Green and keen for success
Central Leader
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Green has turned out to be a lucky colour for Linda Everett.
It was the colour of her first suit, given to her by the charity Dress for Success, and after wearing it to a job interview she was offered the position.
A decade on, the head of Onehunga High School’s business school is returning to the charity, which provides clothes and accessories to women entering the workforce, to talk about her experience for its 10th birthday celebrations.
Ms Everett was a mature student when she completed her business degree and when she got a job interview, one of her senior lecturers referred her to Dress for Success. The service had only been going for a year and was based under the Civic Theatre in the city.
"There were makeshift changing rooms and two women there who showed me a variety of clothes. At that stage you were allowed two outfits."
Along with the clothes, she was given shoes, a handbag, makeup and pantyhose.
"They did a makeover. It was a bit like Trinny and Susannah 10 years ago."
Ms Everett says she was self-conscious going in because she had tattoos, but was made to feel at ease.
She was also given a corporate suit but the green outfit won over on the day when she wore it for her interview as an operations co-ordinator for patient information at the former National Women’s Hospital.
She even wore the green suit on the former Good Morning show with the late Angela D’Audney when the programme did a segment on Dress for Success.
Ms Everett became involved with the charity again by chance when a woman who was on the board and working for Auckland University came to talk to her about the business school.
They realised they knew each other and talked about the upcoming celebrations.
"They were having Suit and Salad and needed a client speaker and suggested me."
She says her experience with Dress for Success all those years ago gave her confidence "a real boost".
Ms Everett still has the suit although she wears the skirt and jacket separately with other clothes.
Dress for Success Auckland executive manager Julie Mackey says the occasion will be celebrated at the Suit and Salad fundraising lunch on Friday.
The organisation’s worldwide chief executive Joi Gordon will speak at the event along with Ms Everett.
"There’s no other reason we’re together other than to help people like Linda go out there and conquer the world and she is such a fabulous example," says Ms Mackey.
