The NC State Styled for Success Clothing Closet hosts all sorts of professional clothing items that come in all shapes and sizes and are free for student use. "It is completely free to use the closet," says program coordinator Michelle Nigro, a senior studying biology, and marketing intern Amanda Smith, a junior studying animal science."Students simply check-in at the front desk, where I then come and escort them to the back and help them pick out clothes. They can take whatever they need for their professional needs." The Career Closet is available on Mondays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tuesdays from noon - 4 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m." />
Kristin Bradford
The NC State Styled for Success Clothing Closet hosts all sorts of professional clothing items that come in all shapes and sizes and are free for student use. "It is completely free to use the closet," says program coordinator Michelle Nigro, a senior studying biology, and marketing intern Amanda Smith, a junior studying animal science."Students simply check-in at the front desk, where I then come and escort them to the back and help them pick out clothes. They can take whatever they need for their professional needs." The Career Closet is available on Mondays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tuesdays from noon - 4 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
It’s sad but it’s true, what you wear can and will affect what people think about you. Therefore it is important to dress well for the right occasion. Showing that you know how to dress professionally for a job interview or a career fair can leave a good impression and make all the difference, but nice clothes can be hard to come by. A new suit or dress can be expensive, and if you do manage to get the job you’re shooting for, you then might find yourself needing nice clothes five days a week. Fortunately, NC State has a resource that can help make the process of looking good a little easier. It’s called the NC State Styled for Success Clothing Closet.
Opened a few years ago, the NC State Styled for Success Clothing Closet is operated by The NC State Career Development Center in partnership with the Pre-Law Students Association. However, due to a lack of awareness from the NC State community, the resource is promoting more advertisement to get the word out, according to Michelle Nigro, the clothing closet coordinator and a senior studying biology.
“It’s been running for awhile but really got kickstarted this semester by putting the clothes together, finding a space and getting the word out,” Nigro said.
The Clothing Closet is a source for all kinds of professional attire students may need including overcoats, blazers, ties, dresses, skirts, slacks and even a nice pair of shoes. The best part is, the clothes are given away at no cost to the student.
Located at the Career Development Center on the second floor of Pullen Hall, the closet aims to provide students with a free source of proper attire that might be all that stands between them and the job they are shooting for.
“[The closet] is for any student that needs professional clothes [because] they’re not cheap,” Nigro said. “Not everyone can afford that, and if you need multiple outfits it can get very expensive very quickly.”
One problem the NC State Styled for Success Clothing Closet has had difficulty with is advertising to the intended users of the service.
“A common misconception about the closet is that you have to have low income to use the closet, and that is not true,” said Amanda Smith, the marketing and communication intern for the Career Development Center and a junior studying animal science. “Any NCSU student can come to the closet regardless of income level and take whatever they need for their interviews, jobs or anything like that.”
A student is not required to return the clothes they take from the closet but can if they wish. Nigro said that the clothing closet encourages people to keep the clothes as needed.
The Career Development Center also provides advice to students on how to dress professionally such as finding the right fit for a piece of clothing and picking out the most appropriate outfit for whatever reason the student needs the clothes.
“It’s extremely important if you are going into a job where you have to wear business-casual or business-professional on a daily basis that you can show in your interview that you know how to dress professionally,” Smith said. “This implies that when you’re on the job site you will know how to as well.”
Only NC State students can get clothes from the Clothing Closet, and they must provide their student ID. The attire is often donated from NC State faculty, staff, alumni and nearby employers, but Smith said that anyone is welcome to donate as long as the clothes are in ready-to-wear condition.
“If any students have clothes that they have outgrown or just don’t use anymore then they can bring them to the closet,” Smith said. “We would be more than happy to accept donations from anyone.”
In fact, donations are essential for the Clothing Closet because if supplies are not continually donated, there won’t be enough available resources for students.
Nigro said that the closet is currently running short on men’s clothes including jackets and blazers, but that the closet will take all sorts of clothes such as shoes, shirts, slacks, dresses, skirts, blouses, belts, handbags and even jewelry.
Smith said that the new website for the Career Development Center has a dressing professionally section where students can find additional resources to help them make sure that they are dressing correctly.
The closet is open on Mondays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., on Tuesdays from noon- 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Appointments can also be made for students who cannot make these times through the Clothing Closet’s Facebook page or through email.
The Facebook page is titled Styled for Success Clothing Closet at NC State Career Development Center, which contains updates and information about the closet. The Clothing Closet can also be contacted via their email ncsuclothingcloset@gmail.com if students would prefer to set up an interview that way.
We ask the professional clothing donations be in ready to wear condition with no stains, odors, tears or missing buttons. Items that may be donated include suits, blazers, sport coats, collared shirts, long sleeve dress shirts, polo shirts, knee-length or longer dresses and skirts. Long or short sleeve blouses, suit jackets and slacks. Dress shoes, ties, belts, jewelry and other accessories such as scarves, belts and purses.
Source: https://careers.ncsu.edu/prelaw/styled-for-success-clothing-closet
located at the NC State Career Development Center in 2100 Pullen Hall.
email: ncsuclothingcloset@gmail.com
facebook page: www.facebook.com/wolfpackstyled
Source: https://careers.ncsu.edu/prelaw/styled-for-success-clothing-closet