Jewelry store Kendra Scott hosts fundraiser for Dress for Success Pittsburgh

Joanne Klimovich Harrop | Friday, July 24, 2020 1:42 p.m.

Courtesy of Erika Hatfield Photography

Dress for Success Pittsburgh, which helps women entering or re-entering the workforce, is teaming with Kendra Scott, a fashion accessories brand, for a fundraiser.

Buy something sparkly and help other women shine.

Dress for Success Pittsburgh has teamed with jewelry and accessories brand Kendra Scott to help raise money for women who are entering or re-entering the workforce.

Twenty percent of purchases made at the Kendra Scott store in Shadyside or online July 28-29 will be donated to Dress for Success Pittsburgh.

“Having a company such as Kendra Scott reach out to us and want to partner with us is wonderful,” said Dress for Success Pittsburgh CEO Tanya Vokes Mallory. “It’s a natural partnership. They recognize the work we do, and see that it’s about more than clothing and accessories. It’s about building confidence.”

Since 2005, Dress for Success Pittsburgh, in Bloomfield, has supported over 30,000 women across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Shoppers can use the code GIVEBACK8218 for online purchases. There will a kickoff event from 5 to 7 p.m. July 28 at the new Kendra Scott store in Shadyside. Face masks and social distancing requirements will be enforced.

With over 2,000 employees, Kendra Scott has over 108 standalone stores across the United States and is sold in over 600 specialty boutiques worldwide.

Hello Pittsburgh! Our newest Kendra Scott store is officially open, and includes this gorgeous mural by local artist @ashleyhodderart. Come visit us at 5505 Walnut St. We can't wait to see you! pic.twitter.com/nN1Fg1ABg8

— kendrascott (@KendraScott) July 18, 2020

Kendra Scott has donated more than $30 million to local, national and international causes over the last 10 years, according to a news release.

Vokes Mallory said every woman deserves the opportunity to achieve success and through support from businesses such as Kendra Scott, Dress for Success Pittsburgh can continue its mission to give women the tools they need for the next step in their career journey. Dress for Success Pittsburgh is part of a global network of more than 150 affiliates in nearly 30 countries.

[gps-image name=”2845854_web1_PTR-DRESSSUCCESS-3.jpg”]

The donations will be used to buy items that they don’t typically get such as non-skid and steel-toe shoes and lab coats, as well as undergarments, said Vokes Mallory, a Lower Burrell native who lives in Verona. She said she could have used a program like Dress for Success Pittsburgh when as a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania she had an interview for an internship at Pepsi.

“The first thing I thought was, ‘What am I going to wear?’’” said Vokes Mallory, who ended up borrowing a navy blue suit from her roommate.

“What we do is help level the playing field. We meet with a client via Zoom and assess what she needs and then prepare an outfit with accessories. If something isn’t right, we will get her the correct item,” Vokes Mallory said. “She can keep everything. Nothing gets returned for safety reasons. When you look good, you feel good. So many women are struggling financially. Poverty can be really heavy.”