UNT Students ‘Suit Up' in Free Business-Wear

Campus leaders at the University of North Texas hope to give students an answer to a common college problem: getting a career without the budget to afford a suit.

On Tuesday, the campus Career Center hosted their first ever “Suit Up” event.

For months, center leaders have been collecting second-hand suits, business attire and accessories to offer up at the event.

Students lined up before the doors even opened at 9 a.m. to get the first crack at the collection and pick out a professional outfit to take with them for free.

Career Center Coordinator Rosalyn Smith said it’s a way they can give their students a leg-up after graduation as they try to enter their career fields, often, on a very small budget.

"We asked them (employers), 'what do you look for in a student, ya know, what helps them stand out', and it's appearance,” said Smith.

In addition, college leaders brought in fashion experts to help the students find the right fit and learn important style-musts like tying a tie.

Within three hours, volunteers had seen about 300 students come through the doors of the event.

This is the first time the career center has offered the event, but they hope to start gathering donations to do it again after the success they saw Tuesday.

Anyone who would like to donate lightly used formal wear to the cause can do so at the UNT Career Center in Chestnut Hall at the Denton campus.

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