Students from St John Paul II College are supporting their fellow Canberra school students by holding a formal wear giveaway at the college this weekend. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Have you missed out on the chance to get a stylish tux or a beautiful dress in time for your formal?
Well, the Lake Tuggeranong Lions Club and St John Paul II College have you covered with their generous re-clothing event, Operation Formal Wear.
The two organisations have partnered to ensure every student can experience school formals in style by accepting clothing donations to hand out to students who need an outfit this weekend.
Operation Formal Wear is now in its fourth year, but has moved from the Lions Club’s Kambah shed to St John Paul II College for the first time because of the number of donations.
Professional stylist and Lions Club affiliate Lauren Bush explained that Operation Formal Wear aims to ensure every student feels confident at their school formal while giving secondhand clothes new life.
“I’ve been a stylist for 20 years, and the importance and psychology of fashion is so underrated,” she said.
“People might think that it’s just clothes, but there have been studies done proving that people who are dressed appropriately perform better and feel more comfortable. That’s no different with students at formals.
“By running this project, we want everyone to be able to feel good, feel comfortable, regardless of their budget, and be able to access these important events.”
The drop off point for donations at the school. Photos: Jarryd Rowley.
Here are just some of the dresses and suits that will be available.
Operation Formal Wear will run over two weekends, when families can come and collect clothing.
The first is this Sunday, 20 September, between 10 am and 3 pm at St John Paul II College.
The school will accept donations all weekend.
The next will be at the Lions Youth Haven in Kambah from 9 to 11 October. On Friday, 9 October, it will only be available to people with accessibility needs, while on 10 and 11 October, the public is welcome.
St John Paul II College Captain Olive Odoemena said she was proud of her school’s efforts in the project, which has seen hundreds of pieces of clothing donated.
“School formals are such special occasions for everyone, whether you’re in Year 10 or Year 12. Operation Formal Wear is just enabling students to be able to go to formal with confidence and dignity,” she said.
“All the attire that’s here is all quality, all beautiful, and I think it’s just amazing that we can contribute to people who may not be able to afford it otherwise.
“We all just want people to feel excited about going to their formals regardless of their situations.”
Ms Bush thanked the college for its contributions and its support in hosting the first of the two giveaway weekends.
“Being able to use their school hall for our pop-up event just means that it is a bigger space. It’s more accessible,” she said.
“It means more students can come and access it, and also we can spread the love on the north side.
“It’s a great venue; there’ll be a coffee van here on the day and the Lions Club is even running a sausage sizzle.”
The first Operation Formal Wear event will be held at St John Paul College on Sunday, 20 September, from 10 am to 3 pm.
