time and they get really really stressed out about it,” Smith said “So for anybody who is a procrastinator and isn’t super proactive about getting stuff together, those are some of the people we are targeting.”

graphic by Julie Fromm