By Zanub Saeed
A slew of celebrities donated high-fashion suits at Sunday's Tony Awards to benefit the Men's Wearhouse fifth annual National Suit Drive, as part of the awards' Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat.
Among those who lent a hand was filmmaker Tyler Perry, film actress Amanda Seyfried, Emmy-award-nominated actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson of "Modern Family" fame, and Tony-Award-winner John Larroquette, who received the featured actor in a musical recognition in 2011 for his work in the Broadway revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," listed a press release issued by Men's Wearhouse on Monday.
The personalized brand-named suits the stars chosen will be donated to the National Suit Drive, which are then distributed to local nonprofit partners that help men and women dress appropriately to get back into the job market. With the donated suits, men and women struggling to find a job could be better dressed to make a proper impression to a potential employer, as well as take resume-building workshops, prepare for interviews, and learn skills for their interested fields, said the press release. For every suit that was donated at the Tony Awards, Men's Wearhouse said they would donate two ties.
"With 12.7 million Americans still unemployed, it is as important as ever that efforts to help men re-enter the workforce remain top of mind," Doug Ewert, President and Chief Executive Officer at Men's Wearhouse stated for the press release. "That is why we are excited to kick off the fifth annual National Suit Drive as part of the 2012 Tony Awards Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat. This year, we are even more committed to helping Americans find their strong suit."
Seyfried put together a Kenneth Cole black suit, Jones of New York white shirt, and grey and orange herringbone tie for the charity, and said, "I love picking ties," said the press release. Perry chose a Tommy Hilfiger two-button gray suit, accompanied by a Calvin Klein gray and pink tie during the Tony Awards Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat.
Ferguson donated a suit, as well; and while Larroquette was selecting his custom suit featuring a Jones of New York back suit and black-and-silver check tie, he said, as noted in the press release, "This is a really great thing you're doing."
