Holly Phelps hangs up prom dresses available for high school students.
For the past seven years, Holly Phelps, owner of The Shady Lady in Centralia, has collected donated prom and homecoming dresses to give to high school students in need.
After receiving multiple requests about donated dresses, Phelps partnered with other organizations to start providing free dresses, shoes and clutches that are donated to her store. Since starting the collection of donated dresses, The Shady Lady has given away more than 3,200 dresses.
“It gives the girls an opportunity to come in and have a nice environment,” Phelps said. “We have heard from quite a few girls who love the fact that it just feels like you’re shopping in an environment where you can get a pretty dress, like a normal store.”
Starting out with a single rack of free dresses, the number of donated dresses quickly increased and Phelps’ mother, Shannon McConnell, suggested they have a one-day event for students to choose a dress. When the turnout for the one-day event exceeded their expectations, Phelps decided to extend the event to run throughout the school year, from the first of September to the first of June. This way, all the school dances are covered and students can come to the store to get a dress whenever they need one, Phelps said.
“We are just here to be of help,” Phelps said. “We are looking forward to doing it again next year and we’re very thankful that we get the donations and the support from the community.”
The Shady Lady accepts donated dresses, shoes and clutches that can be used for a school dance, but Phelps asks that the items be clean and in wearable condition. Phelps wants people to donate their best, because that is what they would want if they were in the same situation. She wants students to leave with a dress they love, knowing that someone took the time to clean the dress for them, Phelps said.
“It really is a simple way to give,” Phelps said. “You get to enjoy the joy in the fact that it’s a little girl that gets to go to a dance, or a chance at a mom that’s been working a couple jobs could have a little bit of a break because prom has gotten expensive to do.”
While a struggle might not always look like a struggle, Phelps wants students to know that if they need a dress, they can come get a dress. The store doesn’t screen income or require an application, but they do ask that the student brings a school I.D. or guardian to verify they are in high school. Phelps said the store is also a safe space for the transgender community to feel comfortable shopping for a dress.
Phelps said there are a variety of circumstances in which students come to The Shady Lady. Some of the students are in foster care, some are living in a shelter, but all of the experiences brought to The Shady Lady are something Phelps takes to heart when providing free dresses.
“Because some of the situations are a little tender, and the dresses are donated, we don’t post a lot of pictures,” Phelps said. “We love when we get to see (students) when they show (their dress) online with their date or their friends ... because then the dress has done its job. It’s given them their sense of beauty and self and that’s what why we save that moment for them to share.”
The Shady Lady had been getting low on dresses, but Cinderella’s Closet Network in Lacey recently donated more than 80 dresses. Phelps said they are always in need of sizes 16 through 20 and encourages everyone to donate any dresses they no longer need, because the more she gets, the more she can give.
“Just dig in your closets and bring us some beautiful dresses because there are lots of beautiful young girls out there that could use them,” Phelps said. “Like Marie Kondo, if your dress no longer is bringing you joy, please bring us your dress because it will bring joy to another girl.”
