Support Your "Girls" and Women, too!

My beautiful friend, and fellow founding DFSI board member, Karen Kennelly looks stunning in silver at Stepping Out In Style! My own dress is from Temperley London, and my gold shoes are by Schutz.

Last month marked the 13th annual Stepping Out In Style, the signature fundraiser for Dress for Success Indianapolis. If you're a regular follower of Red's Shoe Diaries, you probably already know that the germination, development and growth of this fashion extravaganza is one of my proudest accomplishments. Knowing that my little idea for a  fashion-focused fundraiser (with firemen!) so many years ago has become a hotly anticipated event that raises more than $200,000 annually to support the organization's efforts to help disadvantaged women achieve economic self-sufficiency is better than all the shoes in my closet (and you know that's saying something...)

It's been my honor the past few years to share the stage with fashion coordinator and local fashion icon Murph Damron, and event emcee Julia Moffitt, news anchor for WTHR. ~Photo By Faith Blackwell Photography / Dauss Foto

Not surprisingly, it takes a village of volunteers to help Dress for Success "step out in style" each year, and I am eternally grateful to the individuals, staff, corporations, and local businesses that lend their support for the cause. Even if you missed this year's stellar event, you can also support the women served by DFSI, and you can support your "girls" at the same time...Yes, I do mean those "girls." 

The Indianapolis Fire Department is an institution at Stepping Out In Style, and Enza Pappalia (center) of local boutique Enza's provides some of the stylish and unique clothing that graces our runway. Her own fabulous red and black lace dress is by my favorite designer, Byron Lars (and can be found at the boutique). ~Photo By Faith Blackwell Photography / Dauss Foto

From October 14th through the 18th, all Vanity Fair bras at Indianapolis Macy's locations are buy one get one free, and for each bra you purchase, Vanity Fair will also donate a bra to Dress for Success. Well-fitting bras in good condition are often one of the first "luxuries" to go when women are struggling to make ends meet (and I use the term "luxuries" with all due sarcasm). Come on, ladies, you know what a difference the right foundation makes in how your clothes fit and how your back feels! Unfortunately, the supply of these necessities are all too often woefully insufficient to meet demand at the DFSI boutique, and donations of new ones make a big difference to the women we serve. So, if you're in the Indianapolis area and you happen to be on the hunt for your own support, please consider a trip to Macy's to check out the Vanity Fair selection next week. With this buy one get one free offer, you'll get twice the support for your own "girls" and you'll be supporting the women of Dress for Success at the same time!

Jasmine Perry is a professional makeup artist with Makeup by Sparkle, a locally owned business that each year helps our models get runway ready. ~Photo by Faith Blackwell Photography

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

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