Wardrobe consultants Mamie Benitez Campbell and Rebecca Boles put together different ensembels with the inventory at the Magic Closet Boutique. Their inventory is filled with clothing shoes purses and other accessories. Photo by Juan Anthony Rodriguez
Wardrobe consultant Rebecca Boles shows how to help a client accessorize a dress suit in the Magic Closet Boutique, an appointment-only service offered at this college to help women improve their confidence and present a positive impression for potential employers. Photo by Juan Anthony Rodriguez
Gently worn clothing will be sold to female students and employees at this college for the “Fill the Bag” event.
By Pam Paz
ppaz2@student.alamo.edu
The perfect wardrobe is a surefire way to boost a woman’s self-confidence, but not all women have extra cash for new attire.
The Magic Closet, a program that makes professional clothing available to women entering the workforce, will return to this college for a “$5 Fill the Bag” event 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 29 in the mall. A $5 donation gives female students a chance to fill a bag with donated clothes.
Gently worn items are collected at events sponsored by Network/Power Texas, a support group that promotes equity and advancement for women, according to the website. The closet is one of the main services of Network/Power Texas and was established in 1996.
Both organizations have connections to this college and helped facilitate workshops at the annual Women’s Empowerment Conference presented by the Services for Women and Non-Traditional Students (SWANS).
“We’ve been very instrumental with the WE Conference, and major sponsors as well, and help bring everything together,” said Mamie Campbell, founder of the closet and board member of Network/Power Texas.
During a phone interview Tuesday, Campbell said businesswomen and the local sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha-Tau Omega Chapter donate the clothes.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of the professional business women of San Antonio who have donated,” Campbell said.
The closet “is like a boutique” with a large inventory of clothing, shoes and accessories that fill up two large showrooms at this college’s human resource office at Ashby Place and Lewis Street. Access to the closet is on an appointment-only basis.
Some donations are more casual than business professional, but Campbell said she was aware of the need for clothing by students, such as sweaters, jeans and boots.
Instead of passing up the casual clothing, reselling them at $5 per bag offers a low- cost alternative for female students and helps support scholarships the program funds, Campbell said.
This is the third time The Magic Closet has done this event at this college, and Campbell said it is well worth the $5 donation.
A wide selection of clothing and accessories in various sizes will be available to choose from.
“We have everything from size two to size 20,” Campbell said.
A presale event for faculty and career counselors will take place 2-5 p.m. Oct. 22 in the mall. The cost is $10 for employees.
The event will give The Magic Closet and Network/Power a chance to let faculty and counselors know more about what these organizations have to offer.
“We want more visibility and want to get the word out about the services we have available,” Campbell said.
All the proceeds will go toward scholarships.
For more information about The Magic Closet and Network/Power Texas, visit http://www.networkpowertexas.com/index.html.
