Start High School hosts former attire dress sale for homecoming, prom seasons
TOLEDO – A bright orange, long dress with a sari-style top is among the hundreds of dresses senior Raniyah Rogers and her classmates at Start High School have prepped ahead of a formal attire resale.
The My Sister’s Closet dress resale officially takes place twice a year, just ahead of the high school homecoming and prom seasons. It is hosted by Start Fashion Marketing – DECA II Club as a fundraiser for club projects and trips, such as attending a sewing and quilt expo later this fall at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich.
The fashion marketing students and their teacher, Robinetta West, gave a show and tell ahead of the sale on Wednesday to news media.
Sorting and other preparations had been taking place for days, Raniyah said, although the students got somewhat of a head start in the spring.
“We get to organize the dresses, try them on,” senior Samantha Zadrazil said about the preparation time.
While Start’s fall sale is early this year, so are some of the dances. Start High School, for example, will host its homecoming on Sept. 28 with the theme of Bollywood.
In the meantime, West said the resale will expand this year into a year-round opportunity, with pictures of formal attire to be posted on the school’s website that can be purchased between the in-person sales.
“We’re always looking for donations,” West said. Gently-used formal attire, such as dresses, shoes, suits and ties are accepted in all styles, sizes and lengths.
Memorable pieces donated this year include bright yellow stiletto heels and a gown that was clearly a wedding dress. Start senior Kristian Woods-Boykin said someone even donated a pair of Kade Spade brand shoes.
Raniyah said “old is the new” among today’s high school girls who like fashions from the ’80s and ’90s; and Kristian gave a mention to Regency-era styles inspired by the show Bridgerton.
However, high school boys tend to favor modern and trendy formal attire. With that in mind, the DECA students tried different combinations of a shirt, tie, vest and jacket on a display mannequin as they considered how to present such a look.
“Always take a risk,” Kristian noted about the options.
By the way, the mannequins were donated as well.
The intent of the resale, in addition to practical experience for students who are considering retail or fashion careers, is to provide area high schoolers with affordable, special occasion attire.
It’s not just students from Toledo Public Schools who benefit. Over the years, shoppers have come from Whitmer High School in Washington Local School District; St. Ursula Academy and Central Catholic High School in Toledo; and State Line Christian School in Temperance, Mich. Shoppers also come from Defiance, Findlay and even Akron.
Sale date and time
The My Sister’s Closet sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7-8 in the main lobby of Start High School located at 2010 Tremainsville Road in Toledo.
Dresses sell for $25 each, with varying prices on other attire. Cash only.
