After completing the application process for a job or internship and finally landing an interview, the last thing you want to worry about is what to wear. Getting dressed every day should be something fun, something to look forward to. The same principle applies to dressing for work. Just because the attire is formal does not mean it needs to be boring. There are lots of ways to spice up your wardrobe for the office- even for free!
What is Cardinal Closet?
Cardinal Closet, located in the basement of Gibbons Hall in room B17, is the perfect place to shop for a new wardrobe of business attire, completely for free. The Closet is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:00-4:30 pm, which conveniently allows for students to drop by between classes. The Closet offers a large selection of men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories. You could enter Cardinal Closet empty-handed and leave with a full head-to-toe outfit for your interview or job.
The Rising Cost of Professional Attire
The price of fashion has continued to skyrocket, so much so that even articles of clothing from fast fashion brands like Zara and H&M can be priced uncomfortably high for the average college student. On top of that, it always seems that brands’ lines of business clothing are some of their most expensive pieces. A full suit from Zara, for example, can cost over $100- and that’s not including critical components of the outfit such as shirt, tie, or shoes. Unfortunately, these are not things that can be overlooked, since the business world is already highly competitive and job applicants can be judged on everything down to the way they present themselves, which includes the clothing they are wearing.
Luckily, Cardinal Closet is an incredible, convenient resource that’s right at your fingertips. Imagine being able to walk into a thrift store and leave with a bag of clothes- without ever taking out your wallet. That is what Cardinal Closet allows students to do. Not only can you build your business wardrobe from its selection, but the Closet even has a rack specifically dedicated to business items, such as blazers and button-down shirts.
What Does the Closet Offer?
During my recent visit to the Closet, I browsed through the selection of clothing and accessories that were on display. To my pleasant surprise, I found item after item of clothing that would be perfect for an interview outfit or to add to your existing business wardrobe (and that was before I discovered the rack designated for business attire). Items such as brown faux leather dress pants, a tailored red blazer, black loafers, and multiple sweaters from brands like Talbots (whose selection retails at $99.50) were just a few of the items that stood out to me. I couldn’t help but imagine how much those items would have cost originally, making it even more impressive that the Closet is completely free.
Cardinal Closet used to run on a “bring one, take one” business model, meaning that in order to take an item you had to donate one. Now, the Closet no longer follows that model and students are free to take home as many as 10 items at absolutely no charge, and without having to exchange anything of their own. However, students are always welcome (and encouraged) to bring in their previously loved clothing items to give back to the Closet and support sustainable campus fashion.