Beauty, Fashion and Philanthropy: Dressing for Success

Hey there THOG readers. Last Thursday and Friday I spent the day volunteering for an organization that not only caught my interest but definitely accomplishes all that they set out to do. Dress for Success provides professional attire to women who otherwise are not able to afford it. However that's not where their services end. Through their amazing PWG (Professional Women's Group), women are able to get the resources that prepare them for their professional careers and betters them on a personal level as well.

Last weekend they held their annual Success Summit here in Minneapolis at the Grand Hotel. The hotel was beautifully decorated,  a mix of modern and vintage. Thursday we spent the mid-morening to early afternoon unpacking boxes and putting together gift bags. Then we had lunch and got to chat with the CEO of the organization Joi Gordon and the Director of East Coast Operations Angela Williams. They regaled us with tales of New York (including the only-in-New-York horror stories), life at Dress for Success and the fulfillment that their jobs bring. I admired these women so much as well as the other affiliates and volunteers as most of these women are not being paid but clocking serious hours on the behalf of someone else's path to success. This is beauty, fashion and philanthropy at its best. If you're a fashionista who loves to give back you too may consider becoming a volunteer wit Dress for Success. Visit their website and find an affiliate in your area, don't have one you can contact them about starting one.

Website: www.dressforsuccess.org

OOTD: Dinner Cruise

Okay so I have been sooo busy that I haven't been posting lately.  I have a couple of OOTD post that I'll do today. First starting with my church's singles ministry event. The singles ministry organized a boating tour of Lake Minnetonka aboard the Lady of the Lake (docked at the Port of Excelsior). It was a perfect day for it too. Hot but breezy and no humidity. Our church was having a special event that called for everyone to be in jeans and t-shirts or jerseys for the service. It was suggsted to the singles attending the boating excursion to bring a change of clothes for the boat.

I didn't plan on going and so I did not bring a change of clothing however numerous people kept asking me to go, so I changed my mind and purchased a ticket. But I didn't want to be on the boat with my hot jeans and long sleeved shirt from my alma mater so I headed off to the store.


I went to three stores, setting my budget for no more than twenty dollars. I was dissapointed because it seemed that I would be blowing my budget. However I went into Herbergers and found a beautiful hi-lo dress marked down from $30 to $14.99. Bingo, bango!!! The dress was perfect considering that I had to find something that matched the shoes, earrings and purse that I was already wearing. The dress even matched the lavender of my nail polish. and the bronze color of my bag was even in the dress. as well. Not to mention I didn't have a necklace so the beading detail at the front sufficed perfectly. I tried the dress on and when I saw that it fit went straight for the cash resgister, dress still on! To sum it up I had a very lovely time aboard the boat fellowshiping, dining and sight seeing. If you follow me on twitter (@GisellePhorbes) then you know how I relaxing I thought that boat ride was and how I very much want a boat of my own.

About the Outfit
Dress: Herbergers
Shoes: Gladiator sandals (H&M)
Purse: Bronze slouch bag (Can't Remember)
Nails: Wet and Wild Nail polish in On A Trip/En Voyage  213C (Very befitting Name, no?)
Hair: Braidout on permed hair with the top sections pinned back
Jewelery: Tarnished (purposely) Gold Hoops (beauty supply store $1.99)