AUBURN – Linda Sherwood remembers the difficulty of starting a new job without the wardrobe to match.

Sherwood, founder of Aliyuh Consulting, started her own public relations company two years ago after being home for a number of years. But as a single mother of five children, she found there was precious little cash to invest in new clothes for her new career.

“I had a heck of time finding affordable clothes,” said Sherwood.

She and a group of volunteers from the Maine Women’s Network are making it easier for the next round of women entering the workforce. Together they have launched Classy Lady Boutique, a nonprofit clothing boutique for women in need of professional, affordable clothes.

“We want to help women get back in the workforce and have decent working clothes,” she said.

To that end, the group has rented space at 165 Lisbon St., the former location of Manic Designs. They are asking for donations of gently used, quality professional clothes and accessories for the store’s inventory, as well as volunteers to help get the space ready.

“We’re asking that people bring in clothes already on hangers and laundered,” she said. “Please, no bags of clothing, since we don’t have staff to sort through them.”

The group is planning a fall opening.

Sherwood said there are plans to offer more than just clothes at Classy Lady. Career counseling is on the list, an outreach effort by the Androscoggin chapter of the women’s network.

“We hope to have mentors available when women come in,” she said, to give clients tips on interviewing and other work-related skills. Women with five years’ experience in the work force, and especially those with management experience, are asked to consider volunteering as mentors.

Sherwood said there are also plans to have color and makeup consultations at Classy Lady. The idea is to make women feel as self-confident as possible as they enter or re-enter the work force.

Clothing donations may be dropped off at Fleet Bank, 993 Lisbon St.; The Hartford Agency, 10 Falcon Road (behind Sparetime Recreation); and, as of Aug. 31, at the Classy Lady Boutique, 165 Lisbon St. Donated clothing may also be brought to the Maine Women’s Network Celebration of Amazing Women at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, Auburn, from 10 a.m. to noon on June 25.

The group is also asking for donations of paint, carpeting, office equipment and lighting fixtures for the store. Financial donations are also welcomed.

Sherwood said people who want more details about donations or more information about Classy Lady may contact her at 786-9750, or send e-mail to [email protected], or visit the Web site at www.classylady.net.

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