SPASH seniors Jessica Klemen (L) and Chloe Kindle (R) hold up some of the dresses available, while staff member Brett Lesniak holds up a sports jacket and tie from the boutique's impressive selection. (Metro Wire photo)

SPASH students launch formal wear boutique for area high school students

January 7, 2023

By Brandi Makuski

Area high school students have a chance to pick up some free formal wear thanks to a new boutique launched by three SPASH seniors.

The SPASH Formalwear Free Boutique opened on Friday, Jan. 6. Organizers said about 50 people attended on the first day, taking home about half of the 180 items they’ve collected so far for the boutique.

The boutique is part of a larger project for Chloe Kindle, 17, and 18-year-olds Jessica Klemen and Jack Diekelman. Kindle and Klemen, who both plan to attend a UW college to study nursing, are working on a self-esteem project for the SPASH HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Club, while Diekelman is a member of the school’s FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leadership of America) Club, and is working on a project about reducing textiles in landfills.

For all three, the boutique was a great fit.

High schools traditionally hold three formal dances throughout the school year. Homecoming is in October, followed by the winter formal in February, and prom is held each April.

Senior Jessica Kleman, 18, said three dances a year comes out to a hefty price tag for young ladies and their families.

“Students are often pressured to wear a different outfit for each dance, especially the girls,” Klemen said. “So it can be a lot of money. But now they don’t have to worry about that.”

The boutique is also part of the school’s clothing closet, which houses gently used SPASH Panther gear, casual clothing, and hygiene products. Klemen said the clothing closet and boutique are open to all SPASH students regardless of their socioeconomic background. All one needs to do is ask any staff member for access.

But the boutique is open to all local high schoolers, public and parochial, Kindler said.

“We have a lot of styles and a lot of sizes so we think most kids can find something they like,” she added.

Customers who stop in will find racks of formal dresses—ranging in length from short to cocktail to ballgown, and more—and slacks and sports coats, shoes, and ties. A limited supply of jewelry is also available.

“We’ll be taking donations for this all year but what we’re really like to see more of is jewelry,” said Brett Lesniak of the school’s career/tech ed department. “We’ve had a lot of people come through and it’d be nice to be able to send them home with some new earrings or something to go with their new dress.”

The group needs gently-used dresses, slacks, sports coats, ties, shoes, and jewelry. Donations can be made on Sunday when the boutique is open, or anytime during school hours at the SPASH security desk. The school is located at 1201 North Point Dr. in Stevens Point.