The Bedford County Board of Education along with Enchanted Bridal Boutique will be hosting a fashion show event on January 12, featuring new prom dresses as well as dresses from their free Promise of Hope Closet. 

The event will take place at Shelbyville Central High School’s auditorium at 7 p.m. and will have a $5 entry fee. 

The Promise of Hope Closet was started by Rebecca Joyce several years ago but wasn’t picked up again by the school system until last year, according to Kim Joyce, Pre-K &CTE/ RTI Data Administrative Assistant. This year, they’re hoping to make the free prom dress closet more known and accessible to students. 

“We have had people from all over town and all over Bedford County donate prom dresses to us,” said Joyce. 

Being aware of this initiative, Ashley House, owner of Enchanted Bridal, approached the school system to put together a prom fashion show. 

“I figured it would be a great idea for us to come in together to promote both Enchanted and their Promise of Hope closet so girls can know there are some really pretty dresses that they have in their closet that are available to them if they can’t afford a prom dress,” said House. 

Aside from helping students, it’s also an initiative to encourage “shopping local.” Local businesses have donated door prizes like tanning and hair sessions as well as corsages and boutonnieres. 

Boys and girls from all three high schools will be modeling dresses and tuxes from Enchanted Bridal, Torso, and Corner Cleaners. 

Shelbyville Central’s CTE cosmetology class will be doing the hair and makeup, while Community High’s fashion design class will be helping dress the models. Cascade High’s Interact Club will be collecting the $5 entry fee which will be distributed to the three clubs among the schools. 

“We’re just trying to get the word out that we do have prom dresses available here in Bedford County and through shopping local,” said Joyce. 

House said they have close to 30 dresses they plan to show from Enchanted, most of which are from the new 2023 prom line. About 30 dresses from the Promise of Hope closet will also be showcased. “We wanted to showcase new styles that are coming out...as well as bring out different styles and beadwork,” said House. 

Promise of Hope has dresses from size zero to 24 in addition to formal shoes. Anyone interested in trying on a dress should contact Kim Joyce at 931-205-7271. Dresses are returned after prom. 

“We don’t want anybody not going to prom because they don’t have the means to go, or they don’t want to spend that much money on a dress they’ll wear one time,” said Joyce. 

“I’m just excited to get a lot of the high school seniors involved and hopefully get freshmen, sophomores, and juniors excited to be a part of the event next year,” said House.