Mentor Spotlight: Lorie Corcuera, Co-founder of Spark Creations

Lorie Corceura, the strong-willed co-founder of Spark Creations brings the same passion she has for sparking connection and creating WOW cultures through her company, as she does as a mentor for Dress for Success Vancouver. Read on to find out why she chooses to support Dress for Success Vancouver.

How did you get involved with Dress for Success Vancouver?

Christina Florencio shared it with me and I had always heard of it even when I was in the corporate world.

My mom was a single mom and she went through a really hard time with my father. There was abuse and it didn’t end so well. We were coming in and out of women’s shelters. Organizations like Dress for Success Vancouver supported her in raising 3 daughters, giving her the support to find a job. It wasn’t DFS Vancouver in particular but an organization of that kind so it’s near and dear to my heart to be part of an organization supporting women.

What makes you passionate about Dress for Success Vancouver?

They’re supporting women who feel alone and need to be a part of a community. Dress for Success Vancouver is about community and about empowering the women, but in a way that builds community so you don’t feel alone. It’s not just about an individual woman and dressing her up but building her confidence by letting her be part of something bigger and part of a community.

How long have you been a mentor at Dress for Success Vancouver?

First time I spoke at the Professional Women's Group was January 2013, and I officially became a mentor April 2014. It’s been over a year.

What do you do as a mentor?

I attend the Professional Women's Group meetings on a monthly basis, but I also have mentees that I speak and connect with on a regular basis. They don’t designate a person to you, but they introduce us as mentors and it’s up to them to respond.

Favourite moments or client success stories that you can share?

One story that I think is amazing is my mentee Serena Cripps. I’ve spent quite a lot of time with her. She was so inspired to do fundraising for the Spark it Forward race. She wanted to start her own group and her own non-profit organization. She invited me to speak at her workshops. We’ve developed a great friendship and trust and whenever she needs help she reaches out. 

What’s the most fulfilling thing about working with Dress for Success Vancouver?

It’s the people, it’s the organizers - Christina, Lucia, Jennifer, Jen and Val. All those people who put their heart and soul into the organization and the women we get to meet everyday. Everytime I go to one of those monthly meetings I cry. It’s just so amazing what they’re doing and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

Any words of advice for someone going through a tough situation?

Whenever you’re going through a hard time, always reach out to a loved one. Someone you know who is going to be there to listen, to support you and love you and just be there for you. I don’t believe we’re suppose to go through life alone, we’re suppose to do it together.

Most surprising thing about Dress for Success Vancouver?

In general for mentoring, you feel like you’re the one who is mentoring and sharing your experience but they have just as much to share. I feel like it’s a learning opportunity, to connect with people and I feel like I’m co-mentoring because i’m getting just as much from them as they are from me. 

A Few Good Men: Paul Keelan, CFO Coast Underwriters

The second spotlight in our A Few Good Men series is Paul Keelan, CFO at Coast Underwriters. Paul met us at DFS Vancouver when he group volunteered with his former company, PricewaterhouseCoopers. He attends our events, sits on our board, and lends a hand whenever we need!

How are you involved with Dress for Success Vancouver?

I’m on the board of directors.

The board of any organization helps provide governance and oversight, and helps set the direction for the organization. Being a CA, I’m involved on the finance side. 

How or why did you get involved with the organization?

When I was working with PwC I joined in on a team volunteering day. The firm gives employees one day a year paid to do volunteering. They have a foundation that connects with not for profits and creates opportunities to get involved - Dress for Success Vancouver was one of them. 

During my team volunteering day I spent time sorting clothes and helping them change from winter to spring clothes. I met some of the DFS Vancouver staff and volunteers and I was really amazed with the number of women who were being helped on such a modest budget; what tremendous work is being done with very little. As a result, I stayed connected and volunteered again. I continued supporting them financially and attended events. I’ve attended Impact since the beginning; it’s been fun to see the event evolve over time. 

What makes you so passionate about the organization?

Before joining the board I was the first male presenter at the Professional Women’s Group (PWG). That was a very rewarding experience and part of why I’m very passionate about being involved with Dress for Success Vancouver. A lot of their clients have had negative experiences with men but at the end of the day women have to interact with men in workplace. 

If DFS Vancouver can expose its clients to men in a positive light, I think that’s a real good thing. That’s one thing that keeps me motivated to help, to be one of those people that our clients see once in a while, so they do see that there are nice guys out there. Since then I’ve attended a couple of PWG meetings as a guest.

How long have you been on the board?

I’ve been on the board for 3.5 years now, I’ve volunteered for 7.

We’ve seen a lot of change in the last couple of years with Jennifer stepping in in what was a tough situation. I was able to help out in the office during that transition and do some day to day work to keep them going. It’s been a delight to see Jennifer and rest of the team make it through that transition so well. I think it’s really amazing to see. 

How did you end up joining the board?

I didn’t expect to be on the board at all. Deborah Twocock had approached me about it when I was still at PwC. I was travelling all the time and wasn’t in town enough to devote to it. Interestingly enough, about 4 years ago I was diagnosed with colon cancer and had time off work to re-evaluate a few things. I realized I didn’t want to be living out of hotels anymore. 

I left PwC and it afforded me the ability to do things like volunteer on the board. When I got myself established at Coast Underwriters I called up Deb and was happy to become more involved. 

Are there any events that you look forward to the most?

Something that has been very rewarding to witness is the growth of the fall luncheon. Not that I have  had any part in putting it together, but it was certainly nice to see that come together and it’s a real positive event.  

I’m excited to see the boutique renovation too! I’ve been kind of a face of the board around the office. I’m the guy that signs check so I’ve spent a fair bit of time in the boutique.

Any favourite activities that you enjoy doing as part of the board?

Having a hand in setting the direction of the organization is very rewarding. In the last couple of years we’ve tweaked the core values of the organization and that for me is nice to see. Having been part of that discussion, having the staff involved, and really being able to see that come to life. It is more than just words, the notion that we’re empowering women into the workforce. To me that’s a strong statement. It’s very exciting to have a hand in crafting those things and thinking deliberately about the message we’re trying to send. It’s less about being on the board and more about volunteering. 

What’s the most rewarding part of the work you’re doing?

The most rewarding thing for me is seeing clients even though I don’t get to see them a lot. Whether it’s past or present clients coming to Impact, at PWG, or in and around the office. Actually seeing the people that this organization assists is tremendously rewarding; it reinforces why we do this. 

Being on the board we’re kind of removed, we don’t necessary see the people who are benefiting from the effort. For me, getting those opportunities while limited really reinforces why this is such an important organization. 

How do you feel about the direction of the organization? 

I’m really excited about where we’re going. The clothing sales that we’ve only started in the last couple of years have been a tremendous success. It’s given us an extra degree of financial stability that we didn’t have previously. I’m pleased with that since I tend to think about the numbers side of things. 

When I first joined the board I was a bit worried because our financial picture was not super great and I worried about money a lot with the organization. In the last couple of years we’ve shored it up and I don’t worry about it as much! We always need more money because that never stops being an issue, but it doesn’t concern me like it did a few years ago. 

Do you have a favourite memory from 7 years of volunteering?

My favourite memory was being able to present at the PWG. That was really the first time I interacted with clients in any significant way and after the meeting so many women wanted to chat with me and pick my brain. I use to do HR and did a session on interviewing skills. I was nervous because I was told that they’d never had a man present before, I was worried about how the clients would react. The gratitude afterwards was almost overwhelming. People were just so pleased, it was really touching to see how appreciative the ladies were. 

I stayed well over an hour after the session was done with a group of ladies who wanted to chat. I think we might have gotten tossed out of the room. That was really the moment I went “wow, this place is doing good stuff!”

Do you have any last thoughts on the organization?

It’s amazing when I think about the fact that it’s been 15 years! I’ve been somewhat involved for half of that time and for me it’s just been a privilege to be one of handful of men fortunate enough to be involved with Dress for Success Vancouver. http://dfsvancouver.org/impact/

PWG Graduation: A Day of Gratitude and Celebration

On Saturday June 21st, a dedicated group of women came out in full force to support 10 of their peers graduate from the Professional Women’s Group (PWG), a free program run by Dress for Success Vancouver.

The morning began with a round of ya-yas, celebrations, achievements, events, new jobs or any exciting updates the women wanted to share with each other. With the room buzzing with excitement, four women bravely stepped up to the front of the room and one by one, left us in awe with their stories of triumph and how Dress for Success Vancouver had changed their lives. Despite coming from different cultures and backgrounds, the women shared a theme of connectedness: courage, tenacity and relentless determination.

First we heard from Mitra, a single mother from Iran who built a bilingual education center for children in Tehran. She moved to Canada for her daughter, and shared this simple piece of advice “follow and go with your passion because that is where your heart is and when you touch your heart, that is limitless.” Having joined Dress for Success, Mitra has experience unlimited kindness, respect, education and support.

Next was Deepika, born to a conservative family in India who did not support her rights to an education. After her husband lost his business, her life changed in a split second. Homeless with a newborn baby, she overcame depression and became the sole breadwinner for her husband and his family. After the bitter sting of betrayal, they lost their fortune again and came to Canada for a fresh start. Deepika’s mission is to educate all women and men in India to widen their conservative perspectives.

Then we heard from Geraldine, a single mother and victim of spousal abuse. Although she had great jobs in both Manila and Dubai, she left in favour of Canada despite the uncertainty of a different culture and not having enough money to sustain her life simply to give her son a better life. Not having family in Canada, her only support is PWG and events like Impact 360, that give her self confidence like she’s never experienced before.

Lastly, Sunny recounted her struggles over the last 15 months, determined to make a life in Vancouver with the mantra of “failure is not an option.” Overcoming homelessness and immense loss, Sunny came from having nothing to becoming an addictions counsellor and starting courses at Langara College.

After drying our eyes, the entire room watched and cheered as 10 of their friends graduated from their cohort. We wish the 10 PWG graduates the best of luck as they continue with their 18 month program through Dress for Success Vancouver!

Threads: Weaving together the stories of women from across the globe

This month Dress for Success Worldwide unveiled Threads, our first ever coffee table book that features the firsthand success journeys of 20 women from around the world. It is our first ever published collection of client stories, complemented with the stunning imagery of world-renowned photographer Danielle Levitt.

The concept of Threads comes from the idea that, together, each woman’s experience forms a fabric of support, of women helping women, of shared challenges and achievements. Her individual thread is woven into others, forming an undeniable worldwide bond.

Dress for Success curated the stories of these particular confident and courageous women because they all came to the organization in a time of need but have since transformed into influential leaders, continuing to inspire other women who share their challenges and achievements.

Amongst these stories is Vancouver’s very own Genevieve Sechter. Genevieve’s story represents the experiences and emotions that embody many women in our city, and around the world. In providing a local narrative to these experiences, Genevieve is reminding each woman that she is part of a bigger story and has a greater purpose. Her story is one of the 20 shared in this book in an effort to provide a tangible representation of the stories we often share with all of you.

Sharing these stories is important for several reasons. Firstly, it provides readers with an insight into the ways in which these success stories can materialize in different ways. Each woman’s story is unique, but still offers a relatable anecdote to remind us that we are not alone in our journey.



The power of women helping women can be seen at the Dress for Success Vancouver office

In having these stories altogether in one book, we are empowering these women and many others like them to share their stories in an effort to remove the stigma and shame from sharing one’s struggles with another—a way for women to become their own agents of change.

Finally, sharing these stories can initiate action. When women share their experiences with one another, it empowers both the story-teller and the listener. This creates a dialogue amongst women to begin understanding better the obstacles we face, and finding the right resources that can knock down those barriers to success.

We, here at Dress for Success Vancouver, believe in the power of women helping women. Sharing our stories with one another is one of the most powerful ways for us to do this. Threads provides the framework for this kind of call for action, and we need you to help us spread this message!

If you would like to find out more about these women's stories and contribute to the empowerment of women across the globe, you can Purchase Threads Online. The book (pictured below) is now on sale for $45, or $55 with delivery. All proceeds go straight back to Dress for Success, to ensure the continued success of many women like those featured in the book. 




Threads now available for purchase




This post was written by Ida Lotfi.
Ida is an Outreach Coordinator volunteer at Dress for Success Vancouver.



Santa Chow: Approaching Difficulties with Perseverance and Grace

Dress for Success is pleased to welcome Santa Chow, a Dress for Success Vancouver client and success story, as one of four speakers at the Inaugural Success Luncheon on Wednesday, October 30th at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Santa Chow - Dress for Success client
and success story  


As an intelligent, fearless and strong-willed single mother of two, Santa Chow has the determination to succeed that is nothing short of astounding.“I know I can achieve anything I dream of because I have the will and the power,” she says.

Forty-six year old Santa immigrated to Canada in 1983 from Hong Kong and studied grade 13 in Toronto while her brother attended university. From there, Santa relocated to Winnipeg to attend university herself, but while in Winnipeg she contracted a rare lung disease doctors had never seen before. Santa spent a year in hospital for treatment and even had part of her lung removed. "I almost died from that incident."

Santa regained her strength and after several years returned back to Hong Kong where she worked in the family business as the CEO and controller of her father’s three factories. After four years, Santa left Hong Kong once again and moved back to the Canada with her husband, a dentist she met in Hong Kong.  

Santa worked managing her husband’s business for 13 years when her life took a sharp turn. Her husband asked Santa for a divorce. They had two children together, Tabitha and Sebastian. “When my husband left me and the children, I lost my marriage and my job at the same time,” she says. “I felt like I had nothing left.” Slipping deep into clinical depression, Santa went to see her family doctor. He recommended taking anti-depression medication, but instead Santa turned to natural medicine for healing and discovered running. Jogging for three hours every day, Santa produced the much needed endorphins her body required to start feeling better.

Feeling strong and healthy and ready for a new challenge, Santa joined the YWCA. No longer wanting to depend on a man, “I wanted control over my fate and destiny and to take charge of my life.” Through the YWCA, Santa rediscovered the direction she wanted her life to take and in 2005, she completed a full-time, female-only, six-month long program to become a contractor and learned the skills of the trade. “I completed the course and learned all the wiring, plumbing, carpentry, dry-walling, and tiling. I excelled at all five subjects, but I really love carpentry. I made furniture for my house; the bookshelves and my king-size bed. I made it all myself.”

From there, while juggling two part-time jobs and raising her two children, Santa attended UBC and finished the psychology degree she was unable to continue due to her illness in Winnipeg. 

After she graduated from UBC and through a friend’s recommendation, Santa was offered a job with FranchiseLink, Canada’s largest network dedicated to helping consumers navigate franchise and business opportunities.

When she secured a position with FranchiseLink, Santa became part of the Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group (PWG). The 18-month PWG program provides employed women with a network of support, practical information and inspiration to achieve success in careers and in life. Through the PWG, Santa was paired with a mentor, Kim Conroy, a chartered accountant and a career coach. “She gives me advice, she looked at my resume and once a week she gives me personal counseling.”

Since starting her job with FranchiseLink in December 2009, Santa has been promoted to Director of Asian Franchise Development. “I am the bridge between two cultures, the Asian business market and the mainstream North American market.”

Santa says that Dress for Success gives women the encouragement to educate themselves, and by doing so, the ability to make their lives and the lives of their children better.

“When we make changes for ourselves, it affects our children too, it shapes their lives. Dress for Success gives us encouragement; that even if we are alone, without a partner, we can do things on our own. We can make an impact in the world.”

About Dress for Success Vancouver

Dress for Success Vancouver is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since its inception in 1999, Dress for Success Vancouver has helped more than 17,000 women towards self-sufficiency.

Event Details
Get your tickets at www.dressforsuccess.org/vancouver
Enjoy a 3 course lunch and the opportunity to network with other prominent business contacts across all sectors.

All proceeds are in support of Dress for Success Vancouver!

Client Spotlight, Cathyleen Chan

Name: Cathyleen Chan

When did you first get introduced to Dress for Success Vancouver? I was first introduced to Dress for Success Vancouver in the fall of 2011 and was amazed that women who were in need were decently helped.

What has been your most important lesson from the PWG program? Networking is a must here.

What is your occupation? English Instructor.

Who is your hero? Anyone who faces challenges is my hero.

Where is your dream vacation? No dream vacation. I am where I am; things come to me naturally.

What is your motto? Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and take whatever it is.

How Dress for Success inspired me in Miami

This July, I was fortunate enough to be selected as a delegate of Dress for Success Vancouver's Professional Women's Group (PWG) for the 9th annual Success Summit. It is a Dress For Success Leadership Conference for women, hosted by Kimpton Hotels in Miami, Florida. I had the privilege of meeting other delegates from Dress For Success branches around the world, who will all be leading their groups in creating community action projects (CAP) over the next year in their respective locations.

Genevieve Sechter, PWG Member

When I first arrived in Miami, I marveled at how surreal it all seemed. Friday morning I put on the suit that I had been fitted into for a special photo shoot. Tiger lily in hand I headed to the studio. My curls were styled by RedKen, and Bobbi Brown made sure my face was camera ready. I was relieved to hear one of the staff say, “This lily really stands out in this conference room.” I wondered if she knew it represented my soul. Either way God and I both knew I needed to hear that. The photographer was absolutely amazing. All of this was for the first ever Dress for Success coffee table book, “Threads” being created by co:collective in New York. It will weave together the stories of several women who ended up at the doors of Dress for Success. It is expected to be released in December and I am curious to see how it all comes together.

Over the next couple of days, we got to hear from a host of inspirational women, including two of the delegates with the most successful projects from last year. They shared their journeys, triumphs, struggles and general project models with us. It was very inspiring. What struck me the most was that anytime something is really worthwhile you are going to want to quit. You and people around you are going to come up with so many reasons why something is not possible, but that does not need to stop you. In simple terms, it was said, “You are going to want to quit. Don't.” These delegates were the most surprised by themselves and how willing people were to help them when they asked.

By the end of the weekend I definitely had one of those, “If I knew then what I know now” perspectives. All of my concerns walking into the weekend were completely unnecessary. I was the right lady for this. I belonged. I could do it. Knowing you are not alone is a powerful thing. I was affirmed and validated again and again by the speakers, the delegates and the coordinators. As they shared their stories I certainly did pick out threads of mine and shared the mutual shock with other delegates who said, “It was like she was telling my story.” One of the most important things I took away was that anything is possible, we do not need to be defined by our present or past circumstances. I've always believed that, but it was a different thing when I was in a room full of women who are at different places on that very journey, and many of them have been right in my shoes at one time or another.

My CAP is an embryo right now, but here's what I know. I want to use the arts to bring healing and celebration to people. This could take many different forms, including a one day event with follow up, a weekend, or a 12 week evening program. My first step will be to launch a vision for my PWG and get their feedback. Once I have a team on board we can brainstorm the details, secure resources and get started! My initial decisions will involve which community of people to offer this gift to, whether to partner with an organization(s) or whether to secure required components independently, as well as which parts to handle myself and what to delegate. I chose this topic because the arts have been an integral part of my personal journey of healing, starting with acting and dancing roles in biblical plays as a young teenager, and painting and poetry in my later teen years. Through art, going deep can seem like playing, and sometimes it is. If you are an artist that would like to contribute a workshop or if you have a space that you would be willing to donate or any other ideas to offer, please comment below or find me on Facebook and send me a message.

Genevieve Sechter
PWG Member
Dress for Success Vancouver

Mentor Spotlight: Kim Conroy, Career Centre

Name:  Kim Conroy

How long have you been a mentor with DFS Vancouver? Since 2006 (with some time off in 2012).  Started with Saturday group and now with Thursday TDPWG group.

What is the best thing about being a mentor here? Any memorable moments? The best thing about being a mentor is making connections with women that I would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.   The diversity of the women I have worked with is amazing to me.  I am humbled by the stories I hear and truly inspired by the strength and courage I see and hear about.  Even though our life experiences may have been different, I believe that the opportunity to connect and acknowledge that we are not alone on this journey can offer insight and support to us all.  I am very grateful for the lessons I have learned about myself through all my experiences with DFS, but mostly that compassion and connection enable us all to develop courage and a stronger sense of belonging.

What do you do with your time when not volunteering at DFS Vancouver?  Right now, I am in my own period of transition, so I spend a lot of time reading and writing.  I am an avid journal writer and have also recently started a blog.  I am also passionate about photography, a relatively new interest, and I have taken a number of workshops in Santa Fe and Vancouver to improve my skills and to connect with other enthusiasts.

Who is your style icon? Don’t really have a style icon, but people who inspire me to live a more authentic life include Brene Brown, Phillip Moffitt and kd lang.

Dream vacation?  An opportunity to learn about a place and the people who live there – and also to make some great photographs!  That is really energizing, whether it is close to home or around the world.

What is your motto? I'll leave you with a quote from Brene Brown: "Empathy is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting and communicating that incredibly healing message 'You're not alone'".

A Dress for Success Inspiration - Meet Aurea Lucas!

Aurea Lucas was introduced to Dress for Success Vancouver in 2006 by Aware Cloverdale. She became a member of the Professional Women’s Group (PWG) in 2007 and got the most out of each meeting by building friendships and being open to learn and discover new skills. 

Aurea connected with the Filipino community In Surrey and started hosting meetings to share all of the important lessons she had learnt at the PWG meetings.

Currently, Aurea is a Settlement Program Officer for SUCCESS, an organization which helps to serve immigrants living in Surrey. She is also utilizing her background in social work and sociology by serving as a Certified Career Development Practioneer in British Columbia.

Despite a schedule chalk full with work, family and volunteer work, Aurea is comitted to a healthy lifestyle.  Her path to fitness and nutrition was influenced by her friend Lucia, and The Active Choices program. It was also through this program where she had the opportintiy to meet many important people in her life like Trude Huber, Angela Sealy and Coach Karen.

Aurea continutes to play an improtant role at Dress for Success as a PWG Alumni. Come join us for the 2013 Power Walk on May 11^th to hear Aurea tell more of her story!

Starting the New Year with a SPARK!

Dress for Success Vancouver's Professional Women's Group had their monthly meeting on Saturday, January 26th.   Lorie Corcuera and Aileen De La Torre of Spark Creations are essence coaches who conducted a one hour session to help our members discover their core values.

Lorie Corcuera shares feedback from the group- a vision board for finding your essence.

It was a busy hour for the women as they got up on their feet, did group exercises and learned how to receive and give feedback to small groups that consisted of their "sparkners".

Dress for Success Intern Alice thanks Lorie and Aileen for their  session.

The women left the session feeling "inspired", "empowered" and "excited" as they re-discovered their Spark!  Thank you to Lorie and Aileen of Spark Creations for donating your time and wisdom by helping inspire the women of the Professional Women's Group.   It was a great way to start the Year!

Ready for a financial breakthrough? Come to the Wealth Academy

Save the Date: Saturday, February 2^nd, 2013.

 

Learn everything you need to know about money! Join us for the 7th Annual Wealth Academy for Women. There will be a great line up of amazing female presenters who understand more than finance – they understand how it is that women can learn about this commodity that affects everything we do in life. They understand how hard it can be to earn it – and how challenging it is to hang on to it. They are donating their time and skills to help us raise funds for Dress for Success Vancouver, and to help us to gain the freedom that knowledge can provide.

For only $89, (for tickets purchased in advance) you’ll learn how to have a positive relationship with what you earn. In addition you can sponsor someone from our Professional Women's Group and will be eligible for a tax receipt for the cost of sending her! Remember-100% of all proceeds will go towards Dress for Success. Sign up now! 

For more information:

sophiawealthacademy.com

HeartBroke Book Launch Today!

$1 from the sale of each book will support Dress for Success Vancouver's Book Club, a new program that will be offered to Professional Women's Group Members and Alumni.

Buy HeartBroke today (Nov 9) and gain access to $750 in FREE GIFTS! Visit http://www.heartbrokebook.com/ for more details and to buy!

"I was 42-years old, in phenominal shape and all set to run a half-marathon. My five-year-old business was taking off, and a spicy romance added sparkle to my day. My life was full, thriving and packed with fun. But, within three months and independant of eachother, the romance ended, I underwent emergency heart surgery and I closed down my beloved business. I call this time in my life "The Crumble"..." -- Christine Monaghan, Author HeartBroke

PWG Members 'Getting Ready for the Holiday Party' event at Wearelse

On Wednesday, November 18th Wear Else hosted an event for our PWG ladies at their West 4th Avenue store. Thanks to Zahra, Jennifer and Crystal for their efforts in making this 'Get Ready for the Holiday Party' event so special. Members of our Professional Women's Group were able to spend time trying on clothes that Wear Else had collected from donors. PWG Members took holiday attire home for free and also received complimentary hair styles, provided by Suki's and complimentary makeover's, provided by Blanche Macdonald's Make-Up program students . Wear Else also provided pizza and beverages while Giovanni Amenta from Pink & Grey gave PWG members an engaging presentation on the topic of dressing for your body type.