Author: Annette K.

Winter blues got you down? Warm up with color!

February 4, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

It’s winter. It’s cold and it’s snowy. Frigid temperatures stop us in our tracks. Days are short and skies are dismal. We wear our staple clothes – the blacks, browns and grays. It’s easy to become complacent. We’re bored.

Add some color, prints and textures to your wardrobe. Don’t give in to the blacks, browns, and grays. It will help brighten your appearance, transform your mood and warm your spirits.

Carolyn Ross, 72-year-old resident of Cumberland County, knows all too well the battles of keeping her spirits up. And during these winter months, it’s especially challenging.

Carolyn is a two-time breast cancer survivor, had double bypass heart surgery, and received a bone marrow transplant for treatment of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at John Hopkins two years ago. She said, “All those times that I was getting treatments, I always dressed in bright colors.”

When I met up with Carolyn at the Goodwill in Mechanicsburg (Hampden Township) last week, she just came from the gym (yeah, you read that right…the gym). She had on leggings and a cute red sweatshirt.

“I like to wear color,” she said. “It makes me feel young and active.”

Tremendous research has been done on the psychology of color and its effect on mood and energy level. The color red, for example, evokes energy and confidence, while pink suggests femininity and grace. Purple conjures up creativity and green a sense of calm.

Don’t let the winter blues get you down. And Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and offers us a reason to celebrate! And while preparing to celebrate, stop by your local Goodwill store for a quick winter wardrobe update and huge selection of colors and styles.

Special thanks to Store Manager Barry Hackman and Sales Associates Cynthia Diodato and Leslie Oneglia from the Goodwill store in Mechanicsburg, PA and to Carolyn Ross for sharing her story.

Are you an aspiring fashion designer? Enter the Goodwill Re-Design Contest. The Re-Design Contest offers aspiring fashion designers, students, fashionistas and hobbyists the opportunity to show their creativity by repurposing items purchased at Goodwill. Finalists will have the opportunity to display their work at the Goodwill Runway Show on April 24, 2014 at the Body Zone, Wyomissing, PA. Doors open at 4:30pm, the show begins at 6:30pm. The show is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County. For more information about the Goodwill Runway Show, go to www.yourgoodwill.org/

Timeless Beauty at Goodwill

January 27, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

When Christine Bachman was a teenager, she played drums in an all-girl band. She wore a beautiful taffeta gown with spaghetti straps and a sparkly bolero to keep her shoulders covered. The band played three nights a week for three years at local clubs and each night they opened with the same song, “A Pretty Girl is like a Melody.”

Christine just turned 88 and that song continues to be the anthem for her life.

“I don’t feel like I’m 88,” she said. “I still like to be modern.”

A former cosmetic specialist at Hess’s Department Store in Allentown PA, Christine always had an eye for style.

“A neighbor who used to wear cute outfits all the time told me she shopped at Goodwill. I decided to go and check it out,” she said. “But instead of shopping, I ended up getting a job.” That was 20 years ago and Christine has been working at Goodwill ever since.

“Chris is an amazing person,” said Goodwill team leader Donna McElvenney. “She is a ball of energy and a positive and great person to be around.”

Today, Chris helps shoppers find and choose clothes and housewares to fit their thrifty budgets. She encourages her fellow seniors to “dress modern, moisturize and not to dress like an old lady.”

Her favorite color to wear is red, and she has picture-perfect porcelain skin that women 40 years her junior are in envy of (trust me!). She loves to shop at Goodwill and take advantage of the huge selection of “modern” clothing.

Christine’s beauty doesn’t stem from the reds she wears, her flawless skin or her impeccable fashion sense. But instead, her beauty is timeless and comes from the colorful fabric of her life.

On January 24, 2014 Christine celebrated her 20 year anniversary as sales associate at Goodwill.

Special thanks to the staff at the Goodwill store in Fogelsville, PA and to Christine for sharing her story.

The Power of Plaid

January 20, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

A quick walk through the aisles of your local Goodwill store and you’re bound to see them… Reds, blues, greens, yellows, pinks, browns, blacks.

Plaid.

Many people swear off plaids from their wardrobe.

“I look huge in plaid,” is a common phrase, or “It’s old-fashioned,” is another.

But plaid is a hot trend right now. And wearing plaid well can actually enhance your natural features and create harmony with your skin tone, hair color and body type.

When considering plaid, first think color. It’s important to create a color balance between your natural tones and the garment. If your skin is lighter in tone, choose more muted colors. If your skin is darker in tone, clearer, more bold colors will work for you.

Next, consider your body type. Taller frames can wear larger-scale plaid prints, but if you are on the petite size, choose a smaller plaid pattern.

Remember, you want to wear the plaid. You don’t want the plaid to wear you.

Visit Goodwill and find plaid to match your color tone, body type and budget. The model below is wearing clothes from the Goodwill Stores in Bethlehem and Fogelsville, PA.

Are you an aspiring fashion designer? Enter our Re-Design Contest. The Re-Design Contest offers aspiring fashion designers, students, fashionistas and hobbyists the opportunity to show their creativity by repurposing items purchased at Goodwill. Finalists will have the opportunity to display their work at the Goodwill Runway Show on April 24, 2014 at the Body Zone, Wyomissing, PA. Doors open at 4:30pm, the show begins at 6:30pm. The show is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County. For more information about the Goodwill Runway Show, go to www.yourgoodwill.org