LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville organization is striving to empower women in the workforce through professional attire, development tools and other support. 

It's all part of Dress for Success' mission: to help women thrive in work and in life.

Jeanne Freibert, volunteer and ambassador, said confidence is key, and a new outfit has it all. 

“It's really wonderful being a personal shopper, witnessing the transformation of a woman, from being perhaps downtrodden without any confidence to having this beautiful suit or something that's interview-appropriate, whatever they're interviewing for and feeling ready to go out and meet the world," Freibert said. 

Dress for Success focuses on women from all walks of life, getting them career-ready.

BillyJo Avy, executive director, said the experience resembles a high-end boutique. Women who come in are paired with a stylist, getting waited hand and foot.

“We do everything from head to toe, including makeup accessories, interview outfits, shoes, handbag, jewelry, whatever they need to look and feel confident for their interview," Avy said. "Once they obtain that employment opportunity, they get to come back for five free outfits, a whole week's worth of clothing.” 

Dress for Success serves 12 counties in Kentucky and four in southern Indiana. Both Avy and Freibert said their free services give women the confidence and tools they need to succeed. 

“If they've had so many disadvantages and barriers in their life, for them finally to feel like they can face the world and maybe have a path to move forward, being a part of that (is) just wonderful," Freibert said. 

Dress for Success is in the process of adding items for manufacturing and trade, as well as a new technology center with 10 workstations for hands-on resume writing classes, along with other programs. Their inventory sale is Nov. 14 and Nov. 16, where all sales go back to free program services. The next donation day will be Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. 

Check out the organization's website for ways to get involved.