NORTH POWDER — Nova Shoemaker wanted to make sure every girl had a fancy dress for Homecoming or prom, and her dream turned into vibrant racks of satin and sequins that fill a room at North Powder School.

In 2020, Nova was a sophomore at North Powder, where her mom, Minnie, is head cook. She was bothered, Minnie said, that buying a dress wasn’t easy for everyone and wished she could help.

That year, they took a trip to Boise and discovered dresses priced less than $20 at Macy’s.

“We probably walked out with 30 dresses,” Minnie said.

Then they stopped at Ross Dress for Less, where gowns were discounted to $10 or less.

“We bought all of them,” Minnie said.

Next they put a call out for donations, and dresses arrived from as far away as Hermiston.

“Our living room was full,” Minnie said.

She and Nova asked North Powder Superintendent Lance Dixon and Principal Molly Smith if the dresses could be stored at the school. A space was established in the old school, which is no longer used for classes after a bond funded a new building several years ago.

Clothing racks and mirrors were donated, and the room is now full of dresses organized by size and color.

Nova graduated in 2022, and is attending Blue Mountain Community College. Minnie and sophomore Kellee Dixon now handle the dress shop, with Nova helping when she’s in town.

“I was thinking it’d be cool to be part of something like this,” Dixon said.

Minnie said that Nova plans to transfer to Eastern Oregon University to major in elementary education, and then she’ll be closer to help with the dress project.

Minnie said it’s nice to have Dixon’s help to make appointments for girls who need a dress.

Inventory

Minnie estimates the dress count is between 300 and 400, and said her next project is to photograph each gown and create a folder of the inventory to document who rents a dress.

Rent is free, and borrowers are simply asked to return the dress. Minnie said the shop has been a resource for more than just school dances — one gown was used for a party to celebrate beating cancer, and others are perfect for themed events.

Minnie even borrowed a dress for a school cook convention where she and a few friends dressed like Cinderella and the stepsisters.

“We won the costume contest,” she said with a grin. “We walked in the room and heard ‘They’re wearing ball gowns!’ ”

The dresses are also a resource for the school drama department.

Although locals visit Nova’s Fashion Extra on a regular basis, Minnie said customers have come from as far away as Huntington and Weston.

One year, she said a teenager in Weston made Homecoming court, but was ready to decline the honor because she couldn’t find a gown. Then she visited Nova’s Fashion Extra and found the perfect dress.

“That’s my favorite story,” Minnie said.

This month, a friend posted a story about Nova’s Fashion Extra and encouraged donations to the shop in honor of Minnie’s birthday, which is in October. As happens with social media, the post has been shared multiple times to spread the word.

“I have people contacting me from Utah and Washington,” Minnie said.

Some donate money instead of dresses, and Minnie said she uses those funds to purchase new dresses every year. Also, she receives donations from Abby’s Closet, a nonprofit in Portland that gives away prom dresses.

Minnie also accepts donations of shoes and jewelry. One corner of the shop features formal menswear, and she hopes to expand that section.

In addition to Dixon, she has help from Wendi Pierce, a former coworker who volunteers to clean and mend the dresses.

Future

Minnie would like Nova’s Fashion Extra to have its own separate space. She plans to pursue a grant for a building, which could potentially be built by the school’s Geometry in Construction class.

She’d also love to have dressing rooms where girls can try on the different styles.

Minnie has a background in fashion design, and she enjoys suggesting dresses that a girl might not otherwise consider.

“My favorite part is when a girl is looking and I say ‘try this one,’ ” she said.

And sometimes, she receives photos of the borrower posing in a fancy dress and headed to a dance.

Those always make her smile, and show the importance of Nova’s Fashion Extra.

“It’s a labor of love,” she said.

To schedule an appointment to look at the dresses, call or text Minnie at 541-519-4593.

“It’s a labor of love.”

— Minnie Shoemaker