Gorgeous Gowns Offers Formal Dresses at an Economical Price

High school girls can dress to impress at a more economical price and knowing their cash is going towards a good cause for this year’s prom as Gorgeous Gowns remains open for the next month.

“It will benefit many causes,” Lori Aceto of the Forked River Rotary Club said.

The Rotary and Interact Club are running the boutique, formerly known as One-hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit local as well as international non-profit organizations.

The dresses were primarily donated by Robin Bahr and her daughter Elizabeth, founders of The seasonal boutique was opened for three years before the Bahr’s decided to pass it on to the local service organizations.

“[Bahr] called us,” Aceto said. Bahr could no longer run the Project and asked the Rotary to take it on.

“We saw a need,” Aceto said. “Once we saw the inventory, we saw a fantastic opportunity to primarily provide economical gowns for any family, knowing the money will go towards a good cause.”

There are more than 1,000 formal gowns and all are priced at $20. “These are originally $400, $500 dresses,” she said. “They’re for the prom, weddings, the junior cruise, sweet 16. Some are new, some are gently worn.”

Bahr, bridal shops and other places throughout the country have donated the dresses, she said. Rotarians helped move the inventory into the space in February.

While Patti’s Prom Project focused on low-income customers, Aceto said the demographics have opened up.

The Rotary and Interact are considering donating to the American Cancer Society, the Clean Water Project in Peru, local families in need, scholarship funds and Polio Plus, Aceto said.

“It will be spread out,” she said.

Interact will decide how to distribute the proceeds by the end of the school year, she said.

“The girls are so excited about it,” Aceto said. “They’re dying to get in.”

Gorgeous Gowns, which is located at 335 North Main St. across from the ShopRite, is open on Saturday's and Sunday's from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.