From Closed Doors to Open Closets

I realized recently, I never shared the story of my Professional Dress Pop-Up Shop and how it came to be on the blog before. I haven't shared why it mattered so much to me, and the journey it took to bring it to life. To most, it may have looked like a two-day event that showed up out of nowhere. But the truth is, it was years in the making, full of setbacks, “no’s,” and moments where it would have been easier to let the idea go.

Sometimes the best ideas don’t happen when the timing is “right”—they happen when you refuse to give up on the vision you know is needed.

“Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.” – Unknown

The idea for a pop-up professional clothing closet at my university had been in my heart long before it came to life. I first tried to bring it forward by partnering with the professional development office as well as again when I joined the team. Each attempt, however, was met with reasons why it couldn’t happen; we don’t have the staff, to support it, t’s not the right time, it needs to be “done right” when we do it and other reasons that spoke to it just not being a top of the agenda item. While the feedback stung, I never stopped believing in the impact it could have for students.

Eventually, I decided to stop waiting for “perfect conditions” and move forward on my own. I applied for a university grant that supports innovative ideas from students and staff to improve campus life. I later received an email that my proposal wasn’t accepted, BUT that the someone on the committee that reviewed the submissions, thought it was a great idea and had an idea to present it to another group who could provide funding for my project.

From there, the Career Closet Pop-Up Shop was born. I transformed our department’s career lab into a full-scale boutique, complete with clothing racks, size separators included, mannequins borrowed from the fashion department, tie racks repurposed from old office resource guide stands, iterview rooms doubling as dressing rooms, a checkout station with shopping bags, and even guides to local thrift and secondhand shops for students who wanted to keep building their professional wardrobe.

What happened next was beyond what I imagined. Over the two-day event, more than 450 students attended, over 1,000 clothing items were donated, and nearly 400 professional outfits were styled and created for students preparing for interviews, internships, presentations, and other professional experiences. It became one of the biggest student turnouts our department had ever seen.

For me, this project wasn’t just about the clothing. It was about proving to myself—and to others—that when you have a vision, you don’t stop at “no.” I didn’t quit. I found another way. Today, I am proud that this pop-up has become more than a one-time event. Donations are still coming in, and plans are already in motion for the next pop-up shop. I was also selected to present this idea at a networking event, where I shared not just the logistics, but the spirit behind it: creating access, building confidence, and helping students show up as their best selves.

This experience reminded me of something powerful: sometimes you have to bet on yourself. When you believe in your God-given purpose and lean into your gifts, doors will open—even if they’re not the ones you first knocked on.

So to anyone sitting on an idea, a vision, or a dream that won’t leave you alone: trust it. Nurture it. And when you hear “no,” don’t stop. Find another way. Because what you’re carrying just might change someone else’s life.

With Style and Grace,

-Bianca