While school formals are a rite of passage for young adults across the country, they can be seriously stressful for those struggling to afford the finery.

But a group of modern day fairy godmothers has found a way to dress and accessorise graduates from poorer backgrounds in Canberra.

In less than a month the women, working under the name Gowns for Your Princess, have been inundated with donations from the community, arriving home most days to new items on their doorsteps.

Organiser Yvette Rydman's garage is packed with gowns, suits, shoes, jewellery, even a red velvet top hat, that will go to the needy.

Yvette Rydman's garage is packed with dresses and accessories. ( ABC News: Jesse Dorsett )

"It's like Christmas. It's such fun, but my husband will be so happy when we move into another premises because he'll get his garage back," organiser Yvette Rydman said.

As students return to school in the ACT this week, many will not have their minds on the books but on the upcoming formal season.

Some families spend thousands of dollars on the events leaving disadvantaged graduates feeling left out.

Students who have already benefited described being transformed "into a different person".

"I wore a formal dress for the very first time and wore my hair and make up for the first time and yeah just didn't seem like it was a real thing," student Ellie Kennedy said.

"I felt completely different."

When the group finds a new home in Canberra it hopes to also help those in nearby towns.

"Jindabyne, Cooma, Yass and Queanbeyan," Ms Rydman said of the expansion plans.

Any excuse to show the Harleys off

Other organisations have approached the group offering their services such as spray tans and transport to arrive at the formal in style.

"We had a guy from the Harley Club and he said 'we'd love to have five of our Harleys accompany a car to a formal', and I said 'that's so kind', and he said 'oh any excuse to show the bikes off'," Ms Rydman laughed.

Canberra stylist Francesca Droulias ran a similar program for three years before joining Gowns for Your Princess.

"It's been overwhelming. There's been a few tears from me because it's a good help for them," she said.

"It's a good help for their parents. It takes the stress out of getting ready for the formal."

As well as searching for more donations, Gowns for Your Princess is on the hunt for a new name for its next phase, and is accepting entries on the group's Facebook page.