DATE: Friday, September 26, 1997            TAG: 9709260805

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NIA NGINA MEEKS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   70 lines

ACTIVIST SEES CLOTHING AS THE KEY TO FREEDOM

Beverly Downs sweats the details. Earrings, suits, scarves, shoes and bags are among the rungs of the ladder to success - even for those just beginning that climb, in her view. Hence, Kingdom Wardrobe, the not-for-profit organization Downs launched in February.

She accepts referrals from job-readiness programs, shelters, churches and other social service agencies where women are preparing to enter or re-enter the 9-to-5 world.

``We provide them with adequate clothing so that they'll have the best presentation when they go in for that job,'' Downs said. ``They may have skills, but not look good. The employer does want a certain professional look in his or her environment.

``If a woman has run-over shoes, can't afford pantyhose, she doesn't feel good. The better she looks, the better she feels,'' she said.

On Thursday, quite a few of her patrons showed off their haute couture at a fashion show at Tidewater Community College's Norfolk campus.

Some were a bit nervous.

``I'm scared,'' Selina Woodhouse said as she picked out accessories in the dressing room. ``You know how it is, when it's a lot of people.''

The 11 women crammed in that room made for a crowd of their own. All will soon graduate from a job training program at TCC to begin jobs as customer service representatives at NationsBank.

Their concerns Thursday were not books or phone manners, but finding the right shade of lipstick and the right set of pearls for their outfits. The smell of hair basted in oil and baked by curling irons mixed with the aroma of lotion and foundation.

One runway-ready model walked by, and Downs smiled as she tied a scarf on another woman.

``We don't even know this girl! You look wonderful! I love it,'' Downs gushed.

Downs isn't completely sure why she began Kingdom Wardrobe. She was doing well as a health care administrator. She lived in Washington, closer to her son, who is studying architecture at Syracuse University. One day, after having done work in the South Hampton Roads area, she woke up and followed a divine message.

``I sold everything,'' Downs said. ``On Jan. 18, God spoke to me and said `Kingdom Wardrobe.' I didn't even know what that meant.''

What it meant was canvassing a new community, looking for other women who shared her vision. She assembled an eight-member board, and Kingdom Wardrobe is now working toward tax-deductible status.

Cherylann T. Dorsey, who is treasurer, joined the board after running into Downs at various functions.

``It's just amazing, what she does with those ladies,'' Dorsey said.

At Downs' boutique, patrons browse and bag goodies. She asks for contributions from those who are working, charges for some of her jewelry. For the most part, though, the items are free - donations by other working women. Kingdom Wardrobe also provides sessions on nutrition, self-esteem and money management.

``Kingdom Wardrobe has helped me out tremendously,'' Alice Massey said. ``She has been great with us. I've gotten things there - this suit, these shoes, this bag.''

Downs pays the rent these days with money from freelance ads.

``And God and faith,'' she adds, laughing. MEMO: Kingdom Wardrobe is located at 417 W. 21st St., Suite 13,

Norfolk. For details, call 623-4566. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

``Kingdom Wardrobe has helped me out tremendously,'' Alice Massey

says. She modeled at ``I'm Coming Out,'' a fashion show Thursday

evening at the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College.

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