What It Is
The Clothes Closet is a program that allows U-M students to obtain business casual and business professional attire from a wide selection of clothing donated by U-M faculty, staff, and alumni as well as other professionals from the community. Students also receive tips on how to dress to impress and build their professional brand!
How It Works
Visit the Clothes Closet to browse our collection of gently-used and new items by scheduling an appointment through Handshake. During appointments, students can expect to have support from trained staff while searching for and trying on items in a safe, clean, and private space. Students are able to select 3 items per semester from the Clothes Closet that fit their needs - at no cost!
Students can select from a wide range of items such as:
Full suits (jacket and pants and/or skirt)
Contemporary suit jackets or blazers
Shirts/blouses appropriate to wear under a suit coat/blazer
Dress slacks and pants
Skirts
Ties
Closed-toe dress shoes
The Clothing Closet cannot guarantee the availability of all sizes and types of items.
#BuildYourBrandUMich
Why Use It
Making a good impression and feeling confident as you navigate your journey as a professional is one of the most important things you can do to stand out! Dressing for success can make a huge difference and the Clothes Closet can help you look and feel your best! The Clothes Closet is one of many resources on campus and it is free to use and able to serve a wide variety of needs and interests!
"It’s not about the fancy clothes or the popular name brand, it’s about feeling good about yourself and choosing clothing that reflects who you are." -Nicole Kuehn, Early Careers Talent Acquisition
#BuildYourBrandUMich
Tips and Insights on Dressing for Work
We’ve collaborated with Caroline Weiser (Founder + Executive Stylist | Liv & Cole) to share tips, strategies, and suggestions on building your professional wardrobe.
Check out the 'Tips and Insights on Dressing for Work' video playlist to make sure you don't miss out on important details and so you feel confident in your wardrobe choices. #BuildYourBrandUMich
Additional Info
JCPenney Suit-Up, Sponsored by the University Career Center (UCC)
Suit-Up is a partnership between the University Career Center and JCPenney to offer students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to get business casual and business professional items at a discounted price.
Save the dates! Suit-Up will take place in person and virtually during the Fall 2023 semester!
In Person: Sunday, September 24, 2023
Virtual: September 18 - 22, 2023
Want to help support the University Career Center's Clothes Closet?
Thank you for your willingness to contribute to the UCC Clothes Closet. We are currently accepting clothing donations. Items can be brought to the University Career Center (3200 Student Activities Building) during our normal business hours (M-F; 9:00am-5:00pm).
If you have interest or questions regarding donations, please email careercenter@umich.edu.
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While the Clothes Closet relies primarily on donations, financial support enables the University Career Center to purchase items that are in greatest demand and to fill any existing gaps in the Clothes Closet inventory to ensure students have the best experience in developing their professional wardrobes.