Mark Twain once said, “Clothing makes the man.” It is unclear exactly what he was referring to, but there is often a direct correlation between clothing and confidence. How many of you have walked into a job interview with confidence and grace because you feel as good as you look? Everyone from Shakespeare to ZZ Top have espoused the importance of looking sharp. It is an expectation that has become engrained in our society, especially during an interview.
Imagine now that you don’t have the type of clothing commonly expected at an interview. How then do you walk through the door with confidence? It is a dilemma that affects a large number of people, and it is cyclical in nature. A person without the finances needed to purchase the proper clothing has a harder time landing the big job they are after. Without a good job, money is forever tight and clothing moves down the priority list. No money equals no job, which equals no money. How does one ever get ahead?
Fortunately, there are programs like Dress for Success that help stop that cycle and give qualified applicants an equal chance at the job they desire. The program provides interview appropriate clothing to women so that they are able to make the solid first impression that is so important in an interview setting. The playing field is finally leveled.
Kristin Krile has been working in the nonprofit sector since 2006, serving as the executive director of the Rural Enrichment and Counseling Headquarters (REACH) since 2012. Dress for Success Red River Valley has been a part of REACH since 1998. “I love working directly with the women and getting to see their confidence grow during their time with us,” Krile said. “They stand up taller, their handshake is firm, and they have a smile on their face.”
Dress for Success connects qualified women with a personal shopper who helps them find professional clothing that fits them well and they feel great wearing. “A lot of women have never owned a suit before, and when they leave their appointments, you can see how confident they feel,” Krile explained.
The program works with 41 organizations throughout the greater Fargo-Moorhead and Detroit Lakes areas that refer women to use the Dress for Success services. Women are referred when they are actively seeking employment or have a job interview set. When a woman successfully obtains employment, she can return to the program and obtain a week’s worth of clothing for the new job. “Most women we work with are single mothers and they can spend their first few paychecks on necessities instead of having to worry about purchasing professional clothing, which can be expensive,” Krile said.
Dress for Success works out of two “boutiques,” one located in downtown Fargo and one in Hawley, Minnesota at the REACH office. “Both boutiques are stocked with donated items and we accept anything that a woman can wear to a job interview or new job – suits, separates, new makeup & undergarments, handbags, shoes, jewelry, etc.” Krile explained. “We ask that clothing donations be currently in style and clean, as some women go directly to their job interview after a suiting.”
In addition to the interview materials, both boutiques also have career centers complete with computers and resources that can help women with everything from polishing their resumes to participating in mock interviews. The program also sponsors workshops which are held quarterly and are free and open to all women. According to Krile, the next workshop will be held on August 27th 11:30am-1pm at the YWCA and will focus on Networking & Net Worth.
The boutiques are only open to referred clients by appointment, but the program does hold semi-annual sales in the spring and fall which are open to all. The next sale is set for October 16th from noon-6pm and October 17th from 10am-2pm at the Fargo Boutique. “Women’s clothing and accessories are available for sale at incredibly affordable prices, and all proceeds support Dress for Success Red River Valley programs,” explained Krile.
In 2014, Dress for Success Red River Valley provided clothing to 92 women and helped 127 women through all of their services. So far in 2015, they have helped over 100 women. “Thanks to the support of volunteers andclothing or financial donors, we are on track this year to double the number of women we helped in 2014,” said Krile.
One of the women the program has helped is Melanie, a woman who told her story at the program’s Attire to Inspire event in 2013. Portions of her speech are below.
At age 37 I learned I was pregnant with twins, and I feel very richly blessed to have been a fulltime mother for almost two years to Everett and Dorothy.
My husband lost his job in January. After selling most of our electronics and furniture on Craigslist, our house went into foreclosure. I had to give up our two dogs when it was too much to take care of their medical needs.
About this time, I had a breakdown and the doctors checked me into the psych ward for six days! I was diagnosed with PTSD which had been so aggravated it had led to a psychosis. The PTSD was a result of how my husband had treated me in the five years of our marriage.
I had to make a decision. I chose to be the best mom I can be, and that means taking care of myself first. I was terrified of going back to work. I felt ugly, worthless and invisible. But I needed to get my kids and me to a good, safe place. I started to pray for healing.
I was unsure of what to expect when my counselor referred me to Dress for Success. I walked in feeling shy and unworthy. My personal shopper was so warm and welcoming, that it felt like a swank shopping experience at an upscale store. My spirit and self-compassion had been so depleted that having Liz help me for two hours was an extraordinary experience. I gained something more important than getting clothes: the feeling of having someone really believe in me and find me worthy without reservation or judgment. When I left, I did not just have clothes to put on my back. I had hope and dignity in my heart.
In the following three weeks, I went on 3 to 4 interviews a week! My personal shopper was so smart about putting outfits together that by mixing and matching, I only wore one outfit more than once! I even had nice shoes to wear. At interviews, I felt relaxed and confident because I wasn’t worried about looking appropriate.
In the last four months I have lost my house and most of my belongings, been psychotic and hospitalized, and then declared bankruptcy because of medical bills. I live with a man who has hurt me terribly, in a small noisy two-bedroom apartment with three children. Yet I can’t remember a time when I felt so grateful and spiritually energized! I just accepted a job offer (I had three!) and start full-time next week. The salary exceeds what I hoped for and will enable me to move away from my husband and continue my journey to freedom and healing.
The source of this hope and confidence in a bright future is my job, and Dress for Success® directly and tangibly contributed to my gaining that job.
Reusing gently worn clothing and helping to economically empower women is an excellent balance of practicality and emotion. It is an act of kindness that brings real solutions to our communities. I am forever grateful to this organization and look forward to when I can give back in some way. For now, all I can do is say, THANK YOU!
Melanie’s story is not an anomaly. Hundreds of women all over the greater Red River Valley have similar testimonies. The power of feeling and looking good cannot be overstated, especially in an interview setting. Many of us have professional clothing hanging in our closets and don’t give a second thought to pulling them out for an interview or other business-related meeting. Those without such clothes, however, are acutely aware of its absence. Fortunately, programs like Dress for Success are working hard to change that.
The third annual Attire to Inspire fashion show fundraiser will be held on Thursday, September 17th from 6-9pm at the Courtyard by Marriott in Moorhead. The event will feature a red carpet experience for attendees, fashion show with looks from local boutiques, a special client story, and a silent auction and raffle. General admission tickets are $30. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $60 and include front row seating in the fashion show, champagne during the show, and a swag bag with items from sponsors and supporters. All proceeds from Attire to Inspire benefit Dress for Success Red River Valley.
Dress for Success Red River Valley needs the community’s help to continue to do their powerfully important work. “Volunteers are needed to assist women with personal shopping, boutiqueorganization, career center operation, outreach and fundraising,” Krile explained.
“Clothing and financial donations are also very important. Financial donations help us operate our programs at no cost to the women.”
More information on REACH can be found at www.ruralenrichment.org. The Dress for Success RedRiver Valley program is at www.redrivervalley.dressforsuccess.org.
