FORMALS GET ANOTHER TWIRL AT BALL

Closet-hogging formal wear that had not seen the light of day for months or even years was shaken out and put up for sale Friday at Central High School.

More than 100 used formal dresses were available at the event sponsored by the school's Beta Club. The honorary service organization received 10 percent of each sale for use in charitable work.

Organizer Jill Roddy said she didn't need to look far for inspiration for the event. Although many of Roddy's friends also owned dresses worn in weddings or to prom or Farewell Freshmen events, she never expected the response the event received.

"I had a dress I wanted to sell. Everybody has a dress," she said. "We started talking about how they were just clogging up our closets, and with the prom coming up, I was trying to get money back to pay for my prom dress."

Most of the sellers lived locally, but advertisements at area schools brought buyers from as far away as Perryville, Mo., and Dexter, Mo.

"I heard about it on my school announcements," said Megan Nelson, 17, of Kelly School District. "I just want something that'll fit me and that looks nice."

Beta Club member Ilene Davis tried on a black, torso-skimming dress on a whim, but she borrowed a friend's cellular phone soon afterwards to call her mother.

"I just thought it was really cute, but now I know it is, and I want her to buy it," said Davis.

Sellers set their own prices for each outfit. Some deliberated long, using complicated equations that considered the dress' style, original purchase price and number of times worn to decide a price. However, other sellers quickly set rock-bottom prices with the aim of getting old dresses out of their closets.

And each seller was allowed to set a minimum price they would take for dresses that were still available at the end of the day.

Most dresses fell within the $30-to-$60 range, but quite a few were available for about $15. A range of sizes ensured girls petite- to plus-sized could choose from a variety of gowns.

"Some of these dresses still have the tags on them and have never been worn," said club sponsor Karen Atwood. "I'm extremely impressed with the variety of dresses being brought in, and they're in excellent condition."

A two-piece taffeta formal brought in by club member Sarah Muench received plenty of attention, but Muench said she had difficulties parting with the gown. In addition to the sentimental value of dresses worn at prom and other special occasions, Muench said sellers also had to consider whether they would have future need of the gowns.

"You never know. I'm going to college and there are going to be formal dances where I might need a formal," she said. "It's difficult to part with it because it's still new and it's in style.".