Career Closet Provides Professional Attire for Students

The career closet's featured piece. Photo by Braydon Downs '25

An inevitable part of college is shedding the casual wardrobe donned throughout high school for more professional looks as students enter the working world. For those who haven’t added workplace outfits to their closet and don’t want to spend money doing so, the Career Closet has you covered.

The Career Closet is a resource for students who need professional clothing for events, interviews and clubs but do not have access to those clothes. 

Created by Kathryn Daye, director of the Academic Learning Center, and Mary Jones, executive director of the Center for Career Services, the closet is open to all students on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Students can browse the collection and take what they need. The racks are full of blazers, pants, dresses, shoes and more that the Marist community has donated.

“We encourage students to keep the clothing for as long as they need,” said Daye. “If they would like to use the clothing once and return it, they can bring it back or pass it on to another student.” 

Career closet located in career services in the James A. Cannavino Library. Photo by Braydon Downs '25

When a student enters the room, no staff is present to allow for privacy, but they are just a few doors down if assistance is needed. Students can grab as many clothing items as they need and use them for however long they’d like to.

The Career Closet is a great resource for students who need professional clothing in a short amount of time. Daye shared that one student who came to the Career Closet did not have winter coats or any professional clothing for an overseas internship but filled two bags of clothes from the closet to bring with her.

Jones and Daye plan to keep this initiative going for as long as needed. The Marist community can drop off gently used professional clothing between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. during weekdays. Students can also make arrangements to pick clothes up. 

The Career Closet is located on the third floor of the library in room 333 Resource Area, right outside the Career Services office.