Dress for Success’ suite in the Taft Building offers a fantastic view of Hollywood, but on a recent Friday, client Kymberly Watson was enthralled by the spectacular sight she was seeing in a full-length mirror.

Dress for Success client Kymberly Watson models her new work suit after being fitted at the nonprofit’s Los Angeles location. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

Through the Dress for Success suiting program, Watson was given new work attire to assist her job search. She seemed pleased as she viewed the new, gray suit from different angles.

“You’d better,” Watson responded when a photographer asked to take her picture.

Her confidence is indicative of the mission at Dress for Success, which looks to give women all the tools they may need to land a job and resources to help them maintain employment. Overall, Dress for Success hopes to help women achieve financial independence.

The nonprofit’s clients are considered disadvantaged, and many are providing for more than just themselves. They are referred by the nonprofit’s 160-plus partner agencies in Los Angeles County.

Dress for Success originally began in New York City in 1997, and has since expanded to 125 cities in 15 countries. The Los Angeles location, opened in 2009, is one of the organization’s three worldwide offices.

The nonprofit takes a holistic approach to helping link women with employment opportunities. However, it is perhaps best known for its suiting program, in which clients receive one suit and accessories that can amount to a week’s worth of work clothing.

Its Professional Women’s Group Program provides support, information and inspiration to clients. The program is open to clients who have secured employment, and members meet once per month.

The Dress for Success Going Places Network helps unemployed or under-employed clients hone their skills, accelerate their job search and build confidence through weekly training, one-on-one career coaching and networking.

Additionally, the Los Angeles location offers a career center to help women apply for jobs, write cover letters, revise resumes and more. Dress for Success also offers guidance and resources in the career center.

Reena De Asis, director of West Coast operations for Dress for Success, said the organization serves approximately 1,000 women in Los Angeles each year and more than 700,000 around the world.

She said the focus is to help women become self-sufficient in all aspects of their lives. De Asis said women are increasingly becoming the family breadwinner, so it’s important for them to have the tools and skills needed to support themselves and their families.

“These skills are ultimately what you would take with you no matter where you end up,” she said.

Client Marian “Fifi” Locke is a self-proclaimed “middle-aged woman reinventing herself,” and she is pleased with the assistance that she has received from Dress for Success.

“I think this is a great program. I’m giving it a shot, and you should too,” she said. Locke is pursuing a coordinator position in the cosmetics field. “Once I’m through with [the program], I’m sure I will succeed.”

Luisa Pelaez said the organization has helped her keep a positive attitude and taught her the right keywords to use during interviews. She is looking for an accounts payable opening.

“It is very helpful. Everybody here is so nice and so helpful. These ladies … are really great,” Pelaez said.

De Asis said the organization is definitely fulfilling a need, and Dress for Success is hoping to increase its impact on Los Angeles County by growing relationships with referral agencies.

“I’m really excited about it and the potential we have to be able to really partner up with community leaders and corporations,” she said, adding that the organization is looking to determine exactly what the job market looks like for its clients in L.A. County. “I’d love to open up that conversation, whether it be with the city or corporations.”

The Employer Ad Network is among the organizations looking to help link Dress for Success clients with employers seeking to fill positions. Employer Ad Network CEO Deirdre Mammano said Dress for Success is the company’s first nonprofit partnership.

“We’re in it for the long run, so this partnership is just getting started,” she said. “We’re so grateful for this opportunity. We’re just so excited that someone in this industry is actually doing this.”

Mammano said the Employer Ad Network offers a job board platform that posts openings across a network of websites, which could be helpful for Dress for Success clients. She said the company is also sharing expertise in regards to resumes and interviewing.

Mammano said the Employer Ad Network provides assistance on a monthly basis, though the company is looking for ways to become even more involved.

“We love this organization. They do great work,” she added.

De Asis said the nonprofit is fairly new in Los Angeles, but it is already having an impact. She said Dress for Success hopes to bring on more volunteers and entice more people to contribute.

The organization will host its second annual Empower Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. on April 11 at Loews Hollywood, 1755 N. Highland Ave. Dress for Success will honor Danielle Carrig, senior vice president of publicity and public affairs for Lifetime, and Darya Allen-Attar, vice president and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson will host. Tickets are $100.

For information, visit www.dressforsuccess.org. To contact the local affiliate, call (323)461-1021 or send an e-mail to worldwidewest@dressforsuccess.org.