Liberty's Fashion Sense Empowers Women
May 20, 2010
NEW YORK – In a simple office space across the street from Madison Square Garden, the New York City headquarters of Bottomless Closet carries out its mission to help disadvantaged women improve their lives and become self-sufficient. It starts with a new outfit – perhaps an interview suit and shoes – and follows with resume advice, interview preparation and guidance, and eventually “professional development, financial management and personal enrichment,” as per their stated mission.
On Wednesday afternoon, four players from the WNBA's New York Liberty got involved in a literal hands-on manner. Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Sidney Spencer arrived first, and both were introduced to two women who were preparing for imminent job interviews. McWilliams-Franklin worked with Giovanna, and Spencer with Sheila as they helped choose interview outfits from several rooms of donated clothing, shoes and accessories. Then they assisted as the women sat down with counselors who coached them on interview techniques, presentation skills, resume editing, and other practical job-seeking advice.
While McWilliams-Franklin and Spencer were progressing with their charges, Tiffany Jackson and Cappie Pondexter arrived. Their assignment was to re-style the five mannequins displayed in a central room linking the non-profit’s offices. The mannequins are meant to motivate clients, to show them what kind of clothing is available to them and how they can create different kinds of ensembles from various individual pieces, including shoes, jewelry, and other accessories.
Pondexter, whose noteworthy trade from the Phoenix Mercury to the Liberty this year originated from her off-court interests in image consulting and fashion and her desire to be in New York to accommodate those pursuits, was an obvious choice for this collaboration. So it’s no surprise that she was enthusiastic about coming to help.
“I thought it was great; I said ‘Yes’ right away.”
And as she carefully arranged a blouse to drape properly on the mannequin in front of her, she added, “I’m glad I came. It’s good to give back like this, especially ‘cause I love clothes. To do something like this, it’s cool.”
As she and a staff member joked about the 1987 movie Mannequin, staring a once little-known actress named Kim Catrall (apparently a movie Pondexter enjoyed a great deal), teammate Tiffany Jackson found a rhinestone pin to attach to a once-lonely lapel, providing some needed sparkle.
“I think it’s awesome,” Jackson said of the organization Bottomless Closet. “ As soon as [they] asked me, I was in, because I really like fashion and I just think it’s a great way to get women going out in the workforce. … When I heard of [Bottomless Closet] I thought ‘That’s a fantastic idea, why didn’t more people think of that’?”
McWilliams-Franklin and Spencer, having worked one-on-one with clients, were particularly moved by the experience.
“I thought that this was one of the most amazing appearances that I’ve done,” Spencer said. “It’s really important to be able to come in to the city -- just across from the Garden -- and to help these women who are trying to get out in to the job force and are trying to just further their careers along. [Sheila Lambert], who started this company, she said it’s all about empowering women, and in the WNBA we’re trying to empower women [too] … so to be able to help them, and to dress them up and to see the transformation of self-confidence when they do have that suit on and they’re ready to step out in to the workforce, it’s really rewarding for me, its rewarding for them, and I think that’s why I do what I do – I play basketball for opportunities like this.”
“It’s amazing here,” McWilliams-Franklin said, echoing Spencer’s comments. “I’m really happy I came and I’m really happy that I can be a part of this later on throughout the season. Not only donating, because that’s really easy ... but I really want to help. And I consider myself a fashionista, so I think I can accessorize and work with anybody in any situation. … I’m definitely planning on coming back – I think me and Sid are together with coming back and helping some more.”
For Lambert, the founder of Bottomless Closet, the collaboration with the Liberty was the realization of a seven-year dream. A new location right near the Garden and a connection through the WNBA’s “Inspiring Women” luncheon a year ago finalized the deal.
She described what it was like to have the Liberty players at their offices for the afternoon.
“It was exciting … there sort of was an atmosphere of entertainment, but it didn’t detract from what we were doing at all – in fact it enhanced it, because it always enhances [it] having somebody else work with you so that you have more points of view. But having the women from the Liberty – who were so happy to be here, chose to be here – and [were] really very interested in helping our clients, was really just wonderful. It was a real plus. I hope we can do more things together because it is very exciting for us. And this has been my dream to do this!”
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