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Clothes can dramatically change one's self esteem
By Lynda Appell of Artists for Recovery
Clothing can make a great difference in a person's outlook and their impression on others. One rather dramatic example I recall seeing in a sophisticated magazine that catered to the wealthy. I presumed the publishers, editors did this catering to the well off since there were scores of advertisements for high priced merchandise. Some of these were designer handbags costing easily one thousand dollars, luxory cars , fine real gemstone jewelry and the like. So I figured most of the subscribers, readers would be far removed in social scales from the street people who were now dressed in upscale stylish clothes. I gathered they would look at the photographs and be struck how distinguished the men appeared in their fine attire. How dramatically different they presented themselves to others, in their high quality tailored suits, polished leather shoes and fine accessories. I think if memory serves me the publication was "Vanity Fair." Most of the men were middle aged African American men. Some were somewhat older. Their expressions were ones of seriousness. They seemed to reflect their dismal plot in life. Yet with the new clothing they were they seemed also quite distinguished. There was an aura of maturity, wisdom, sophistication that seemed to emanate from them. I realized the only difference was instead of wearing ragged, filthy garments, they know wore clothes that were clean, high quality. That seemed to make a world of difference in how they presented themselves to others. A few pages on with later photographs of the men in their new clothes, their faces reflected a sense of pride in who they were. It was as if to say they stopped feeling shame in their predictament. Instead the men's attitude here I am. I proudly present myself to the world. I am somebody. Just a change in what they wore it seemed, gave them a sense of pride. They weren't in disheveled shirts and jeans that had seen much better days. They were presentable. The men living on the streets or in shelters could take pride in their appearance. Judging from their expressions, their upright postures, what they were wearing picked up their spirits, mood. There is a store in Philadelphia, PA that caters to homeless and low income women seeking employment. The name of the place is "Dress for Success. It's located on the corner of 11th and Spring Garden. Its location is on the borderline of Center City Philadelphia and North Philadelphia. Its a couple blocks north of Chinatown. The women working there gave me permission to write about their business. They too know how clothes can make a major difference on how people are perceived and how the people wearing the clothes perceive themselves. The owners of the shop, like most others, know how important a good impression is on a job interview. Of course there are other factors such as first being capable of doing the work, being mature, responsible enough to be employed, other important factors. However one's appearance, including how one is dressed is of great importance. Being clean,well groomed and neatly dressed are not a guarantee of being hired. However there is an excellent chance if the women came in dressed in their normal shabby clothes virtually no employer would hire them. Fortunately the dresses, suits consisting of matching jackets, skirts cost only a few dollars. The business is a labor of love from an organization that helps homeless and other poor women get employed. The dresses, suits, and accessories such as scarves, hats, belts are equivalent to the same merchandise found in regular department stores. The articles of clothing are not lke those found in poorer neighborhoods. They are exactly like those sold in department stores and clothing stores catering to middle class and higher women. The only difference is there are slight flaws that are so minor you'd practically need a microscope to find them. There may be a frayed thread at a hem line, a tiny tear in the jacket of a suit or a button toward the bottom of a blouse missing. Overall its a win/win situation. The women operating the store do their good deed helping others. They can write the store off as a tax loss and the women who buy there get to purchase clothes that will help them succeed in their work interviews. There may be businesses like this in other major American cities. I only know of this one. I think its a wonderful idea. Other cities seem to think so too since there are Dress for Success shops in Atlanta GA, Bostom MA, Cleveland, OH, Columbia OH, Chicago IL, Dallas TX, Denver CO, Detroit MI, from ME to CA. There are ninety branches throughout the US, Canada, other countries. DFS is sponsored by a wide variety of corporate sponsors. For a complete list go their web site. Please see below. |
Dress for Success.
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This intel was contributed by mugwort
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May, 2012
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