Dress for Success Atlanta, formerly Working Wardrobe, was founded in 1997 by Deborah Wolf.  Ms. Wolf created the organization after seeing numerous highly-skilled applicants through her medical staffing agency who could not be placed in professional positions because they did not have appropriate interview attire.  She urged her friends and colleagues to help her with donations of gently-used suits and accessories and to volunteer as Personal Shoppers to assist clients in finding just the right outfit for an interview.  Ms. Wolf secured donated space from the Apparel Mart. Until 1999, Dress for Success Atlanta was an all-volunteer organization.  The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life.

Dress For Success strives to help women achieve financial independence by addressing their social and economic needs in relation to work, home and community. We help disadvantaged women find and maintain employment. We also help them achieve health and wellness, as well as self-defined financial and professional success. Dress for Success Atlanta provides professional clothing and counseling for each of our women. When a client secures a job interview, we provide her with one free business suit, as well as the appropriate accessories, footwear, and cosmetic/toiletry items. When she successfully lands the job, she returns to Dress for Success for up to one week’s worth of business attire. In addition to suiting, Dress for Success offers women a number of programs to help them find and retain employment, including the Virginia Philip Career Center, Going Places Network by Walmart and the Professional Women’s Group. Dress for Success serves job-ready women by referral only and all of our services are free of charge.

The Women Dress For Success Serve

• Are referred to Dress for Success by other non-profit organizations, including domestic violence agencies, homeless shelters and job-training programs
• Lived under the poverty level prior to coming to Dress for Success Atlanta
• Represent all ethnicities and races
• Range in age from 18-60; the majority are ages 18-38
• Are single mothers (70%), raising, on average, 2-3 children

PHAT Girl Fresh made the decision to partner with Dress For Success in an effort to support their need for plus size clothing.  There are more than 100 million plus size women in America alone but many times, these women still find themselves counted out.  With more and more women graduating, making career changes and entering the workforce, Dress For Success is more important than ever.  Especially for women who find themselves unable to make the transition as effortlessly as others.  With plus size women(size 14 and up) accounting for 67% of the population, it is both expected and understandable that some of these women find themselves in need of assistance from Dress For Success.

Although Dress For Success has been triumphant in assisting women in need, it is always a challenge to help plus size women. Many times, administration is forced to spend funds allocated for other support programs to purchase clothing for plus size women.  As an advocate for women and member of the plus size community, I feel compelled to use my resources to be a resource for other women.  I realize that giving to Dress For Success, can enhance the lives of other women and their families.  I know of many women who are blessed to never have to wear the same clothing twice, those clothes could give another woman the look and confidence she needs to change the world.  I am a firm believer that women are all connect in some way and that it is vital that we share what we can with one another to assure that our gender continues to be empowered.

In an effort to aid Dress For Success with support of women in the plus size community, PHAT Girl Fresh will be conducting an ongoing clothes drive.  We are looking to collect new and/or gently used clothing ranging from size 12 and up.  We also welcome shoes, handbags, belts and toiletries as well.

We know that there are those who may not be able to give clothing due to their locations.  However, for those of you who chose to give you can make donations that will go to the PHAT Girl Fresh Georgia Gives site (https://gagivesday.org/c/GGD/a/dressforsuccessatlanta/p/PHATGIRLFRESH) which is transferred directly to Dress For Success Atlanta. All of the fund that is collected will be used to aid plus size women in need of Dress For Success Atlanta’s services.