As the mother of four boys, Guelph's Natalie Jones knows full well how expensive it can be suiting them up for a formal occasion such a wedding, proms, graduations or even a job interview.
Spending $200 to $300 on a suit, jacket, shirt, tie and shoes that they will probably grow out of before they can wear it again just doesn’t make much sense for many people.
For many others it’s not even a choice: they just can’t afford it.
So Jones has started Suit Up Guelph!, which will collect dresswear for youth and young men 12 and up which will then be sold for a nominal cost at an event in late April or early May. Just in time for prom and graduation season.
“I thought about it for a little while because this is the second time in a year I have to buy my boys suits for a wedding,” said Jones.
“It’s expensive to get shoes and ties and all these general things you have to get.”
Jones sees Suit Up Guelph! is a male version of the Princess Project, an event hosted annually at the Salvation Army that provides formal wear and costume jewellery for a small cost to young women for the same purposes. That event draws hundreds of people every year.
Jones has some friends involved in the Princess Project and when she started looking around, realized there was nothing for young men.
“Initially I was just feeling it out, but it’s like, ‘okay, I guess this is going to happen.’
“I literally posted it on Facebook two days ago and the response has been quite amazing. People think it’s a great idea.”
People have already started dropping things off at her house.
She’s also heard from young women who would prefer to wear a suit to a prom or grad event.
Jones can be reached at [email protected] and Suit Up Guelph! will soon have its own Facebook page.
Right now she is keeping the items in her basement but will likely need somewhere to store them as the collection grows.
Then there will be an event planned at a rented or donated hall for the sale.
“Some kids just can’t do it. So maybe they don’t go or they go but don’t necessarily get to have the outfit that some of the other kids do.
“Ideally it’s just something that will help lots of children or young adults. That’s really all I was thinking.”
She is looking for “anything dressy,” including suits, shirts, ties, dress shoes, dress pants and suspenders.
“Any kind of dresswear for youth boys.”
When the sale happens, the items will be sold for a nominal charge, just to help cover the costs of advertising and hosting the sale.
