When the shelter opened, the “boutique”—as this donation center was affectionately dubbed—looked great, and I continued to volunteer my time helping the organization manage their clothing donations. Instead of the girl scouts, I was now working with the women who lived in the facility to help keep the boutique under control and in good working order.

When clothing would arrive that was pressed, cleaned and still in dry cleaning bags, the eyes of the women being served by the shelter would light up and they would instantly try things on and easily chat about a job interview or visit with one of their children. When dirty, wrinkled and stained clothes came in, the entire atmosphere changed. Not only did they not try items on, but also the conversation hardly shifted to anything other than the tough time they were going through in their lives.

As you go through your closet and ponder whether or not to give certain items to charity, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable wearing the items to a job interview or to court to attend a hearing about the fate of your children. I must admit that before I had this up-close-and-personal experience, I was often guilty of giving clothes to charity that were better off going elsewhere. I simply wasn’t aware of the potentially damaging impact my actions could have on the self-esteem of others.

Placing clothes in the right hands at the right time regardless of circumstance is still at the very core of everything we do today in our firm. I continue to carry this early experience with me and share it with our consultants during their training, with private clients when we are deciding what to donate from their closets, and with the diverse audiences with whom we share our dressing well message year in and year out. I salute these women I met long ago long ago for teaching me all I ever really needed to know about the true power of dressing well.

Editor’s Note: In celebration of our 25th anniversary on April 1, 2017, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Dressing Well Charitable Foundation – a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that will provide monetary support to other 501(c)(3) organizations, especially those that offer clothing, career support and social services to women, men and children in addition to encouraging self-sufficiency. Please visit the “Fashionable Giving” section of our website to learn more about the charities we support and why. While we will continue to support our non-profit friends by donating our time and talent (and, of course, clothes and accessories!), we are thrilled to help build awareness and even more support for their growth and stability. Please consider joining our efforts by donating to the Dressing Well Charitable Foundation. Thank you.