THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502150222
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
In less than two weeks, Kempsville High School's gymnasium will magically turn into a ballroom, and seven of the city's high schools will come together for the fifth annual Formal Fashion Fling.
This year's fling, the citywide consignment sale of gently used formal dresses, tuxedos and accessories, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 25. Admission is $2.
The fling is not only a sale, it's also a benefit for the city's Celebrate Life committee. All proceeds will go to the ``All Night Drug and Alcohol Free Celebrations'' held in Beach high schools.
More than 20 racks, donated by the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, will be packed with formal attire of all colors, shapes and sizes. Dresses, sizes 3 to 16, will be priced from $40 to $150.
Two dressing rooms will be available.
Besides the threads, 20 different vendors, from florists to hairstylists and makeup artists, will be on hand to answer questions and to award door prizes and raffle gifts to shoppers.
For a consignment fee of $5 per dress or tux, and $2 per accessory - which goes to the schools - students, teachers, parents and other members of the community can set the price of their items the day they drop them off at any school. Volunteers will be available to help decide upon a suitable price.
If the item doesn't sell, the owner gets it back. Consignment participants should pick up their money or items by 4 p.m. on the day of the fling.
More than 900 people stopped by last year's sale, but this year's organizers are hoping for a crowd of ``over 1,000 eager, formal wear purchasers,'' Sidner said. ``Ideally, we hope to raise enough money to make the graduation party free for all graduating seniors.''
Sidner's advice is simple. ``Get here early, look at the dresses, enjoy the music, watch the fashion show and browse through the vendors,'' she said. by CNB