ASB’s prom boutique redefines affordable fashion for students

From ticket prices to clothing, shoes and accessories, Samo’s Prom is notoriously expensive for students, and the date is rapidly approaching. The prom boutique, held in E100—run by the Associative Student Body (ASB)—offers a creative solution, allowing students to shop for second-hand items for no cost. Additionally, students have access to free alterations, done by Julie Flanders. This service not only reduces the financial burden many students face but also supports a more sustainable way of preparing for the event. By encouraging students to reuse, demands for fast fashion decrease, which promotes a more environmentally responsible school community.  

Chase Noble (’27) and Lilah Pantallion (’27) work within the activities committee in ASB. They have previously worked to plan homecoming and have now moved on to the school's prom event. Noble and Pantallion are the faces behind bringing the boutique to life. They are responsible for organizing the racks of clothes and jewelry, planning decorations and creating shifts and tasks for other ASB members. Noble explained that setting up the boutique has required many weeks of preparation and teamwork from ASB members. 

“It took a lot of preparation to set up,” Noble said. “We had shifts every day after school for a few weeks where we were getting the room ready, organizing donations and finding ways to sort everything…We were making sizing charts with color stickers. We also used magnets to display jewelry and worked with AP Art to help decorate the room.” 

The boutique has a wide selection of dresses, suits and accessories, catering to all types of students and their individual preferences. Donations were given by parents, students and staff members. 

“There was so much, and a lot was brand new too… like a ton of shoes, dresses and accessories. There's just a really wide variety of stuff for people to choose from,” Noble said. 

Pantallion also emphasized that accessibility is one of the most valuable aspects of the boutique, especially for students who might feel excluded from the traditional steep prices of prom. The boutique helps to address not only financial barriers, but also emotional pressures surrounding the event. By normalizing second-hand options, stigma can be reduced for students. 

“I think it's really important for all students to have access to things like formal wear, because prom can feel really stressful or overwhelming if you don't have the funds or time to get a dress,” Pantallion said. “This gives people an option so they don't feel that pressure and can just enjoy the experience.”

In addition to affordability, the boutique promotes a more sustainable mindset by encouraging students to rethink how clothing is used and valued. Rather than paying 250 plus for a dress only worn once or twice, students can find unique outfits for free. 

“People donate clothes they don't want anymore, and someone else can give them a second life,” Pantallion said. “It benefits everyone because it's more sustainable and there really are a lot of good options for people to find.” 

Since opening the boutique, Noble and Pantallion have already noticed tremendous support and engagement from students, often stopping by to see exactly what the Prom Boutique is, and checking out what inventory it has. 

“Our grand opening was really busy, and it was a really big success,” Noble said. “There were lines for the dressing rooms, and people were really excited. Someone found what they said was their dream dress, and they got shoes, a purse and accessories too. It's just been really cool seeing people find things they love.” 

Though intended to close on April 28, the boutique has remained open on May 13, May 14, and will be projected to stay open through May 18 and May 19. This extended window allows even more students to discover their perfect prom outfit before the event. Each donation provided has given students the opportunity to experience a more equitable and sustainable prom.