Dress for Success: B.C. charity helps women amid high cost of living

As some people struggle with the cost of living crisis and finding work, a Vancouver charity is reminding those in need that it is there to support.

Dress for Success provides professional clothes for women to go to job interviews. The group also helps with resumé tips and counselling.

Silvia Ivanov, an ambassador with the organization, is this year’s winner of Dress for Success’ Inspiration Award.

“I also put people in contact with Dress for Success any opportunity I have. Even if I’m commuting by SkyTrain, if someone starts to talk to me and they say ‘I’m new to Vancouver,’ immediately I mention Dress for Success,” she explained.

“There is not just one service available. If you are looking for career advice, if you are looking for a job, they can help you in so many ways, so many ways.”

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She knows first-hand how Dress for Success can help, after she used the service when she arrived from Brazil five years ago with next to nothing.

“Definitely, the clothes, the outfit made me more empowered for the interview. Somehow, when I looked into the mirror, I said, ‘Go girl, you have the power, you can do it,'” Ivanov recalled.

“I was treated with lots of respect and I felt gorgeous and empowered for interviews. I was curious about Dress for Success and I wanted to know more about the organization and I joined the Professional Women’s Group and I started to volunteer with them.”

In the first year of the pandemic, Dress for Success Vancouver says it “served 1,758 women, changed the lives of thousands and contributed over $52 million to the local economy.”

Overall, the organization has supported more than 34,000 people since its launch in 1999. It notes its clients have contributed more than $1 billion to the economy in that time.

Dress for Success is always looking for more help. You can find out how to support the organization on its website.