Fashion forward: Sewickley Academy graduate continues senior project for Dress for Success

When Kendall Sykes was a junior in high school looking for her first job, Elizabeth Sykes took her daughter to Bellwether in Sewickley.

The Beaver Street shop features the latest styles from casual to evening wear, jewelry, shoes and home goods.

“Over the past three years working at Bellwether, I’ve been lucky to be part of a team of strong, empowering women who have taught me how to lead with confidence and stay true to myself,” Sykes said.

So when she was thinking of what to do for her senior project at Sewickley Academy last year — students are encouraged to find a project that makes a difference in the lives of others — she said she wanted to do something she cared about.

Sykes said her mother, who worked for Calvin Klein in New York City, introduced her to fashion and Bellwether owner Norma Cheek and manager Lauren Pentland have inspired her to love fashion even more.

For her project, Sykes decided to host Dress for Success & Bellwether, an event where people can donate clothing, footwear and accessories.

“We decided Dress for Success is perfect because they are dedicated to empowering women and so are Norma and Lauren,” Sykes said. “Dress for Success helps women with the tools they need to enter the workforce, offering clothing, hygiene products, shoes, scrubs and job training programs. Bellwether felt like the perfect place to host a donation drive that supports and uplifts women in need.”

The store will be collecting donations and offering a 20% discount to those who bring in items to donate, with 10% of the proceeds from the day will be donated to Dress for Success.

The event will feature raffles, permanent jewelry, light bites and more.

“Kendall is a gift and shows how our mission of empowering women reaches students such as Kendall to help them understand the importance of supporting local women,” said Tanya Vokes, Dress Success Pittsburgh CEO, which encompasses Allegheny, Washington, Butler, Greene and Fayette counties. “With her, we have a lifelong community person.”

Vokes said it is important to have both items for the workforce as well as everyday wear because some of these women may have come from an unsafe situation where they had to leave quickly and weren’t able to bring much of their personal belongings.

Cheek and Pentland said they are thrilled to be having the second annual Dress for Success benefit.

They said Sykes took the initiative to host this event last year and is passionate about keeping the tradition going.

“I was definitely impressed with what people from Sewickley brought last year,” Sykes said. “I had a big bin and it was overflowing — there were bags and bags of donations. Seeing how generous people are, I wanted to do this again.”

Sykes, who is now majoring in business administration with an emphasis on marketing at Chapman University in California, will be home for the event.

“Dress for Success helps women make a good first impression,” said Sykes, 19. “They are confident and empowered. Working at Bellwether is awesome. They are the backbone of this project and have helped me so much.”

Sykes has created a QR code with the items they are most in need of, such as jewelry, handbags, shoes, feminine products and medical scrubs. They can always use business clothing and casual items as well.