Fashion Inc. and the Career Center are partnering up with Belk to answer one question college students constantly struggle with: “Do you think this counts as business wear?”
The “Dress for Success” fashion show will be presented to give students examples of professional outfits that go beyond the basic black suit.
Hanna Roberts, president of Fashion Inc., said the show will be beneficial for anyone who wants to spice up his or her business wear.
“It is really informative,” Roberts, a senior majoring in fashion retail said. “[Students] can learn more about what to wear and what trends they can incorporate into business attire.”
Roberts said Belk will provide the clothes that will be shown and the idea for the show was originally brought on by the Career Center.
The idea of appropriate, yet stylish business wear is one that is on the minds of many students. Fashion Inc. member Emily Helveston said the show will give students a good guideline for going into interviews.
“I think it is really important that [students] know how to dress professionally for the interview so they will not be wearing something that is not appropriate,” Helveston, a senior majoring in fashion retail, said. “And they can have a fashionable side to it.”
Rachel Ramey, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering, is part of the STEM business program and said professional wear is a skill college students should master.
“It is important, especially for girls, to know what ‘business’ means,” Ramey said. “Do you wear a skirt? Do you wear heels? What kind of heels are appropriate? What kind of jewelry? How much makeup? How does your hair go? There are lots of options, so you do not really know what to do.”
Though the main idea of the show is about the clothes, it is not just for those looking to be a little more fashion-forward. Representatives from Belk will be there to give information about their business.
The representatives will give information on what it is really like to work with a large retail business, such as Belk. Roberts said she believes the information will be useful for students of many different majors.
“They get to learn a little more about Belk and the opportunities that are available,” Roberts said. “Whether you are a business student in marketing or whether you are a retail student, it is going to be really beneficial.”
However, the main purpose the fashion show still stands – giving students more assurance of what really counts as business-wear. Ramey said she hopes the show will teach her how to keep her personal style when dressing professionally.
“When you are a 20-year-old girl, you want to look professional, but you also do not want to look too old,” Ramey said. “You do not want to look too young or too flirty or unprofessional, but not too boring. You want to be you.”
The “Dress for Success” fashion show will be Wednesday, in the Ferguson Center Theater at 6 p.m. For more information about Fashion Inc., visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/UAFashionInc.
