Stepping Out in Style, the annual fundraiser for Dress for Success Indianapolis, has sold out ahead of its latest edition, with organizers expecting about 1,300 attendees for a night that funds roughly 60% of the nonprofit's operating budget supporting women pursuing careers and economic mobility.
The event, prepared each year by Dress for Success Indianapolis, is built around a fashion show featuring local designers, according to WISH-TV. This year's gathering marks the fundraiser's 24th year, and guests can expect a diamond dig, a wine and spirits pool, a raffle, and booths from local-community vendors alongside the runway show, the station reports. Patrick Bouquett, host of Fab Talk, appeared with Julie Petr and Akilah Darden on Life.Style.Live!, per the same account.
A Party With a Purpose
Akilah Darden, co-chair of Stepping Out in Style, told the station that celebrating alongside the cause is part of what makes the night resonate with attendees. Julie Petr, executive director of Dress for Success Indianapolis, has overseen an organization that the station says has supported more than 21,000 women in central Indiana since it was founded in 1999.
Dress for Success Indianapolis was founded in 1999 and is headquartered at 820 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis. The nonprofit describes its mission as empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help them thrive in work and life, according to causeiq.com's profile of the organization.
From Interview Suits to Long-Term Careers
Beyond the annual gala, the organization's day-to-day work centers on outfitting women for job interviews and helping them build careers that last. Dress for Success Indianapolis provides professional clothing to women entering or re-entering the workforce, including suits, shoes, purses and portfolios, the station notes. Women who land jobs can return for clothing appropriate to their new workplaces, and the nonprofit also helps with resumes, job applications, LinkedIn profiles and mock interviews, per the same account.
Those services fit within broader professional development programs the organization offers, which the station reports are designed to help women advance from finding jobs to better opportunities and long-term careers. A GuideStar profile of the organization describes a career development center offering computer access, mock interviews, resume development, career counseling and assistance with online job applications, according to guidestar.org. The same profile describes a Style for Success program that provides a woman with a complete suit ensemble, including accessories, paired with one-on-one help from a volunteer personal shopper.
The organization is careful to describe the limits of what it does. Its own FAQ page states that the programs at Dress for Success Indianapolis prepare women to search for and secure employment, rather than placing them directly into jobs, according to indydfs.org. That same source notes that career coaching and success coaching are built into the two-hour in-person clothing appointment, with additional coaching sessions available separately.
Outcomes the Organization Reports
GuideStar's profile also cites a set of outcome figures tied to the group's coaching work: 52% of members overcame employment barriers with one-on-one success coaching, 62% took educational classes to learn skills and further their careers, and 65% of Professional Women's Group members earned a raise or promotion. The Professional Women's Group itself is open to all employed women, regardless of industry or job type, per indydfs.org.
Financial records in the available evidence show some variation depending on the source and year. A snippet describing a fiscal year 2021 Form 990 filing lists revenue of $718,000 and expenses of $679,000 for that year, while a separate 2024 filing reviewed by instrumentl.com is described as the organization's most recent available tax filing. Nonprofit tracker projects.propublica.org classifies Dress For Success Indianapolis Inc. under employment procurement assistance and job training.
How to Get Involved
The organization is inviting more than just gala guests to pitch in. Dress for Success Indianapolis accepts financial donations, clothing donations and volunteers, and it is specifically seeking volunteers interested in mentorship, the station reports. Clothing donations can be dropped off onsite on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and participating dry cleaners around Indianapolis also accept donations on the nonprofit's behalf during normal business hours, according to indydfs.org.
Donors looking for a deeper commitment can join the Pearl Society, a group the organization created to support local women pursuing employment and economic independence, per indydfs.org. Membership requires a minimum tax-deductible donation of $1,000, which the organization says will provide five or more local women with a fitting appointment for a business suit, blouses, shoes, purse and accessories, along with career and job-placement support services.
Looking ahead, organizers are already planning for a bigger milestone. This year's fundraiser marks the event's 24th year, and the 2027 edition of Stepping Out in Style is set to celebrate the fundraiser's 25th anniversary, with anniversary celebrations planned to begin in January 2027 and continue through fall of that year, the station reports. For now, the sold-out crowd expected this year reflects an organization that, according to its own description, provides resources, support and connections to women recovering from hardship, returning to work or changing careers. More information on the nonprofit's programs is available at indydfs.org.
