When a woman enters one of the finer fashion boutiques in Chattanooga, she’d better have a purse hanging at her hip if she’s looking to make a purchase.
Not so at Dress for Success. In fact, if a woman arrives without a purse, Dress for Success will give her one, along with every other accessory and article of clothing she needs to look like she dropped some decent coin on her ensemble.
But that’s not all. Dress for Success will also style her hair, tweak her walk and coax a smile out of her that outshines her apparel. When she steps into a room, people will notice.
All of this is done for no cost. While that might sound too good to be true, it’s happening now in a small cinder block building on Blackford Street in Chattanooga.
In spite of how nice the ladies look, Dress for Success is not outfitting them for a night on the town or Sunday morning church service. Instead, the nonprofit is preparing its clients for job interviews.
It’s a mission that meets women where they are and aims to elevate their station in life, says Dress for Success Director of Operations Robin Sturnes.
“Some of them had jobs but fell on hard times and are looking for employment. Some of them are in recovery from addiction, mental health issues or domestic abuse. They’re all relying on us to prepare them for the workforce.”
Prep work
When a woman steps into the Dress for Success boutique, she enters a space furnished with retail racks, bins and shelves offering gently used clothing and accessories that the public has donated. Sturnes and her volunteers serve as the client’s personal shopper as they help her select blouses, slacks, shoes and more.
Next, they usher the woman to the fitting area, where she dresses in private and then emerges to view her team’s handiwork in a full-length mirror. Two cushioned chairs placed nearby on a bushy carpet add a touch of faux elegance to the affair, as though Sturnes and her staff are hoping the woman will say yes to the dress.
Sturnes says she’s seen the simple act of putting on nice clothes have a transformative effect on a client.
“Their eyes light up and they stand a bit taller. The right blouse and slacks can change how a woman feels about herself. When you look good, you feel good. There’s a science to that.”
A nice outfit can also improve a person’s performance during a job interview, Sturnes continues. However, a Dress for Success client needs more than great looking clothes when she’s on the hunt; she also needs a resume that will catch an employer’s eye.
Sturnes helps with that, too.
If a client has a resume, Sturnes ensures it’s ready for prime time. When a client lacks a resume, Sturnes helps her build one in Dress for Success’ tech center, which features internet-connected tablets.
Once a client is armed with an outfit and a resume, Dress for Success prepares them for their big moment – the interview. This can take longer than picking out the dress did, Sturnes says.
“We walk them through the answers to several common questions: ‘What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? How do you handle conflict?’ We throw keywords at them so they won’t tell the person who interviews them, ‘I don’t what conflict management is.’”
Interview prep requires meticulous coaching, Sturnes says, because remembering the right thing to say can be difficult and saying the wrong thing can be easy. She uses the classic “What are your weaknesses” question as an example.
“We set them up with something about themselves that they can spin into a positive,” Sturnes explains. “I’ll usually tell them how I tend to take over a project when it’s not moving in the right direction. An employer can accept that as an answer to their question but also see how it can benefit them. I act on my feet.”
Sturnes also ensures her clients are prepared to strike an appropriate balance between personal and professional details. This is where interviews can go off the rails if the client isn’t careful, she says.
“We give them an answer that’s tailored to who they are. For example, if an employer asked me, ‘Tell us something about you,’ I’d say I’m a breast cancer advocate because my mom died of breast cancer. I stress to not get too personal, though. Don’t blurt out, ‘My granddaddy was an alcoholic.’”
Starnes even coaches clients on body language and how to channel their anxiety into a socially acceptable outlet, such as folding and refolding their hands.
“Then their confidence comes out in their voice and expression.”
Backstory
Dress for Success Chattanooga is part of the Dress for Success global network of 160 affiliates. Current board president Juanita Ingram founded the local branch in 2019 and then hired Sturnes in July.
In an example of the mutual effort that allows local nonprofits to benefit a broader client base, Dress for Success receives clients through referrals from other nonprofits that encounter the women first, including First Things First, AIM Center, The Launch Pad and others. This gives the nonprofit a role to serve among the myriad Chattanooga-based organizations that fulfill other purposes.
True to its nature as a nonprofit, Dress for Success relies on the generosity of others to fund its operations. To facilitate this, the organization applies for grants, accepts private donations and hosts a yearly fundraiser, the Celebrate Her Fashion Show.
Long-term relationship
All of this keeps Sturnes – who has only one part-time staff member at her disposal – busy. But she refuses to cut corners, she says.
For example, after a client has been dressed and prepped, Sturnes maintains contact with the individual for 15 months. Sometimes, the news is good and the woman secures a job; other times, “people disappear,” Sturnes says. Either way, she continues to reach out to ensure the client receives every opportunity Dress for Success can provide.
“We’re very optimistic about our ladies finding not just a job but a career that can sustain their life. So, if they need a job right away, we’ll work on that first and then help them look for a career.”
Beyond the core services, Dress for Success offers several additional services. Sturnes says her favorite add-ons are the Professional Women’s Groups (PWG), which meet monthly and give clients an opportunity to network and learn new information and skills. Past topics have included finding a dream job, the importance of physical fitness and being mindful.
The next PWG meets Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the Edney Innovation Center.
Although Dress for Success is a private organization that does not discuss its clients or arrange meetings with them, Sturnes can mention one success story: Jenny Funk, who transformed her firefighting career with Chattanooga Fire Department with the help of Dress for Success Chattanooga. Funk is now an international ambassador for the organization, Sturnes says.
With a local triumph spreading the word about Dress for Success far and wide, Sturnes expects to be busier than ever in 2025, she says. So, she has one word for Chattanooga, repeated twice: “Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer.”
To offer to help with everything from sorting clothes to styling hair and beyond, email Sturnes at info@dfschattanooga.org.
“We’re able to be generous not because we have a lot to give but because the Chattanooga community has a lot to give.”