Women reinvent themselves at boutique

DURHAM -- The basement of Northgate mall seems like an unlikely place to find designer clothes or a helping hand.

But the new offices of the Triangle chapter of Dress for Success offer both of those.

Officially launching its operations today, Dress for Success provides underprivileged women seeking employment with work-appropriate clothes.

It seems like a small thing, but for women without the means to buy new clothes, the donation can mean the difference between getting a job and not getting one.

"She's got seven seconds, max, to make a first impression," said Pat Nathan, the Chapel Hill woman who founded the Triangle group.

"It's unfortunate, but if you wear a suit to a job interview, you are more likely to have the job."

Nearly all of the women Dress for Success helps are single mothers, Nathan said. Many are living below the poverty line, and some have been victims of domestic violence, rape or other crisis situations.

"They've got so much going against them now," Nathan said. "But just the change in posture and the way she holds herself from the time she comes in to the time she leaves is amazing."

Women must be referred by one of the nonprofit's partner agencies, which include Genesis Home, the Durham Housing Authority and half a dozen others.

Those women are given one outfit for the interview and then, upon landing a job, a week's worth of work clothes.

Nathan has gone to great lengths to make the Dress for Success space feel like a boutique rather than a thrift shop, neatly arranging the clothing by size and color on racks.

Each item is tagged, and rows of clothing racks sit beside other offerings, including necklaces, earrings, scarves, handbags, pantyhose, bras and belts.

"When she comes in here, I want her to feel special, like this is not a hand-me-down place," Nathan said.

Since the group started moving into the mall in April, donations have come from individuals, companies and even large retailers such as Dress Barn.

The entire staff, including Nathan, works on a volunteer basis, and all money comes from donations.

Despite the name, Nathan said, the clothes are just the starting point for the women who are served.

While women are picking out clothes, Dress for Success volunteers coach them on interview preparation, hygiene, workplace rules and any other topic they think may help that woman get and keep a job.

Women are also invited to use the Dress for Success computers to print resumes, search for jobs and check their e-mail. They are invited to join a support group for professional women to network and help keep them motivated.

"It's like a lifetime relationship," Nathan said. "It's kind of like a gym -- you can be a member anywhere."

Northgate is providing Dress for Success with a free storage area and is charging reduced rent for its space, mall spokeswoman Paula Harris said.

"Northgate is that community mall anyway, so this is just a part of being committed to the community," she said.

The mall will celebrate the grand opening of Dress for Success at 9 a.m. today in an event headlined by Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Democratic candidate for governor.

"No matter who you are or where you come from, every citizen that is willing to work hard deserves a shot at self-sufficiency and the American Dream," Perdue said in a statement. "Together with Dress for Success, we can help ensure North Carolina is a state where all women have an equal opportunity to excel."