Dress for Success organization gets a new outfit

Colette Winn received more than a nice outfit from Dress for Success Southern Nevada, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic independence for disadvantaged women.

She got a new lease on life.

"The best thing they did for me is help me get my self-worth," Winn said Thursday at the official opening of Dress for Success's boutique and office at 3400 W. Desert Inn Road. "Where I came from - my family - was great. Where I went to was a dark hole that I put myself into."

She looked like everybody else at the opening event, dressed in casual business attire and carrying herself with dignity.

"You can't tell I went through the program," said Winn, who works in the retail industry and takes business classes at the College of Southern Nevada.

More than 100 women have completed the 12-week program, learning how to put together a résumé and cover letter; how to answer questions during a job interview; and most importantly, how to manage their lives.

Dress for Success Southern Nevada was founded in 2009 by Paige Candee, a marketing executive who recognized the need for a support network to help women get back on their feet.

Clients are referred to the program by other nonprofit and government agencies. The majority are living below the poverty line and they need help, she said. Seventy percent are single mothers with two or three children.

"They come in and get an outfit, go out and get a job, then they come back for a week's worth of suits," Candee said at the 2,200-square-foot office that includes rooms filled with dresses, shoes and accessories. "If you can't afford one suit, how are you going to afford one week of suits?"

Candee thanked corporate sponsors such as Caesars Entertainment and Wells Fargo, as well as private donors such as the Nagasaki family, which provides office space. I.D. Interior Design and California Closets set up the office. Ellie and Farhan Naqvi became the first annual sponsor by purchasing Professional Place on the Dress for Success Monopoly game board for $5,000.

"We're all volunteers, so you can imagine how long it took to get this place up and running," she said. "You have to have clothes, a place to suit them, the dressing rooms, you need funding to keep the lights on."

Jet Yeung hasn't worked in 30 years, having spent most of that time in Saudi Arabia and Moscow, where her husband's career took them. She's about to finish the Dress for Success program in June.

"They dress you like a million dollars and they coach you one-on-one how to speak and act in an interview," Yeung said. "You know, their job is worthwhile and I hope they can help other ladies in need."

Winn said the support she got from Dress for Success goes beyond the clothes.

"It's not only about dressing me up, but a sense of unity and confidence. Dressing up isn't just about what's outside, but also what's inside," she said. "They helped me with support groups. I can call so many women here for anything."

Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.