Ottawa high school's 'pop-up' prom shop plays fairy godmother to grads

In a portable outside Bell High School in Nepean, silky ballgowns and sequinedmini-dresses fill the racks, whileenough dance slippers to fit dozens of Cinderellas line the walls.

The crampedspace has been transformed into a "pop-up" promshop where students can pick out the perfect dress for the big night at a deep discount.

Teacher and organizer Karen Kurlicki saidshe came up with idea two years ago,when she heard that some grads didn't attend theirprom because it cost too much.

"Prom is so expensive, and not every family can afford to have their kid attend prom, especially in the kind of dresses that are available these days." said Kurlicki.

"Some are $600. Orthey're on sale for $300. But that's not accessible."

The prices for these slightly used party dresses, meanwhile,begin at a mere $10, and top out at $40.

Cries of delight can be heard in the shop as girls change out of their jeans and sneakers and into glamorous gowns and shoes, thenemerge from the makeshift dressing rooms.

"It's really special to find these beautiful dresses for not much money," said student Myriam Pignat, as she modeled a floor-length gown in front of the mirror.

"I'm going to prom and I really wanted something special. And that's what we found here."

Kurlicki and her student volunteers have been working since last August on the pop up prom project,collecting dresses, sorting through donations and assembling the shop in the school portable.

They also collected used tuxedos for the male students.

"Every lunch hour, for weeks and weeks and weeks, these kids and staff have been building and preparing this room," said Kurlicki. "From making tissue balls to spraying down mirrors with Windex."

"Shouldn't every kid be allowed to have that moment, when they're the most important person in the world, for just that day?"