DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University’s biannual Dress to Impress event once again helped students take a confident step toward their professional futures, thanks in part to a partnership with Decatur menswear retailer The Brass Horn.
Hosted by Millikin’s Student Success Center, Dress to Impress provides students with access to professional attire at no cost and offers guidance on how to dress for interviews, internships, and early-career opportunities. For many students, the event marks their first experience wearing business or business-casual attire, an experience that can be both transformative and empowering.
“For a lot of these students, it’s the first time they’ve ever put on a suit jacket,” said Zack Stroud, a sales specialist at The Brass Horn, who has volunteered with Dress to Impress since its inception. “It’s fun explaining how things go together and why you dress a certain way. You can see how excited and confident they get.”
Stroud, who has worked at The Brass Horn for 11 years, has helped fit students for Dress to Impress nearly every semester since the program began and said the experience never gets old.
“You dress the way you feel,” Stroud said. “If you look good, you’re going to feel good. Confidence, especially in a job interview, makes a huge difference.”
The Brass Horn plays a key role in supporting Dress to Impress through clothing donations from customers who are retiring, changing sizes, or looking to pass along professional attire to someone who will truly benefit from it. Donations range from suits and sport coats to polos, sweaters, belts, and shoes, helping ensure students can build a complete professional wardrobe.
“We’re able to find this clothing a new home and help students start their futures on the right foot,” Stroud said.
The partnership between Millikin and The Brass Horn extends beyond Dress to Impress. In recent years, the Decatur business has collaborated with the University to offer an exclusive line of Millikin-branded apparel, providing alumni, students, and supporters with another way to show their Big Blue pride through high-quality, professional clothing.
“It’s been exciting to give alumni and supporters another avenue to wear Millikin branding,” Stroud said. “We’re always looking at ways to keep things fresh and offer something unique.”
Together, Dress to Impress and Millikin’s partnership with The Brass Horn highlight the University’s commitment to Performance Learning, career readiness, and meaningful community collaboration. It ensures students feel prepared to step confidently into their next opportunity.
