Inside an unassuming portable cabin in York, multicoloured prom dresses adorned with jewels and sparkles line the walls. A price tag hanging from one vibrant red gown reads £595,. students at a school in York will no longer have to pay such an eye-watering price to look their best.
Across the country, the end of exam season marks the start of parties. proms for year 11 and 13 students, all keen to dress to the nines and arrive in style.
However, this typically comes at a great cost, with debt advice charity Money Wellness finding one in four parents spend between £250. £500 on their child's prom.
At Huntington School in York, a group of business students wanted to put an end to prohibitive pricing. make sure looking good for the celebration would not break the bank.
They created the social enterprise Dress 2 Impress, a boutique where pupils can hire a dress for just £45. a suit for £25.
Students from low income families who qualify for free school meals are able to hire an outfit for free.
"It's just crazy that a prom dress can cost so much," 18-year-old Carlota White Gonzalez says.
"I feel like there is a pressure [to get an expensive outfit],. with Dress 2 Impress, it stopped that within the school because it showed people that it doesn't have to be this massive, expensive thing.
"It can be cheap and still look really good."
The suits. dresses have all been donated from prom dress shops that are closing down and businesses, or from people who have worn them once and never again.
"All our dresses vary in size and we've got so many different styles," Esther Edwards, 18, explains.
Thumbing through the gowns, tags show original prices of £200, £300 and £500.
"I think the highest I've seen was probably £650. which is just mind-blowing when you think you could even have that for free," she says.
Esther works in the boutique and helps others find their dream outfit.
"It's absolutely amazing, you get to see people who think that this is a limitation to them enjoying their final celebration of school. they're able to come here and not feel that pressure at all," she says.
Due to the size of the boutique and only having one changing room, shoppers are booked in for private appointments.
They are assisted by student "prom consultants" who are gaining customer service experience for their CVs.
There is also a team of students behind the scenes working on website design and social media.
Rianne Hughes, business. economics teacher at the school, says: "We have had a couple of students who have cried in here.
"We were their last port of call. They'd been to the mainstream prom retailers and cost, of course, was an issue for them.
"For lots of students. particularly those who've got maybe body image worries or they're very anxious, they build it up in their head that it's this big overwhelming thing.
"They come in here, it's a relaxed environment. we see that sometimes it's just an emotional release when they find the perfect dress."
The teacher adds she is "incredibly proud" of the work that has been done by students.
"From what started off as a small classroom discussion back in October 2024 to where we are now is just phenomenal," she says.
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