Career Closet
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Looking for professional attire for your next career opportunity? The SPH Career Closet serves as a valuable campus resource, providing high-quality professional clothing at no cost to current and former students. Whether you’re preparing for a critical job interview, attending a networking event, or delivering an important presentation, our carefully curated collection ensures you’ll present yourself with confidence and professionalism. We’re here to support your career success—visit us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Business Professional
Think of what you would wear to an interview or in a conservative work environment such as accounting, financing, or organizations that have very strict dress codes. Typically with business professional attire, you are wearing a full pant, dress, or skirt suit. Dress shoes and ties are mandatory.
Business Casual
This is where things can get a little tricky. Every employer has a different definition of business casual, depending on where you work you will depend on the type of items you can wear. Business casual is typically what you would wear to work every day. This includes slacks or khakis, dress shirt or blouse, open-collar or polo shirt, optional tie or seasonal sport coat, a dress or skirt at knee-length or below, a tailored blazer, knit shirt or sweater, and loafers or dress shoes. However, the leniency with the casual aspect depends on the employer.
🧥 Thrift & Secondhand Options
- Brown Elephant – A well-known thrift store with a good selection of gently used professional clothing.
- Village Discount Outlet – Multiple locations with very low prices; great for scoring hidden gems.
- Salvation Army & Goodwill – Still solid options, especially on discount days.
- Let’s Change! (Humboldt Park) & El Dorado (Logan Square) – Local thrift shops with curated selections of brands like LOFT, J.Crew, and Express
🛒 Online Options
- Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, eBay and Poshmark – Great for secondhand professional clothing. Look for sellers offering free returns and local shipping for faster delivery
- ThredUp- Online consignment store with a huge selection of gently used professional clothing.
🛍️ Budget-Friendly Clothing Stores
Nordstrom Rack, Ross, Marshalls, JCPenney, and TJ Maxx – These national chains have multiple locations in Chicago and are consistently recommended for discounted professional attire
No
You do not need to return any items, keep and enjoy for future professional opportunities.
Donations
The Professional Attire Closet is currently accepting clothing donations. We accept suit jackets, blazers, dress shirts, dress pants, skirts, dresses, and ties. We do not accept used undergarments. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Please ensure all donations come to the Closet clean, washed, or dry cleaned. Feel free to stop by the Closet yourself and drop them off with us! We are happy to help and thankful for your donations.
You can also mail donations to us at any time, as we continually accept donations throughout the year. If you would like to mail your donations, please feel free to send them to the following address:
ATTN: SPH Career Services 1603 W Taylor St. Suite 190B (MC 923) Chicago, IL 60612
Career Closet
The SPH Career Closet is located on the Ground Floor of UIC School of Public Health Room 103
Support Success
We kindly ask that donations reflect current professional standards and be in gently worn or new condition to ensure students feel confident when they step into an interview or professional setting
Masculine Styles
- Solid-color ties
- Brown or Black belts
- Button-down shirts
- Suits and individual blazers, sizes 28-40
- Dress pants, sizes 28-36
- Dress Shoes, 9 – 11
Feminine Styles
- Black dress pants for women sizes 0-20
- Pant suits, 0-6, 14
- Shoes, sizes 5-11
- Black pencil skirts
- Solid-color blouses
- Solid-color button up shirts
- Solid-color professional dresses
Recurring Needs
- Hangers
- scarves
- padfolios
- New socks or stockings