Trying to find accommodating and affordable attire for your first job in the courthouse on a starting salary is not an easy task Brenda Seibert found young in her career. Flashbacks of her rummaging through clothes racks came to mind as she began her teaching job at Bucks around 10 years ago meeting and instructing students who were venturing into their job fields. Now her aspirations of helping the process become less stressful for students have become a reality with the start of the Blazer Bar in the spring 24’ semester.
Seibert, a paralegal professor and advisor to the paralegal club, had the idea of having blazers available for students on campus, with no charge at all, since she first arrived. With the support of her department, assistance in obtaining federal grants and a bountiful amount of donations from Facebook moms all over Bucks County she has made that happen.
“Last summer I would put my little kids in their car seats, and we’d drive around picking up the blazers that were donated,” Seibert said. “Like a lot of other moms, I’m on a moms’ Facebook group so I posted it there and it got a really overwhelming response.”
There was one crucial point she stressed in her donation posts, “I wasn’t gonna do it and wasn’t gonna say that we were ready to do this unless we were size-inclusive. That’s a big deal to me,” Seibert said. The Blazer Bar lines the upper floor of Grupp Hall with fashions ranging in every size and gender to accommodate everyone.
The BB also has different styles to fit every job description with attire, “for a conservative law firm or marketing at Mattel,” Seibert joked gesturing to a hot pink pantsuit. She also originally only thought of blazers since they were the most expensive piece of clothing and not easily found. Donators generously gave matching pants, dress shirts and their first tie, thanks to a recent student donation.
“I get a lot of joy looking at every single article of clothing here and there was a person who either knows me personally or saw what I was doing and they took the time and effort to get it to me.”
Seibert runs the BB on the honor code but it’s also “whatever they need.” There is no charge, no sign-up sheet, rental or return policy. Each piece also comes with a note of “the lack of expectations.” The note also includes Seibert’s contact information offering interview prep, time and stress management, getting a promotion or getting your first job.
She assists students with how professional clothes should fit and inexpensive ways to tailor. Suggesting fashion tape to hem pants, or a tool that tacks fabric together as a hem. “Blazers don’t have to be perfect,” Seibert says explaining it’s alright if the sleeves are a little long because you can always roll them up.
Spring semesters can be filled with internships and job interviews or graduating and wanting to step into their industry. “One student walked by last week and said ‘I have a job interview Monday I was gonna go shopping this weekend’ and she took a whole suit,” Seibert said.
The Blazer Bar is occurring every Wednesday until the end of the semester on the fourth floor of Grupp Hall 9 – 10:45 a.m. and 1-2:45 p.m.