Tucked away on Shamrock Lane in Queanbeyan is a new store that gives out formal wear for free.
Lined with racks of silk and sequined dresses, suits, shoes, jewellery and makeup, Formally Formal Wear has all that families need to get students ready for school formals and year 6 graduations, minus the hefty costs.
They even supply adult sizes for the teachers who attend these events.
Initiated by long-time friends and retirees Gillian Southwell and Pauline Leake, who are regular volunteers within the Queanbeyan community, the store belongs to everyone.
"There are no owners here," Ms Southwell says.
Ms Leake remembers her year 10 formal back in 1975. She wore a long green dress and was meant to have a date, but he ended up being a no-show.
"He stood me up, the little bugger. I'm very good friends with him now, and his wife," she says.
Ms Southwell never went to her formal because her family couldn't afford it. If a store like this had been around then, she says, she would have been able to go.
Everything in the store is donated from the clothes to the space they occupy, which has been loaned by the neighbouring Queanbeyan Leagues Club. Local dry cleaners and carpet cleaners have even kindly offered their services.
Once shoppers have chosen their items, they are theirs to keep. But the store also welcomes re-donating, which allows more families to benefit from them.
Ms Southwell says many items are donated brand new with the tags still attached.
"Some of these dresses that went last year we noticed were $600 on the dress. This person hasn't even worn the dress!" she says.
This year they are short on men's shoes and formal wear for year six boys and are still seeking donations.
Both Ms Leake and Ms Southwell have adult children who went to their high school formals, and they had trouble paying for the cost of outfits and tickets, which can sometimes equate to hundreds of dollars.
They say the community is struggling financially but that formal is an important part of growing up. Remembering how it felt to see her own children all dressed up for formal, Ms Southwell understands what it's like for the parents who leave the store with tears in their eyes.
"[You think] just how beautiful they look and just how proud you are of them that they've actually finished school, because it's hard these days for people to finish school. It's a good feeling," she says.
With just over a week before the opening on August 9, the pair and their team of volunteers have been busy ironing and filling hangers to get the store ready. On the entrance table sit two jars of colourful lollies awaiting young visitors.
Formally Formal Wear is open to students from all areas, with many coming last year from Canberra and surrounding suburbs.
Ms Southwell says formal-goers are welcome to choose the outfit of their choice, dress or suit, no matter their gender or identity.
"They can just choose whatever they want," Ms Southwell says.
"Even if it's one piece towards their formal, we're happy," Ms Leake says.
- Formally Formal Wear will be open from August 9, 12pm-5pm Thursdays and Fridays, 10am-4pm Saturdays. Shamrock Lane, opposite Vinnies Queanbeyan.
