If you are having trouble finding a dress for Prom or any school dance, check out the Oshkosh North Dress closet! The dress closet offers many dresses in a great variety of different styles and colors – and for free.

The dress closet at Oshkosh North provides dresses for students during Prom season, as well as Homecoming and winter formal. The dress closet is run by Arian Bougie at Oshkosh North and is located in room 119, near Door 7. It is open each day after school by appointment. Anyone from Oshkosh North High School, as well as students from area schools are allowed to go and pick a dress. 

The dress closet was started in 2014 by an Oshkosh North student, Laura Benish. She started this project as a part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project. During this time, she gave out over 150 dresses. After Benish graduated in 2016, another ONHS student took the reins, Sonia Ochowicz and passed the responsibilities onto Arian Bougie. 

Bougie has had lots of help running the dress closet with donations from teachers and student volunteers as well. While community members often donate the dresses, sometimes dress stores will invite Bougie to select dresses for the closet. 

“The amount of students and staff willing to ask how they can lend a hand has been beneficial for the closet and uplifting for my spirit,” says Bougie. “Staff members have also been willing to donate time or materials to help the closet. Mrs. Kim Phillips and her husband,  Ms. Stephany, and Mr. Griffith have loaned us racks to display the dresses for special events, Mrs. Akinleye has helped move the dresses, and Mrs. Brown has helped to carefully organize the dresses in addition to Oshkosh’s Southwest Rotary.”

In 2023 alone, the dress closet has helped over 40 students get a dress and plans to double this number before prom. 

The dress closet is holding an event this Saturday at Oshkosh North from 9-11 AM at Door 7 in room 119. This program is a wonderful way to ensure everyone is able to attend a school dance feeling and looking their best.