What: Dress for Success Auckland's Great Designer Sale featuring pre-loved designers and vintage garments
Where: The Sapphire Room, upstairs at Ponsonby Central, cnr Richmond Rd and Ponsonby Rd
When: Friday March 18
What time: To get in first - preview sale 4-5pm, tickets $20
General opening time with no cover charge: 5-8pm
Prices: $20, $40
or $60 per garment
Why: To support Dress for Success, a not-for-profit organisation that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Find out more or buy tickets at: dressforsuccessauckland.org.nz
Dress for Success is a worldwide organisation, operating in seven locations throughout New Zealand. Auckland is the largest in the country and each year serves about 1,500 female clients who are seeking a confidence boost so that they can go on to gain work and support their families.
They come from all walks - some are long term unemployed or recently released from jail, others are new graduates or women who have endured an unforeseen life change. Each woman spends an hour inside the magical Dress for Success showroom. Here they receive a top-to-toe dressing with a trained volunteer stylist along with shoes, handbag, makeup and - quite often - the first hour of devoted attention they've had in a long time.
Executive Director Lani French says that around 70% go on to secure employment. "It's more than the numbers that count," Lani says. "It's the feeling of confidence and the self belief that women leave here with that matters most. Many say they hardly recognise themselves - we are reminding them what they are capable of."
