Fashion show offers professional do's, don'ts

Members of the Phenomenal Women's Group will collect donations of office-suitable clothing, accessories and undergarments June 25 through 28 at Crist Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.

The donations of new or lightly-worn business clothing will help women begin their journey toward successful careers.

Graduates of the 21st Century Leadership Academy, known as Shear Fellows, are seeking the donations for a fashion show, which will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. June 30 at Southeast's University Center as part of a campaign to aid women and students entering the work force with interviewing skills and work-related fashion advice.

Missouri Mentoring Partnership, the Cape Girardeau chapter of Zonta International and Southeast's Phenomenal Women's Group have partnered with the Shear Fellows for this event.

The fashion show will be presented in a "what to wear" and "what not to wear" format. Those in attendance will be given the opportunity to pick an outfit from donated clothes. Clothing will then be donated locally to organizations with community closets; remaining items will be sent to St. Louis for statewide distribution.

Shear Fellows from nine Missouri college campuses are holding similar events to help mark the 10th anniversary of the 21st Century Leadership Academy, an annual weeklong residential leadership training program for Missouri college students designed to stimulate interest in women's public policy leadership and teach essential success skills in this area.

The 21st Century Leadership Academy was created by the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life, on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. It is named for the late Sue Shear, the longest-serving female state legislator in Missouri history.

For more information, or to donate or receive clothing, contact Kathie Kearbey at 727-9113 or Kathiekearbey@yahoo.com.