Dress For Success

Even though less people are filing for jobless benefits, the harsh reality remains that one in 12 American workers are unemployed. People who usually land the jobs are the ones who look the part, but what if you don't have the money to buy a nice suit? Iliana Ordonez, a Lia Sophia fashion stylist tell us about an organization called dress for success which provides FREE clothing and training for job interviews. Here are some clothing tips when dressing for an interview.

Tips:

Fashion industry style to still look polished and professional, pair one business like piece a pencil skirt, a smart blazer, or sleek trouser pants with something more fun, a chic blouse and a great belt, for example. You can also wear one (but only one) fabulous statement piece, like patent pumps, a collar necklace, or a bold watch. Corporate classics - for companies that have a business or business casual dress code, keep your look basic and conservative for the interview. We recommend wearing a conservative suit-a jacket with pants or a skirt in dark grey or navy, and carrying a briefcase or purse. Finish the look off with basic black pumps and simple, elegant jewelry. Depending on where you're interviewing, on you may have an opportunity to dress down to some degree. Unless the company's employees wear suits every day, you can skip the jacket (or wear a more casual one), just make sure you're still dressed a couple of notches above everyone else. We recommend a "dark skirt, crisp white blouse, statement necklace, good bag, and polished boots or pumps as weather appropriate. A shift dress with a cardigan or blazer would also work well. Start up style - if you're interviewing at a place where everyone comes to work in jeans and flannels, you don't want to show up in a black suit it will signal that you won't fit in or don't understand the company culture. You should wear a nice pair of dark jeans, a simple shirt or sweater, ballet flats, and a small bag with enough room for a note pad, pen, and extra resumes. A casual dress would be appropriate as well.

About dress for success & Lia Sophia:

Lia Sophia is proud and honored to be associated with this fine organization, which Lia Sophia help support through generous contributions of jewelry - $3 million worth in 2010, enough for every dress for success graduate to receive something beautiful as a complement to her outfit, and her confidence.The mission of dress for success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. It was founded in New York City in 1997. Dress for success is an international not for profit organization offering services designed to help women find jobs and remain employed. Clothing donations and financial contributions made to dress for success affiliates within the U.S. are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Each dress for success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and can return for a second suit or separates when she finds work. Since 1997, dress for success has served more than 650,000 women around the world. The support of donors enables dress for success to provide employment retention services to thousands of women and their mail address for donations is dress for success. More information, log onto DRESSFORSUCCESS.ORG, LIASOPHIA.COM, or www.dressforsuccess.org