Find Prom Perfection at Goodwill®

Prom season is right around the corner and most of the early birds have probably already gotten their elegant attire worms. For those of us who are always hopelessly last minute or for anyone who has been searching for months to no avail, I have a few ideas to share today that could replace your prom season stress with a spark of excitement. These last months of the school year should be filled with an eager joy or even a sweet nostalgia, so prepare to put your worries behind you and get pumped about a new prom ensemble instead!


Image via darbysmart.com

With limited time on your hands, and a budget to stick to, tracking down the perfect pieces to compliment a prom dress can seem overwhelming. Instead of traipsing all around town in search of a necklace for prom night, just swing by Goodwill® and a craft store then make your own custom accessory! Some of the most memorable statement pieces that have graced the dance floor on prom night are those made by hand (Molly Ringwald’s dress in Pretty In Pink, anyone?) and Goodwill Industries of West Michigan (Muskegon) has provided us with a fantastic faux druzy necklace tutorial on their “Accessorize with Goodwill” Pinboard if you need a little direction. Check it out for the easy instructions or browse the board for more DIY ideas!


Image via ashleydellingerphotography.blogspot.com

As delightful as a row of lilac bushes may be, hedges are a pretty uninspired background for the formal prom photos every parent wants to snap before their kid’s limo leaves the driveway. Making your own backdrop for staged photos is actually a lot easier than you think (it will also make for some major selfie fun at a killer after prom party later on!). Photographer Ashley Dellinger has shared lots of fantastic (and cheap!) suggestions for simple DIY photography décor like hanging lace and draping twinkle lights behind it for a warm, golden glow. Don’t bother finding your material in a fabric store – it will be too expensive! Just check for curtains, tablecloths, sheets, or fabric yardage at Goodwill that will match your mood and décor.

 
Image via yourgoodwill.org

But we all know what prom night is really about, right? It’s about finding the perfect dress. Unfortunately, buying a brand new prom dress can cost hundreds and then still might need to be altered to fit properly adding even more cha-ching to the already steep price tag. Why bother buying new when you can grab a once-worn (for only a matter of hours!) dress at Goodwill for as little as $7.50? And before you assume that Goodwill’s options are outdated or drab, check out this roundup of prom dresses found in the Goodwill Keystone Area (Harrisburg, PA). Which one would you choose?

Even better than the feeling of having that prom preparation to-do list accomplished is knowing that your purchases helped people within your community. Goodwill’s programs enable youth to stay in school and learn to work (so they don’t miss out on important rites of passage like prom); assist workers who have lost jobs; continue long term services to people with physical and intellectual challenges; and provide business and government with a dependable labor force. You can help accomplish this mission just by donating to and shopping at Goodwill. May your prom dress be stunning and your purchases be altruistic!