Dress for Success with Sweaters

Wednesday 25th of February 2009 10:00:22 PM

Dress for Success with Sweaters

Dress for Success is a nonprofit organisation that began in 1996 in the United States and has not stopped growing ever since. This is an unusual charity that focuses on teaching women how to become self-sufficient by developing the behaviours and skills which lead to success. The reason it is called Dress for Success is that the charity accepts donations of clothing which women can wear to a variety of jobs including suits to wear to boardroom meetings to sweaters for office positions. The goal is to provide the tools needed to integrate into the job place. Dressing for success opens up new opportunities for women who would not have them otherwise.

The Dress for Success organisation may have begun small but it is now in nine countries. These countries include the United States, as mentioned, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada. The organisation has assisted more than 450,000 women become self-sufficient.

Dress for Success relies on contributions and fund raisers held regularly for its operating capital. For example, fashion shows are held in cities and towns where Dress for Success operates. Events include silent auctions, raffles, makeup shows, speaker presentations and so on. Many famous women have donated their wardrobes to Dress for Success in order to help the charity raise money and to set an example for others.

Dress for Success relies on promotions and donations for its success. The charity accepts all kinds of clothing from polo shirts to dresses but high quality clothing in excellent condition and suitable to wear to job interviews and at a job is preferred of course. The success of the program is largely due to the fact clients of the charity are taught self-sufficiency and not just given a handout. Sometimes the barrier to employment lies in simple problems such as lack of appropriate dress attire. Dress for Success addresses this problem with fashion style and practical advice.