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Dress for Success: Clothing Drive Provides Interview Outfits

Sep. 13—TRAVERSE CITY — In his sharp navy suit, purple shirt, and blue and purple tie, T.J. Cypher looks for all the world like a successful salesman.

Until recently, that’s what he was. Then a string of bad luck and bad choices — divorce, the economic collapse, and physical and mental problems including obsessive-compulsive disorder and a dependency he declined to name — left him jobless and homeless.

Now Cypher, 41, is a resident of the Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter, where he’s struggling to get back on his feet and re-enter the workforce.

And that means dressing for success — whether you’re successful or not.

“Most people who come here don’t have even the basic things,” said Ruth Blick, director of marketing and fund development for Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan. “And men’s suits are very expensive. It is something a lot of people can’t afford.”

In fact, the retail cost of a reasonably made suit starts at $200, suggests a textile expert for Consumer’s Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports. Add a shirt, tie and shoes and you’re up to $350 or more.

That’s where programs like Goodwill’s store vouchers and the Men’s Wearhouse National Suit Drive come in. Each year Goodwill gives out about $70,000 worth of vouchers for its retail stores, said Blick. Men’s Wearhouse holds a drive for gently-used professional attire to help men who lack the most elementary tool needed for a job search: an interview outfit.

“It’s not necessarily looks that make a man, but when you look good, you feel good, and you feel more confident,” said Stefanie Shuman, who helps handle the national retailer’s advertising and marketing communications. “And the best way to get back on the road to economic stability is to look good and feel confident so you can focus on nailing that job.”

Area donors can drop off items through Sept. 30 at Men’s Wearhouse and Tux at the Grand Traverse Mall. It’s one of 1,065 Men’s Wearhouse stores working with nonprofit organizations in local markets this year to collect and distribute the clothing.

“Last year we garnered 125,000 professional items in two months,” Shuman said, adding that the company kicks in a new tie to help complete the outfit for every suit donated and offers donors a store coupon for 10 percent off. “This year we’re looking to get 150,000 items in one month.”

More than 118 items were donated in Traverse City in the first week of the drive, including suits, dress shirts, sport coats, slacks, ties, belts and shoes, Blick said. The clothing will be distributed by case workers to Goodwill Inn residents and could be worn for job interviews, court appearances, church services, meetings or classes.

Blick said the clothing is a welcome addition to the Goodwill Stores’ small year-round selection of professional men’s attire, which is available to shelter residents through vouchers and to others at thrift store prices.

“If you walk over to the women’s department, you might have 200 suits,” she said. “If you walk over to men’s, you might find 20.”

Before coming to the shelter, Cypher’s business attire was mostly outdated, his shirts stained around the collar. Yet he knew firsthand the importance of a professional appearance.

“I personally feel it’s the first impression you have to make,” he said. “When I was managing restaurants, one of the first things I’d look at are the shoes.”

With the help of appropriate clothing — and assistance with everything from resumes to bus transportation — Cypher has interviewed for between 30 and 40 jobs since May. Though he’s willing to start over as a server in the restaurant industry, he hopes that dressing the part of a middle manager will leave a lasting impression.

“I feel very confident due to the fact that I’m dressed for the role I’m applying for,” he said. “They’d never guess I’m homeless when I dress this way.”

Added Blick: “He looks like a million bucks and he feels confident, and you can’t put a price tag on that.”

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Copyright © 2009, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.

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