The American Marketing Association (AMA) hosted their first Dress for Success Fashion Show last night in the Merrick Barn. The event was a fundraiser for Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that supports and empowers low-income women worldwide by providing them with interview suits and career development assistance.
Entry to the event was $5 at the door or free with a donation of business professional clothing. In addition to raising funds for Dress for Success, the event’s purpose was to teach the “do’s” and “don’ts” of interview attire. The timing of the event also appropriately coincided with interview season.
Volunteers at the Baltimore chapter of Dress for Success kicked off the night with comments about their personal experiences with the organization.
Cleona Garfield, who established Dress for Success Baltimore in 2007, opened with a few words about the important work that her organization does. She described the organization’s mission to support and work with women especially for career opportunities.
“We want our ladies to know we are here for them,” Garfield said. “It’s all-around service.”
Dress for Success supports women locally both through its support system as well as by providing women with interview-appropriate attire.
Wendy, now a volunteer at Dress for Success, spoke about her positive experience benefiting from the resources at the organization. When Wendy found herself unemployed and in need of business dress, she was referred to Dress for Success.
“They treated me with respect and professionalism,” she recalled. “I left ready to take on the world because I’d been feeling a little down.”
Two Brooks Brothers representatives also spoke about proper interview attire and showed examples of appropriate outfits.
“The first impression you make on an employer is very important,” one said. “Your appearance has a great effect on that. Choose your attire carefully.”
They discussed classic business attire for both women and men. Women’s business attire should consist of a dark solid blazer paired with a skirt, pants, or sheath dress. For men, a suit in dark blue or gray is best, they advised. They discussed ideal attire choices from head to toe, including hose for women and undershirts for men.
Finally, the event concluded with a fashion show, in which male and female students modeled looks such as the “business casual look” and the “interview look.” Lively music accompanied each pair’s trip down the runway. Grant Lease served as the MC for the evening.
Sophomore Marilyn Corson, who modeled the ‘business casual’ look in the fashion show, was thrilled to have been involved in the event.
“My grandma has been donating to Dress for Success for as long as I can remember, and it’s a great cause,” Corson wrote in an email to The News-Letter. “I was really happy to be a part of it!”
