Annual Professional Clothing Closet Helps Students Dress for Success

During the two-day Professional Clothing Closet event held on Oct. 13 and 14 in Firstenburg Student Commons, WSUV students had the opportunity to pick out and select free button-up shirts, blazers, suit pants, dresses, skirts, shoes, belts and various accessories that would fit with a professional outfit. Casual clothing was also available, along with a headshot station where students could take professional photos for platforms such as LinkedIn.

The event’s organizer, Gabriel Sharrar, is the Executive Director of Operations and Support for ASWSUV and the Vice President of the Finance Club. Sharrar explained that the event aims to help students access professional clothing without the financial burden of buying it themselves. 

This was the second year Sharrar had planned the event independently. He first attended the clothing closet as a freshman and said the experience showed him how much the event could help students. When he learned the event might not happen two years ago, he decided to organize it himself.

“It had a big impact for me [during] my first year on campus… when I saw that it might not happen, I decided to take it upon myself to try to make sure it did, and last year was a success.”

Last year’s event drew 248 students, Sharrar said. For this year’s event, he estimated that more than 100 students attended on the first day and hoped the two-day event would serve between 200 and 300 students. He said final attendance numbers were expected to be released by the end of the week.

“One of the biggest challenges for college students these days is finding a job, and a big struggle with that is that sometimes people don’t have the professional clothing to go to interviews,” Sharrar said. “The way you show up, does really matter.” 

He said the cost of professional clothing can be a challenge for students who are already paying for tuition and living expenses. Buying individual items can add up, particularly for students who need an entire outfit for an interview.

“With how expensive professional clothing is, especially nowadays, the chance to give students an opportunity to get nice quality, professional clothing for free…it could be the difference between someone getting a job and someone not.” 

Sharrar explained that some students may also feel intimidated by shopping for professional clothing. The clothing closet allows students to browse at their own pace without having to pay for items.

The clothing was collected through donations from the campus and surrounding community. Sharrar said he and other organizers for the event reached out to faculty, students, local businesses, and professional networks to encourage donations. Local dry cleaners also provided some support.

Sharrar said they were “contacting as many people in the community to try to get as much help as possible,” to be able to fill the Firstenburg Student Center with clothes. 

Sharrar said that they worked to arrange the donated clothing by size and type, with the goal of offering many options for students. In addition to professional clothing, the closet included casual items and accessories.

“We are grateful enough to have enough donations to where we really feel like we cover the bases with everybody.” 

Students could attend by signing in on a form or clipboard before browsing the available clothing. Bags were provided, and students could take as much time as they needed to look through the donations.

The event also included a headshot station to help students obtain professional profile photos. Sharrar said he wanted students to have access to resources, such as the photography service that can be expensive to obtain elsewhere. 

Beyond clothing, Sharrar said feeling confident in an outfit can help students manage some of the anxiety associated with job interviews. He said professional clothing is not a requirement for success, but having the option to wear it can help students feel prepared for interviews and other professional settings.

Sharrar credited campus staff, volunteers, and community donors for helping make the event possible.

“It’s just a big thank you to the community,” Sharrar said. “It really does make a difference for students on campus.”