Shopping for Good! The story of how we build style, community, and philanthropy in Denver.
Six years ago, I left my VP job to experiment, to try an idea I had been thinking about for many years. I wanted to elevate style and fashion in Denver, but I did not want to be locked-into a brick and mortar store. I wanted to pop-up each season with fresh fun seasonal clothes that you don't find at the mall. I wanted to bring women together to shop, network, dance and do what we do so well, have fun together. So I took a sabbatical (I am aware of the privilege!). My husband said: you have 6 months to make it work. Project Style Denver launched its first pop-up shop in 2014 in the home of my former boss, the fabulous Christine Benero, CEO of Mile High United Way. More than 100 women came to shop over a long weekend. We shopped, we laughed, we complemented each other, and we had great fun. I hosted the following pop up in my home; another successful event. So successful that I quickly realized I could no longer host it in a home. It w as time to find space to pop-up. Soon after, I began working with nonprofits in Denver to host the pop-up shops as a fundraising event. Project Style's list of fashionistas grew to over 500 shoppers, added to that was the nonprofits supporters and we ended up with a fundraising fashion event every spring and fall in Denver.. My philanthropic giving is four times what it was when I was writing checks on my own. The combined contributions of each sale add up, and they are donated to wonderful organizations doing great work in Denver.