Campus fashion show promotes professional dress

Darcy Mautino strutted down the runway in a pencil skirt and blouse, accessorizing with fishnet stockings, flashy stilettos and dark sunglasses. 

Mautino was an example of what not to wear in Pitt’s Office of Academic Career Development’s Dress for Success Career Fashion Show. The show, which was free to Pitt students, took place Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the William Pitt Union Ballroom. 

The show featured students modeling both professional and business-casual outfits. All clothing, makeup and accessories were provided by Macy’s in downtown Pittsburgh. 

Student Government Board President Gordon Louderback emceed the event along with Emily Leubner, vice president of recruitment for the Collegiate Panhellenic Association. The two served as commentators for the event, highlighting the pieces of each model and stressing why they were or were not appropriate for the workplace. 

They also encouraged students to tweet their thoughts on the outfits, which appeared live on the screen beside the runway. 

Cheryl Finlay, director of the Office of Academic Career Development and Placement Assistance, said that all students were encouraged to attend. 

“It’s very important how you dress and come across professionally — even down to the handshake, tone and gestures. It is important to remember that you never get a second chance at a first impression,” she said. 

The first portion of the event was dedicated to professional-wear don’ts. Examples included students wearing flip-flops, sneakers and chunky jewelry. Once the group left the runway, the models returned, having adjusted their apparel to make their outfits appropriate.The polished, revised outfits included a variety of suits, dresses and skirt-and-blouse combinations. 

Following the professional-wear show, student models turned the audience’s attention to the show’s business-casual line. 

Louderback reminded students to conceal tattoos and make sure clothing was tailored to fit well.He also mentioned some habits, aside from dress, that are inappropriate in a professional environment, such as chewing gum or texting. 

Danica Porter, Pitt alumna and College Relations Manager for Macy’s, said that she would have found the the fashion show helpful when she attended Pitt. 

“When I went to the career fair I went to my closet, piecing together things that only kind of matched — exactly what we tell [students] not to do now,” she said. 

Porter said that it’s important that students invest in a good suit. 

“You can mix in different blouses, shirts and ties,” she said. 

Porter, who will recruit at Pitt’s career fair Sept. 25, said that she is excited to see all the students practicing the techniques they learned at the fashion show. 

“I’ve been really impressed by the level of professionalism as a recruiter on campus,” she said. 

Alex Sullivan, a sophomore marketing major, said that the business school has taught her about dressing professionally.

“For someone without any idea of how to dress professionally, I think the show would be really helpful. A lot of students don’t need to think about it,” she said.