Matric Dresses - How Old Matric Dresses Saved The Year

By Kanina Foss (Story originally from www.iol.co.za)

A simple idea has turned a stressful situation into a fairytale for 18 schoolgirls from Soweto who were facing their matric dances without enough money to buy dresses.

Fairy godmother Michelle Lissoos was approached by a cleaner at her company who told her she couldn't afford to make her daughter's big night as special as she deserved.

Lissoos, who - when she's not making matric girls' dreams come true - is the managing director of Learnthings Africa, knew that many of her friends had old dresses, shoes and jewellery that they never wore.

She put two and two together to come up with a plan that gained a surprising amount of momentum as more women heard about it.

"The women really rose to the occasion. They have things in their cupboards that they don't want to throw out, but they are happy if they know it's going to a good cause," she said.

The dresses started arriving - slinky gold silk, cheeky turquoise frills, full-bodied ball gowns, seductive crushed velvet and floral beaded bodices.

The accessories came too - strappy sandals with sexy high heels, and glittery handbags with delicate clasps.

In Soweto, word spread, and Lissoos started getting calls from other mothers who had daughters in matric.

"One mother started crying when she saw her baby all dressed up," Lissoos said.

On Sunday, 12 of the girls visited Lissoos together to choose their dresses. Lissoos wanted to make the experience like shopping at a boutique.

The dresses were hung on a rail and the shoes and accessories were neatly laid out. "Welcome to your matric dance shop," she said as the girls arrived in their jeans and T-shirts.

Minutes later, they were transformed, each with a radiant smile and a dress perfectly suited to her body type and personality. There was no fighting - each girl seemed to know exactly which dress was meant for her.

They wore their outfits with pride, and seemed to be checking to make sure the fairytale was real as they stroked their jewellery, smoothed their dresses over their hips and held their feet aloft to admire their shoes.

Part of their joy was the relief of knowing their parents wouldn't have to struggle to find the money needed to fulfil this important rite of passage.

"Now we can start our exams stress-free," said 17-year-old Sandra Nyathi from Supreme Education College.

Best of all, the soon-to-be beauties of the ball get to keep their glass slippers and everything else!