By Marlon W. Morgan
After a four-year hiatus, Western Carolina University’s Center for Career and Professional
Development is bringing back its Hire Attire Fashion Show.
The popular student event, which features a fashion show for business professional
and business casual clothing, will be held Monday, Nov. 6, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the
Hinds University Center Grandroom.
The CCPD selects 10 students to model business professional clothing and 10 students
to model business casual attire.
“We take them on a shopping trip to Belk,” said Theresa Cruz Paul, director of CCPD.
“They’re able to pick out the clothing they want to showcase. We give them some suggestions
to try to get as much diversity in the clothing as we can.”
Afterwards, the students get to keep the clothing. Cruz Paul said the fashion show
attracted between 350-400 students prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first 100 students
to attend will receive a swag bag.
“It was one of our most popular events,” Cruz Paul said. “I think it was because it
mixes the fun and the educational pieces together.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, CCPD will introduce a clothing closet. In another partnership
with Belk, CCPD purchased suits for male and female students to rent for free for
up to seven days, or as long as 2-weeks if needed. Students are only charged if the
clothing is lost or damaged, Cruz Paul said.
The suits come in a wide range of sizes and are available in black, gray and navy
blue. They include brand names such as DKNY, The Limited, Tommy Hilfiger, Anne Klein
and Saddlebred.
“We’re hoping that the clothing closet helps students that can’t afford to pay for
those good suits to do the one-off interview,” Cruz Paul said. “It’s really an option
to provide students with a quick solution to those emergency situations.”
Students will be able to shop in the closet during CCPD operating hours or schedule
an appointment with a counselor for clothing consultation.
Belk provided clothing for both the fashion show and the clothing closet at a “steeply
discounted price,” Cruz Paul said.