Dress for Success Toronto Q&A

We’re proud of our work with community support organizations like Dress for Success Toronto (DFS Toronto) and our Honda associates who volunteer as part of Team Honda to make a real difference. We pride ourselves on uplifting the communities where we work and live. In recognition of Mother’s Day, we wanted to spotlight DFS Toronto, a team working tirelessly to help women in the Greater Toronto Area find and retain employment. We sat down with Karine Picard, Manager of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships at DFS Toronto, to highlight their programs and mission.

Q: What is one thing you’d like people to understand about Dress for Success Toronto that’s overlooked or not often talked about (e.g. other services, areas of need)?

A: As a small non-profit organization focused on women's unemployment and under-employment in the GTHA, Dress for Success Toronto is best known for its free Suiting Program. However, we are proud to provide our Clients with services at every step of their career journeys. We offer a variety of free virtual workshops and programs to individuals that focus on various topics like resume building, networking best practices, financial literacy, raise negotiation, and much more.

DFS Toronto is also collaborating with industry leaders to develop a series of focused, multi-week group cohort learning programs, where attendees can collectively work toward their professional and personal goals and grow their network of support.

Q: What does professional office attire look like post-pandemic?

A: After two-plus years of working remotely, sometimes in our pyjamas, there is a lot of confusion around what is appropriate to wear to the office. Office culture is shifting, and even though a lot of dress codes are more relaxed than they were pre-pandemic, DFS Toronto clothing consultants still recommend that Clients lean towards formal or traditional "professional" attire until they have a clear understanding of the culture or dress code once hired.

That said, there have been some noticeable trends in the DFS Toronto Boutique:

• Virtual interviews are now quite common, which means there is a higher demand for waist-up focused attire.
• To address changing needs, DFS Toronto is including more casual options in the Boutique.
• DFS Toronto is also offering more gender-neutral offerings to be as inclusive as possible.

Q: How does Dress for Success Toronto meet the changing/evolving ideas around workplace attire?

A: What is offered in the DFS Toronto Boutique is dictated by the needs of our Clients. However, as we serve women and non-binary individuals with such a wide range of jobs, it's nearly impossible to meet every trend.

In the end, the majority of our Clients use our Suiting Program for initial interviews, which is why we lean into more modern professional styles or classic pieces that never go out of style.

Q: How can people support Dress for Success Toronto?

A: There are three main ways people can get involved and support DFS Toronto.

1. Make a monetary contribution. Financial support from donors like Honda Canada ensures DFS Toronto can continue to offer valuable programs that support women striving for economic empowerment.
2. Donate your gently used, nearly-new professional attire. Our Suiting & Styling Program would not be possible without the generous clothing, shoe, and accessory donations that fill our Boutique with fashionable finds for our Clients.
3. Volunteer to empower women in your community. From sorting donations and styling Clients, to editing resumes and providing career advice, our volunteers bring our organization to life and help to empower our community forward, each and every day.

With your support, we can continue providing services that inspire women to take charge of their lives.