When is an outfit not just an outfit? When it’s from Dress for Success which helps women change their lives.
They say you should dress for the job you want, so when Natalie Sangalli became CEO of Dress for Success Western Australia and the interview panel commented on the fabulousness of her suit, she was extra pleased.
After all, how was she going to help other women dress, if she wasn’t choosing appropriately for herself?
Dress for Success WA is a local affiliate of a global charity providing free work-appropriate attire, mentoring support and career development tools to empower local women to move forward and achieve self-sufficiency mainly through gaining employment; hopefully preventing or breaking the poverty cycle.
One of their highly valuable services is called Styling and Selfcare. Clients are helped to choose a personalised outfit and accessories with styling and presentation advice for an important upcoming event. These events include job interviews, starting work, university or TAFE, a court appearance, prison release or affirming their gender as a woman.
The gently used clothes come from donations via the Dress for Success store in West Leederville and clients are also gifted with items such as make-up and toiletries. Dress for Success staff in the Hay Street office work with women from all backgrounds in person and online, including cis and trans women and non-binary people comfortable in women’s spaces.
Natalie has previously spent more than two decades in human services, the justice and corrections sectors and community housing, giving her a strong understanding of the clients she’d be working with when she started with Dress for Success earlier this year.
After working in government and the multinational sector, she was keen to work for a smaller group with a view to being able to make a greater and more grassroots difference.
“A lot of the women who come to us are in crisis,” explains Natalie, who describes herself as very purpose driven. “For many, the confidence and capability to step back into the workforce is a big part of the solution. Having an income of your own is a massive protective factor in domestic violence situations and helps break the poverty cycle. When kids can see their mum is confident and going to work, it makes so much difference.”
Women find their way to the service through referrals from agencies such as those affiliated with Workforce Australia, women’s legal services and various not-for-profits.
“Ultimately, the real outcome is confidence and all the things which come around that. Whether it’s for court or a special event, we can style them to help them feel like they belong. There are multiple barriers for a lot of women before they even get up the confidence to come into our service, let alone turn up for an interview. We are really striving to build that confidence and build the capability that goes along with it to mean taking bigger steps into employment as a future they can see for themselves.”
Natalie uses the example of a woman who was going to a graduation event and felt like she would feel totally out of place in the clothes she had. With some styling and a colourful dress she loved (though one she never would have picked for herself because she would have opted for black), the woman felt exactly like she was meant to be there – and had an enjoyable time.
The CEO says it’s priceless to be able to spend 90 minutes with someone and help them find confidence in a new outfit and feel more comfortable in their own skin.
“There are a lot of good cries happening in my workplace,” says Natalie. “I’ve also learnt so much, such as how to approach a woman to help put a scarf on. There’s so much care to be taken in helping them feel safe while you are asking them to try on unfamiliar clothes. It’s one of those things which might feel small but really is big.”
There’s an added bonus too. By giving these clothes a second life with new owners, the group also helps divert clothes from landfill. To date, Natalie says they have diverted 16,000 items back into the circular clothing economy. Dress for Success keeps the high-end clothes they receive via donations and they either sell the rest in the store or donate them to Good Sammys. Dress for Success relies entirely on more than 100 volunteers who help sort those clothes.
As a personal challenge, since June 1 Natalie has pledged to buy no new clothes for a year. It’s a good opportunity to walk the walk. While she’s done it once before, she’s taking the opportunity to work with what she has – along with the odd second-hand or pre-loved find – and put pieces in her wardrobe together differently. It’s also good practice for helping style the women she’s working with.
“This is a movement I want to support. A group of my friends, we have had a clothes swap for a couple of years. We bring everything we haven’t worn, there’s clothes everywhere and always opportunities to take something new-to-you home.”
For more information, to donate or get involved, visit westernaustralia.dressforsuccess.org
Help send fewer clothes to landfill by checking out these vintage, consignment, pre-loved and second-hand stores in Subiaco:
The Green Pear Consignment Boutique
10 Hood Street
The Secret Closet
152 Rokeby Road
Hush Hire Boutique
193 Railway Road
Good Sammy
28 Rokeby Road
Lucy in Disguise
144 Rokeby Road
