May 22, 2025

Say ‘yes’ to the prom dress

Daughters Boutique displays almost 200 dresses at free giveaway event over the weekend

By Christopher Braunschweig
Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School heard about the free prom dress giveaway event at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton during a 5 o'clock news segment on KCCI. After having some difficulties searching for prom dresses in the past, Thompson was able to find the dress she wanted almost immediately.

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School heard about the free prom dress giveaway event at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton during a 5 o'clock news segment on KCCI. After having some difficulties searching for prom dresses in the past, Thompson was able to find the dress she wanted almost immediately. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School picked out a free prom dress on Saturday, March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon as part of the inaugural Prom Dress Giveaway event. Almost 200 dresses were available at the downtown Newton shop. The event was facilitated by 17-year-old Lydia Schwaller of Grand View Christian School, who has been collecting dresses for years. The collection was on display and up for grabs over the weekend.

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School showcases her new dress she picked out at the free giveaway event March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. Almost 200 dresses were up for grabs at the event this past weekend.

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School showcases her new dress she picked out at the free giveaway event March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. Almost 200 dresses were up for grabs at the event this past weekend. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School poses with a sign that says, "I said yes to my prom dress," during a free prom dress giveaway event on March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton.

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School poses with a sign that says, "I said yes to my prom dress," during a free prom dress giveaway event on March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School poses for pictures after picking out her free prom dress during a giveaway on March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. The event was established by 17-year-old Lydia Schwaller of Grand View Christian School, who has been collecting dresses for years.

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School poses for pictures after picking out her free prom dress during a giveaway on March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. The event was established by 17-year-old Lydia Schwaller of Grand View Christian School, who has been collecting dresses for years. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School poses for pictures after picking out her free prom dress during a giveaway on March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. The event was established by 17-year-old Lydia Schwaller of Grand View Christian School, who has been collecting dresses for years.

Cassidy Thompson, 16, of Albia High School poses for pictures after picking out her free prom dress during a giveaway on March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. The event was established by 17-year-old Lydia Schwaller of Grand View Christian School, who has been collecting dresses for years. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Lydia Schwaller, 17, of Grand View Christian School, showcases some of the nearly 200 dresses she has collected over the years and were up for grabs during a prom dress giveaway event March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton.

Lydia Schwaller, 17, of Grand View Christian School, showcases some of the nearly 200 dresses she has collected over the years and were up for grabs during a prom dress giveaway event March 16 at Daughters Boutique Color Bar & Beauty Salon in Newton. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Newton
Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig has a strong passion for community journalism and covers city council, school board, politics and general news in Newton, Iowa and Jasper County.