Dr. Randy Whetstone, Jr. • Photos by Kathryn Harrington • Models (in order of appearance): Sherri Churchill, Alisha Campbell, Kaitlyn Morrison
Life is the only therapist who will not ask the patient if they want to take the treatment or not. That’s the inevitable challenge that every person faces. The lack of control in determining the hand dealt to you coupled with how to play that very hand to overcome life’s challenges and be successful is a daunting task for some, yet the ultimate goal.
There is a non-profit in Louisville, Ky who helps women not only face the tough hand life has dealt them but also offers them the resources needed to fix challenges and live victoriously. It all starts with appearance. Dress for Success helps unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence by providing no-fee programs, development tools and professional attire to thrive in work and in life (per louisville.dressforsuccess.org).
Dress for Success has been around for the last 24 years and was incorporated in 2001. The organization is worldwide and currently holds 120 offices in 30 countries. The mission has remained the same across the globe: help those who identify as a woman regain financial independence by providing clothing for interviews, employment, networking opportunities, and professional development programming. Women gain resources to get employment and progress in their respective fields.
“A lot of women who come to us are really down on themselves,” says Christi Vandersyde, Board Chair for Dress for Success. “I can relate to that. I am a single mom, and I come from a family that is affected by addiction and a divorced family. So, a lot of our women come from recovery and are referred to us after they go through addiction recovery (programs). They don’t have a lot of hope. So, that is what we provide. We are suiting them and it’s the first time they have ever seen themselves in professional clothing. Just to feel comfortable in clothing you have never seen yourself in before just provides so much confidence when you are walking into an interview or a new job.”
Dress for Success offers a transformative experience for many women including personal stylists who work with women “hand and foot”, says BillyJo Avy, Executive Director. Ulta Beauty reps come in to do make up along with a professional photographer to shoot headshots for the Women’s Resource Expo. When clothes are coordinated and women begin a new beginning in the mirror, a change in countenance happens as women grow in their confidence and self-belief.