J.C. Penney, SUNY Oswego team up to ‘Suit Up’ students

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego State’s Career Services Department teamed up with J.C. Penney to help students fill their closets with professional attire at a significant discount.

It was part of an event J.C. Penney calls, “Suit Up!”  It took place Sunday at  J.C. Penney’s Destiny USA location in Syracuse.

J.C. Penney stocked up its inventory and opened its doors after hours exclusively for SUNY Oswego students Sunday.

SUNY Oswego junior Abbey Buttacavoli  was one of the students preparing to take the shopping excursion Sunday afternoon.

“I’m looking to find things extremely cheap, maybe a few dresses, because those things could be expensive,” Buttacavoli said.

J.C. Penney has offered the “Suit Up” program to students at nearby colleges for several years, but this is the first time SUNY Oswego has participated, Career Services Director Gary Morris said.

“They approached us, and we jumped all over it.  We thought it was a fantastic opportunity for our students,” Morris said.

Employees at J.C. Penney helped students dress to impress by pointing out business appropriate attire and helping students find the right look and fit.

“I think the bigger picture here is professionalism for our students, and in large part, that first impression comes down to what they’re wearing,” Morris said.

J.C. Penney associates also offered makeup tips, but for Buttacavoli, it was all about the clothing discounts.

“This is a really great opportunity to go out and buy enough clothes so you don’t have to wear the same things four times,” Buttacavoli said.

The “Suit Up” program could become an annual collaboration between J.C. Penney and SUNY Oswego, Morris said.