The National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section's Career Closet is back and better than ever in a new home located in a Livingston office building.

The Career Closet has been around for 10 years and it stocks donated business clothing and accessories to help economically-struggling women find appropriate attire for job interviews and professional office work.

The closet serves women from about 50 different agencies and about 200 clients use it each year, said NCJW Essex County section volunteers Teddi Dolph and Anita Cohen, who help manage it with other volunteers. 

The closet previously was housed in the basement of Saint James Episcopal Church in Upper Montclair, but the NCJW had to relocate the service after Hurricane Irene flooded the church and damaged about half of the inventory, said NCJW Essex County Section President Jill Johnson.

The new location, located in a three-room basement office inside 349 E. Northfield Road, has been redecorated to look like a chic boutique. Elegant handbags and jewelery line one wall, while racks of dress shirts, jackets, pants, skirts and shoes line another room. There are two dressing stalls and another room for sorting and storing outfits.

Several well-wishers showed up for a special ribbon cutting on Wednesday to mark the re-opening. Clients will start visiting the closet next week.

Livingston Mayor Stephen Santola praised the NCJW Essex County section for finding a good central location for clients to visit. "Frankly, I'd like to know how you can donate (items) because of my wife's closet," he joked. 

Essex County Freeholder Patricia Sebold noted the new location is very convenient to get to by car or public bus and she said it was a beautiful place. Sebold noted she has donated pantsuits to the Montclair site. 

The closet layout was designed by former NJCW volunteer Donna Rosenzweig, of Denville, and it was implemented by California Closets of Fairfield. 

Dolph, of North Caldwell, and Cohen, of Livingston, said their favorite part of volunteerings in the closet is helping their clients pick out clothing and accessories that fit them and that will help them move forward in the workplace. They said the closet has clothing in all shapes and sizes and their clients range in age from 17 to 82 years-old.

The career closet is open by appointment only for clients and people who want to donate clothing and accessories. Items that are in high demand include business attire in petite and plus sizes, blouses and business suit shells and shoes. 

For more information about the career closet, including guidelines for clothing and accessory donations or to volunteer or see if you qualify for assistance, call NCJW Essex at (973) 994-4994, e-mail careercloset.ncjw@gmail.com or visit their website.