Creating the Complete Professional

“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts
are so quick. Fashion is instant language.”
—Miuccia Prada, Co-CEO and Head Designer, Prada

Solid research and data? Check.

Impressive slides? Check.

Well-rehearsed presentation? Check.

Good-looking suit? Uh-oh.

The mission of Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School is to give students the tools they need to become successful business professionals — and that means all the tools, including professional business attire thanks to the Career Closet.

The closet is the brainchild of Joanna Trainor, instructor in the Management & Entrepreneurship department and co-director of First Year Programs. She and the closet’s aptly named day-to-day manager, Mary Anne Couturier, Class of 2022, have assembled dozens of clothing items for men and women.

“Every student works really hard on their final presentations,” says Trainor. “But not everyone has money to put down on a suit. We wanted to make sure that, if they need it, students have access to a sartorial Plan B.”

As an offering of the Suffolk Cares Pantry, the Career Closet started initially for Business School students making end-of-year presentations, but it’s available to students in the College as well. Many of the items were donated by Suffolk faculty and alumni and include suits from J. Crew, shoes from Lane Bryant, and ties from Christian Dior. Students can see what’s available during open hours, or they can schedule an appointment at the Career Closet website.

Not only does the closet help with sustainability by keeping clothes out of landfills, it also aligns with the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts: The career closet is organized by size, not by gender.

Trainor says that the Career Closet is just another manifestation of the Business School’s desire to ensure students have everything they need to succeed. “The best presentation in the world can fall flat if you don’t look professional,” she says.

To support the Career Closet with a financial donation, visit the Suffolk “Give Now” page, and choose “Suffolk Cares Pantry” from the dropdown menu.

To support the Career Closet with a clothing donation, please email Anna Abate.