Atlantic Cape Students Dress to Impress at Hospitality Management Club’s 2nd Annual Fashion Show Do’s and Don’ts Event

MAYS LANDING — It has been said that clothes make the man, or the woman, and that dressing to impress will greet you with success. So, students from Atlantic Cape Community College showcased their eye for professional and business fashion at the 2nd Annual Fashion Show Do’s and Don’ts in the Walter E. Edge Theater at the Mays Landing campus on November 30.

“The purpose of this fashion show is to express the importance of dressing for success. The excitement has been building all semester for this event and students from all majors joined in to model,” said Hospitality Management Club Advisor and Assistant Professor Jeanine DiNardo, who hosted the evening’s festivities alongside sophomore Communication major and Atlantic Cape Review student newspaper Editor Katherine “Kat” Jaques. “These student-focused events build friendships and memories that carry on long after graduation.”

Examples of the dapper wardrobe displays featured included a male student model clad in a power-statement red suit jacket, one showing confidence with a business sweater over a dress shirt, one in a sleek black-on-black outfit complete with black turtleneck shirt and another in an all-black ensemble with red power tie.

Meanwhile, the conservative route was the way for some of the gentlemen. One selected a navy-blue suit with a white dress shirt. Two others showed how mixing-and-matching varying colors make for a winning combination. The first student sported a blue suit jacket with green tie and black pants while another strutted in white pants, checkered dress shirt and light blue vest. Student Chris Caracci, who has been playing the piano since he was 10 years old, dressed the part while also entertaining the crowd with a talented piano solo.

Examples of the ladies wowing the audience included one student in a conservative business suit and glasses, displaying business savvy and confidence, while another wore a minimalist outfit complete with black pants and tan blouse. Student Morgan Kenny, who vocally performed “My Favorite Things” from the cinema classic The Sound of Music, modeled two dresses that were elegant yet sophisticated.

While the students were dressed to the nines in their Sunday best, several Atlantic Cape faculty members were dressed in attire that would not be recommended for a job interview. Following a brief, faux interview, each student and faculty member were serenaded with an emphatic “hired” or a playful catcall of “go home.”

Several of the professional business outfits modeled by the male and female students on this night came directly from the college’s Campus Closet, which was created earlier this year by Assistant Professor DiNardo as a way to provide lightly-worn professional clothes from men’s business suits, shirts, pants, ties and shoes to women’s dresses, skirts, blouses, jackets, shoes and accessories for students currently enrolled at Atlantic Cape who may be in need of casual business attire for professional interviews, class presentations, events and various college-related activities.

The Campus Closet recently held a grand reopening ceremony for its new, expanded and open boutique-style location in room G-223 on the second floor of the Student Center in G Building. The move also allowed the Campus Closet to offer a dressing room in G-217 for students to try on clothes as well. Donations are accepted at the public safety (security) building on the Mays Landing campus, room W217 at the Worthington Atlantic City campus and at the information desk at the Cape May County campus. Sizes available for male and female students range from XS to 3XL.

Hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 3 - 5 p.m. For more information on how and where to donate, contact The Campus Closet at thecampuscloset@atlanticcape.edu.

Click here to view a photo gallery of this event.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited and 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.