A new area non-profit attires disadvantaged women, with increased self-esteem, and employment, as the ultimate goal.
By Diane Landis Hackett, Special Writer
There is an exclusive clothes boutique in Hamilton where ladies business suits come with a dose of self-esteem for women struggling to break the cycle of poverty.
Dress for Success Mercer County opened its doors in October to provide professional attire and mentorship to disadvantaged women seeking professional jobs. And while appointments are necessary and personal shoppers are provided to each woman, the clothes are free and the encouragement is priceless.
”Everyone needs help sometime,”says Dress for Success Mercer County Executive Director Debbie Bronfeld, a Princeton resident who originally served on the board of the organization before being asked to take over its leadership.
The Mercer County office is an affiliate of the New York City-based Dress for Success organization which was founded in 1997 to serve single mothers trying to make it out of the cycle of poverty. The nonprofit now has more than 80 affiliates in cities across the United States, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and they have provided suits to more than 300,000 women in the ten years they have been in operation.
Their motto, “from suits to self-suffiCiency,” reflects the organizations’ goal to build self-esteem and independence by first dressing women in professional clothes and then offering career development and networking once they have found a job.
The boutique offers clients an opportunity to shop in a dignified way. Clients are referred by a social service agency and are then given an appointment with a “personal shopper.”
The personal shoppers are women who volunteer their time to help shoppers pick appropriate outfits such as black pants and a white shirt for a job as a clerk in a grocery store or a designer business suit complete with a purse, stockings, jewelry and shoes for a client interviewing at the mayor’s office.
On a recent Tuesday, a woman dressed in a brown batik print scarf and a brown suit jacket and pants stepped in front of a mirror in the Dress for Success Mercer County boutique.
”Are you sure it fits? Is it comfortable? Are you okay with the colors?” her personal shopper asks. The woman in the mirror nods happily and smoothes down the front of her new jacket.
Ten minutes later she is back in her jeans and sweatshirt and on her way to catch her bus for home. But before leaving she sets down her new work clothes and first hugs her personal shopper and then Ms. Bronfeld.
”Thank you so much. I want to come and volunteer. You’ve helped me. Now I want to give back,” she says in what appears to be a tearful goodbye. Then she gathers up her three new interview outfits, which have been carefully wrapped in tissue paper by her personal shopper, and walks proudly out the door.
”Once women get these clothes on it makes them feel so good. When you look good it changes your whole attitude,” says Ms. Bronfeld.
Establishing a chapter in Mercer County was the goal of the Women’s Affinity Group at Bristol Myers Squibb a group that meets regularly to support different charitable causes and network with one another. Through Bristol Myers Squibb, the group provided pro bono leadership as well as $50,000 for the nonprofit’s start-up phase.
Ellen Hackman, a Bristol Myers Squibb employee who helped found the Mercer County affiliate, says that the women’s affinity group met for one hour a week for more than a year to get the chapter off the ground. Ms. Hackman said she believes strongly that it is important to help other women enter the business world. She attributes her dedication to helping others through Dress for Success to her mother, who at seventy-five years of age, continues to substitute as a teacher for severely challenged individuals.
Princeton resident and working mother of three, Shannon Connor, decided to become a personal shopper after hearing the testimonials on the organization’s video.
”It’s a nice way to give back. Every one needs this type of assistance with what they are wearing and have someone to hold your hand and say you look great,” says Ms. Connor who volunteers once a week for at least an hour to help dress women.
She has found that her caring doesn’t end when she leaves the appointment. “I think about them and wonder how they are doing in their interviews during the week,” says Ms. Connor.
The offices alone are a testimonial to the generosity of local businesses. A myriad of area businesses provided their services free of charge to furnish the three-room space, provide computers and build racks and shelves for the more than 500 suits and other merchandise. The businesses providing their services include: the California Closets Showroom in Cranbury, The Gershen Group, GenTech Systems Management, HessTech, Compucom, Hamilton Supply and Kucker-Haney Paint Company.
While Dress for Success Mercer County does not need any more suits at the moment, they are looking for volunteers to assist them as personal shoppers, and in creating a career corner, which will offer clients monthly speakers and regular support from other women. In addition, they are seeking volunteers interested in helping the organization grow by serving on committees. They will also happily accept monetary donations.
Contact: Deb Bronfeld at 609-587-8298 or write to Dress for Success Mercer County, 9 Lamont Avenue, Pond Run Housing, Hamilton New Jersey 08619. Email the organization at [email protected] or on the web at www.dressforsuccess.org/mercercounty.

