Dancing into prom season

Dallas nonprofit hosts prom dress & suit giveaway with 4 ways to help

Both girls and guys need the perfect prom attire.

A Dallas group is ensuring that every local high schooler's prom dream comes true this year. An organization called Ultimate Debutante Experience will host its 2023 Prom Dress and Suit Giveaway on April 1 at Compassionate Community Church in southeast Dallas.

But first they need some help - and some things to give away.

"The Ultimate Experience & Exposure Organization would like to bless 300 students this 2023 prom season," the organizers say. "We are asking for your help on this service project."

They offer four ways the public can be of assistance:

1. Donate dresses, suits, accessories, and shoes. "Give away all of your old dresses, shoes, purses and jewelry, suits, ties, dress shoes, dress shirts, slacks, cuff links, and any other formal wear you believe a young man or woman should have for his or her prom night/life after high school," they say. (Note: Please make sure it's clean.)

Drop-offs are being scheduled on Saturdays at the church. To schedule a drop-off, email theultimatedebutante@gmail.com; donation deadline is March 25.

2. Donate your talent. "We need hair stylists/barbers, make-up artists, and nail technicians to sponsor a service for our youth for their special day," they say.

3. Donate your time. "On April 1, 2023 from 9 am-3 pm, we will need volunteers to help us make sure every student finds the perfect attire," they say.

4. Donate resources. "Help us fund one of our participants on their journey to pursue higher education by donating to our scholarship fund," they say.

Those interested in volunteering or donating their services or money can reach out to directors Dalton and Lyric Sherman at theultimatedebutante@gmail.com.

Once all the attire is compiled and organized, the big event - the Prom Dress & Suit Giveaway - will take place from 9 am-3 pm Saturday, April 1 at Compassionate Community Church, 7103 Rosemont Rd., Dallas, 75217.

The event is free and open to high school junior and seniors, who will will be able to select any attire without any stipulations attached. However, registration is required at this link. Student ID will be required at the door.

The event will include raffles, giveaways, vendors, music, and more.

This is the third big prom dress drive taking place in the Dallas area in 2023, but the first one to specifically include suits for the gentlemen.

St. Andrew United Methodist Church's Prom Closet is also currently accepting donations in Plano; more information is here. And the Comerica Bank Prom Dress Drive will take place throughout the month of February to benefit Dallas CASA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas; more information is here.

Prom Dress and Suit Giveaway Ultimate Debutante Experience charity families

RETAIL APOCALYPSE

Mall favorite Francesca's to close all stores in Dallas and nationwide

Francesca's/ Facebook

Francesca's is known for its boho-chic dresses and tops.

After a decade of falling fortunes, Texas-based women’s clothing chain Francesca’s is clearing out all its racks. The once-mighty retailer is closing all of its stores nationwide, including several locations in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Although the company has not made any official pronouncement, Women’s Wear Daily reports that the brand is currently in the process of liquidating all of its inventory. According to the fashion industry trade journal, some employees are reporting that they were let go without warning, while vendors are allegedly seeking payment on hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices.

Francesca’s was founded in Houston in 1999, becoming sought out for its boho-chic offerings that occupied a similar lane to Anthropologie. Over roughly 15 years, it quickly ramped up its footprint, peaking at over 600 locations by 2016.

That explosive growth did not prove to be popular with shareholders. That same year, the Wall Street Journal reported that its stock prices had plunged to their lowest price since Francesca’s went public in 2011. Despite leadership changes, the chain has been on a downward slope since.

In 2020, Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it sought a buyer for its online operation and brick-and-mortar stores. The chain closed almost 250 of its storefronts by early 2021.

After completing reorganization and being bought out of bankruptcy by an affiliate of TerraMar Capital and Tiger Capital Group, Francesca’s attempted a revival by launching a tween line, Franki by Francesca’s, and gobbling up celebrity-endorsed lifestyle brand Richer Poorer.

Francesca's still had Dallas-Fort Worth stores in West Village, Galleria Dallas, Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, Firewheel Town Center in Garland, The Shops at Legacy in Plano, The Shops at Highland Village, Southlake Town Square, NorthEast Mall, Arlington Highlands, Glade Park in Euless, and Sundance Square and The Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth.

It’s unclear exactly when the local stores will shutter, but the company recently changed its return policy to state all sales are final after January 14. A request to Francesca’s corporate headquarters for comment was not immediately returned.

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