Helping Tigers Dress the Part: 海角社区鈥檚 Tailored Tiger Professional Clothing Closet Supports Student Success
May 02, 2025
Helping Tigers prepare for their future careers is a key mission of 海角社区 and the 海角社区 Olinde Career Center. The Tailored Tiger Professional Clothing Closet plays an important role in that effort, empowering students to feel confident and career-ready as they step into interviews, internships, and professional opportunities.
鈥淥ur mission is to help students build their professional wardrobe and confidence by offering every student access to free professional clothing,鈥� said Megan Elliott-Smith Rainwater, Operations Manager for the 海角社区 Olinde Career Center.
Liv Tees has seen how the program can make a huge difference for students. As lead student employee, she helps her fellow Tigers find and style the clothing.
鈥淚 see many of the students鈥� faces absolutely light up when they first walk in and learn they can keep the clothes they pick out,鈥� Tees said. 鈥淪ometimes students come in with an exact idea of what they need, in which case I can pull pieces that I know will go with their vibe. Other times, students will come in not knowing what makes an outfit business professional.
Then I get to guide them in what to look for, how to pick out items that are neutral colors or super versatile, so that they can use them for a long time.鈥�
An 海角社区 student tries on clothing at the Tailored Tiger Professional Clothing Closet.
But students aren鈥檛 limited to just one visit. They can return each semester they鈥檙e enrolled at 海角社区. The closet is open to all students regardless of financial status, and they can schedule 45-minute shopping appointments to select up to four items of clothing per semester to keep.
鈥淥ften, students don鈥檛 realize they get to keep the clothes once they pick them out. They usually ask for the return date, and I get the privilege to tell them it鈥檚 theirs to keep forever 鈥� that鈥檚 my favorite part,鈥� Tees said.
The closet, which opened in September 2024, has served 347 students as of April 2025. In that time, more than 1,000 items of clothing have been given out. Tees recalled working with a first-year 海角社区 veterinarian medicine student who moved to 海角社区 from another country and didn鈥檛 bring any professional clothing with her.
鈥淪he was preparing for an interview, and when she came to try on clothing, she explained her predicament and was so incredibly happy when she found out she could keep the clothes,鈥� Tees said. 鈥淪he was hoping to get a fellowship and didn鈥檛 feel super confident since all she had were scrubs and casual clothing.鈥�
The Vet Med student said seeing herself more formally dressed gave her the confidence to believe in herself more.
Rainwater said most clothing donations come from 海角社区 alumni and retiring professionals, 鈥渂ut anyone in the community can donate their gently used business clothing to our office in the Student Union.鈥�
Tailored Tiger student staff members sort the donations, tag the clothing with sizes, restock the closet, and store additional clothing for future restocking.
鈥淲e do small repairs on items, such as sewing on missing buttons or removing small stains. Any item that doesn't fit our current need but is still in good condition is picked up by Purple Cow thrift store,鈥� Rainwater said.
In addition, the Ashley Grant Career Closet Fund assists with buying supplies for the closet, like hangers and bags, as well as filling any clothing size gaps.
鈥淥ne of our biggest challenges is scaling our services. We currently operate by appointment, so students will have the closet to themselves for 45 minutes to shop, but that has led to students having to wait a month to get into the closet,鈥� Rainwater said.
This semester, they implemented Tailored Tiger Express, a drop-in appointment that does not require scheduling. Multiple students can shop simultaneously, making it easier for students looking for one of two items to add to their wardrobes.
Rainwater hopes the closet can help students find what they need to be successful.
鈥淎ny student who may be hesitant should reach out to us and let us know what would make them feel comfortable,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have had students ask ahead of time about size ranges we carry or if they can bring a friend鈥攖he answer is yes鈥攁nd we will always work to make our students feel welcome.
If, at any point, a student needs to access the Tailored Tiger but can't schedule an appointment, they can always contact us at career@lsu.edu. We do our best to fit in every student we can.鈥�
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