Author: yourg724

By now, you can’t have missed the new phenomenon which is Marie Kondo’s book “life-changing magic of tidying up”. It is inspiring millions of people to clean out their homes and closets and sparking more joy in their lives by living more simply. Your local Goodwill Keystone Area stores have seen an uptick in donations. This is a bonus to thrifters! As I have been shopping, I am also being more considerate with what I am taking home.

On a recent thrifting excursion, this sweater sparked joy, and since it is perfect for Valentine’s Day, it came home with me for only $5.25. The red and white striped, cotton Talbots sweater with the sweet little navy bird, which retailed for about $89, is perfect for the winter months and especially for February.

I’m not one of those “No white after Labor Day” rule followers so I paired it with ivory jeans from White House Black Market. These sold originally for about $79, so $5.50 was a real bargain. I’ll wear these year-round with a variety of outfits.

On the way we did the blog shoot, it was warm, so a jean jacket from Gap, sufficed. But, typical January weather would call for something more substantial. Jean jackets are a perennial classic and can give a formal outfit a more casual feel. This one was $6.50, but probably sold for around $69. So I saved around 90%!

Cute, embellished neutral flats form Calvin Klein, were the perfect footwear and a navy faux-leather clutch from Nordstroms’s picked up the blue of the bird on the sweater. The shoes were $7.47 and the clutch $4.97.

I am being more careful with my choices when I shop and my husband would love me to “tidy up” my closet. Millions of people can’t be wrong, right? Whether you are cleaning out or enjoying the spoils of those who do, make sure Goodwill Keystone Area is your choice if you are donating or shopping!

From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

Sweater: $5.25
Jeans: $5.50
Jacket: $6.50
Flats: 7.47
Clutch: $4.97
Total: $29.69
Retail: $350+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

Winter sure blew an icy blast at the Northeast this weekend! While we didn’t get the predicted snow and ice, the bitter chill sure made for an interesting (and quick) blog photo shoot.

I’ll write more about it later, but the new sensation of “tidying up” from Marie Kondo has really filled the racks and shelves at my local Goodwill Keystone Area stores! On a recent trip to the store in Trappe, I found several great pieces including this striped sweater and the dark wash skinny jeans. But, because I too need to clean out, I am being more mindful of my choices when shopping.

The warm cotton sweater from Lands’ End caught my eye because of its beautiful blue stripes. The shades of turquoise, cerulean and indigo were playful, yet classic in style. Founded in 1963 in Wisconsin, Lands’ End delivers timeless styles for men, women, kids and home. This sweater probably would have retailed for about $70 online. My cost: $3.94 (because it was one of the daily discounted items).

I can never pass up a good pair of designer denim, and these J Brand Skinny Leg “Eclipse” jeans came home with me as well. They sold for about $188 when new, so I didn’t mind paying $10. I’m not sure if I will cut them into a raw hem, roll them or have them professionally hemmed to the right length.

In an effort to “Spark More Joy”, this year (I stole that phrase from Marie Kondo), I will be more mindful of how much I purchase. I received so many positive comments about this beautiful blue Cole Haan purse in my last blog, and since it went perfectly with the sweater, I decided to feature it again. How can you reuse the items already in your closet? It retailed for $250 and my cost was $9.97.

The Sam Edelman nubuck booties are a perfect neutral footwear for this outfit. They are very comfortable and one of my favorite shoe finds (and were only $7.47!). This style is called “Petty” and are still available online for $99!

Finally, this necklace certainly makes a statement! It’s been in my stash for a while, but when I brought the sweater home, I knew it was the perfect partner for this outfit. The mix of colors is fantastic and will set any outfit apart! This piece brings me joy, so you’ll probably be seeing it again this year!

Hopefully you are all staying warm at home (cleaning out your closets!), but if you do venture out, be sure and visit your local Goodwill Keystone Store to see what treasures are turning up every day!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Sweater: $3.94
Jeans: 10.00
Bag: $9.97
Booties: $7.47
Necklace: $6.97
Total: $38.32
Retail: $630+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

Now that the holidays are behind us, I’m craving bright, juicy shades in comparison to the red, green, blue and sparkle of December. I know spring is a long way off, but my outfits can liven up any day.

This citrusy-inspired look began with the orange jacket from Boden. This lined and belted topper is perfect for temperate winter days when layered over a sweater. According to Boden’s website: “Founded in 1991 in West London, Boden creates clothes that bring colour to your wardrobe and fun to your life. From prints that help you stand out but don’t sacrifice on comfort to outfits ready and waiting for cocktails, our designs produce surprise, delight and plenty of compliments wherever they go. We aren’t po-faced fashionistas but we’re serious about great style. It’s a very simple formula at Boden: we’ll sort the clothes, you bring the smile.” Who doesn’t want to smile and wear bright colors? I paid $10.50, but when new, the jacket would have retailed for about $180. I love finding Boden in the stores because I know the value.

Underneath was another punchy color – this fringed chunky knit sweater from J. Crew. I love the loose weave and fun hem. This would have sold for about $79 at the mall, but I saved 90% by finding it at my local Goodwill Keystone Area store.

Classic light-washed jeans from the Gap are a fabulous, classic find.These skinny fit, ankle-length jeans work with flats or sneakers or even tall winter boots when the weather turns snowy. Again, I saved about 90% off from the retail value by paying just $6.95 at Goodwill.

To tie the colors together, these striped Sam & Libby flats were the perfect choice. These were practically new and will probably get a lot of wear this summer. Retail on these beauties is about $100, but $9.97 at Goodwill made them a good investment.

In contrast to the orange and yellow, a saturated blue leather handbag made a nice change. Cole Haan makes beautiful, high quality, shoes, bags and small accessories. They can be quite expensive and this one would have cost about around $250, but I didn’t mind paying $9.97.

Lastly, a “new with tags” pair of silver Stella and Dot teardrop earrings finished the look. I love the Stella and Dot brand, but not their prices so I am thrilled when I uncover them at my neighborhood Goodwill. They were $4.97, but retailed for about $30 in the catalog.

I like this bright-hued outfit, but I love the fact I saved over 90% on this all mall-brand look by discovering these treasures at my local Goodwill Keystone Area stores! Look on the bright side, shop at Goodwill!

And now you can save even more money by shopping the 50% off sale on Wednesday, January 9th! Click here for details!

From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

Jacket: $10.50
Sweater: $7.25
Jeans: 6.95
Bag: $9.97
Earrings: $4.97
Total: $39.64
Retail: $460+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

Another year has come to a close and we get to start fresh in 2019! New Year’s Eve and Day are a time to celebrate with friends and family alike. There’s usually champagne and glitter and sequins, of course!

This is what you can imagine I’ll be wearing as the ball drops and the countdown to 2019 begins! What will I really be doing? I’ll be in my pajamas, half asleep on the sofa, with my husband and kids and hopefully one of us will wake up to catch the stroke of midnight. But let’s just pretend I’ll be dancing the night away in a haze of sparkles and confetti…

I would typically NEVER (yes, that is capitalized for emphasis) wear a crop top. But I fell in love with this gorgeous rainbow-sequined top from H&M and decided I needed a way to wear it. This sparkly number was only $5.95 at Goodwill but would have retailed for around $30 at H&M (A popular mall brand – think IKEA for clothes!).

How to compensate for a crop top? Wear something that is high-waisted! This black bandage-style pencil skirt is made from a heavy weight Ponte knit which gave me the confidence to rock the crop top. It is from INC (a brand available at Macy’s) and would have been about $50 at the mall. It is a classic piece that will be perennially popular.

To carry my essentials, I added a studded black clutch with chain detail from Jessica Simpson. This is one of my favorite Goodwill finds and I use it on repeat. At $4.97 it was a good investment.

Glittery, super high platform heels from Guess are a special party-worthy footwear option. As I’m getting older, I appreciate flats and comfortable shoes, but I still love my heels. Guess makes a variety of high heels for all kinds of occasions. These would have sold for around $99, but were $6.97 at my neighborhood Goodwill.

Like icing on a cake, the earrings add the last, festive touch. I found these chandelier rhinestone stunners from Monet new-with-tags for $4.97. They retailed for $32.

I hope you spend your New Year’s Even however you feel comfortable, whether it be in a fabulous outfit or your most comfortable pajamas and you know you can get either of those things at your local Goodwill!

Happy New Year!

Kirsten

Top: $5.95
Skirt: $6.50
Bag: $4.97
Shoes: $6.97
Earrings: $4.97
Total: $29.36
Retail: $270+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

This Holiday Season marks my third anniversary and the start of my fourth year as the Goodwill Keystone Area blogger. But, Goodwill is not just about clothing. The mission of Goodwill Keystone Area is “To support persons with disabilities and other barriers to independence in achieving their fullest potential as workers and as members of the broader community.”

Goodwill came to me when I needed employment and I understand how it felt to be lifted up by this organization. I don’t just write about fashion, I also do my best to interact with the community and promote the mission (as well as finding great deals on fashion at their 40+ stores in Central and Southeast PA).

I’ve written over 200 blog posts, hosted bus trips and meet ups and given lots of advice on finding the best items. I love to tell complete strangers how inexpensive my outfits are and I have found a whole online community on social media that does the same (Follow me on Instagram @kirstenkeimshendge and @goodwillkeystonearea).

This holiday I’m celebrating my anniversary in a LBD (little black dress). This one was NWT (new-with-tags) from Black Swan. According to their website “Black Swan is for the refined, romantic woman who effortlessly blends her laid-back aesthetic with her busy city life.

Intricate details and feminine silhouettes, this collection offers an array of options from day to night.” I love the simple fit and the sheer, lacy overlay. My cost at Goodwill was $5.95, but this dress would have retailed for about $80.

To keep it simple, I added black and metallic woven leather heels from Carlos by Carlos Santa. The mix of silver, gold and copper in the snakeskin print leather means I can wear these with any style or color of accessories. These beauties were about $80 when new, but just $6.97 at Goodwill. Oversized gold hoops ($1.97) and a structured gold and black leather handbag from Kenneth Cole New York ($4.97) complete the look. When shopping at Goodwill you may see two different Kenneth Cole brands: Kenneth Cole New York and Kenneth Cole Reaction. The New York version of this brand is much more high end, so this simple bag would have cost around $150. It pays to know your labels when thrifting.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy creating it. Happy Holidays from your Goodwill Keystone Area Thrifty Fashionista!
Kirsten

Dress: $5.95
Shoes: $6.97
Bag: $4.97
Hoops: $1.97
Total: $19.86
Retail: $330+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

Red plaid is almost synonymous with Christmas. You see plaid ribbons and bows on wreaths and presents and little girls with crisp plaid dresses waiting in line to see Santa. Plaid is such a classic, yet modern pattern and can fit almost any occasion.

The star of this outfit is a vintage (1980s or 1990s) plaid zip-up blazer from Dress Barn. I was attracted to the cheery pattern and knew I could modernize the look by adding the right accompaniments and rolling up the sleeves. I plucked this blazer (and the sweater) from the bins at one of the Goodwill Keystone Area outlets, so I am estimating my cost on each piece at around $1.

To play off the red tones, I added a striped cotton sweater from J. Crew (also from the bins). It is a classic v-neck that will be in style for a long time. Sweaters from J. Crew start at about $80, so this was an amazing price. The cotton is lightweight enough to wear in warmer temps, and layer on in the cooler months.

Grey skinny jeans (instead of standard blue) were a nice neutral. These are from Elle (a brand sold at Kohl’s). My price at Goodwill was $5.50, but these jeans retail for about $50, so I saved 90%! They are slightly distressed which pairs nicely with the structured blazer.

To add some shine, I added metallic boots and bag. The woven leather hobo shoulder bag from Elliot Lucca (only $4.97!) is a real beauty for the holidays. The metallic finish is subtle without being too shiny and bold. This brand is known for it’s intricate woven patterns and this bag would have retailed for around $140.

The zip-up pewter boots with the stiletto heel from Fioni (a Payless brand) added a little glamour. The heel was low enough to be comfortable as I walked around and shopped at a local garden shop, Cedar Hill Flowers.

Finally a red scarf ($2.00) and a gold and silver beaded necklace from Chico’s added the finishing touches. I snapped up this statement necklace for $5.00 at my local Goodwill, but it sold for about $59. What a bargain!

Add a pop of plaid this holiday! Goodwill Keystone Area stores makes it easy and thrifty to weave this pattern into your wardrobe! Pick up a jacket or scarf next time you are shopping at your neighborhood Goodwill.

Happy Holidays!
Kirsten

Blazer: $1.00
Sweater: $1.00
Jeans: $5.50
Boots: $6.97
Bag: $4.97
Necklace: $5.00
Scarf: $2.00
Total: $26.44
Retail: $400+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

Tis the Season! This time of year is so festive with all the lights, decorations and rain… Shooting outdoor blogs get tricky when I’m trying to capitalize on natural lighting and holiday décor and I end up running between the raindrops.

For now the weather was moderate enough to venture out in this fabulous red and black houndstooth cape from Charlie Paige. It was new-with-tags for $6.99 at my neighborhood Goodwill Keystone Area. I found similar styles from the brand online from $35 – $50. I love the ease, comfort and style of a cape. Throw them on over jeans and boots and instantly feel like a fashionista!

Underneath, I sported a simple black top from BLNK for $8.50. It was also new-with-tags and you can’t go wrong with a classic black blouse. For a little edge, I wore high-low jeans from Mossimo from Target. They were cropped enough that you can enjoy the amazing leopard print velveteen boots, which were also new-with-tags for $7.47 from the A New Day brand from Target. I love the panache they will add to any outfit from these trendy jeans to a sweater dress or even skinny black trousers. New they would have retailed for about $30.

For accessories, I added a metallic chain link necklace (or is it a belt?). It added a bold statement and some bling. The red purse by Sophia Caperelli was a great find from a Goodwill Keystone Outlet. I probably paid less than $2 for this soft leather bag, which sold originally for up to $200. What a steal!

When heading out for a holiday party, Christmas shopping or a event with friends or family, throw on a cape and let your fashion sense steal the show!

Happy Holidays!
Kirsten

Sweater: $6.99
Blouse: $8.50
Jeans: $5.50
Shoes: $7.47
Bag: $2.00
Necklace: $3.97
Total: $32.43
Retail: $350+

Visit Goodwill for unique Christmas gifts and decorations and save BIG during our Buy More, Save More Sale, details here!

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

December may be focused on a few specific colors such as red and green or blue and silver, but there are still so many other colors to help celebrate the season. And florals are classic, any time of year.

I love the soft floral print of this gray and pink Gili dress. The tie sleeves and split collar drew me to this simple shift dress. A little research showed it was most likely sent to a shopper from Stitch Fix and retailed for around $60. My cost was just $5.95. I saved 90%!

In warmer weather, I probably would forgo the tights but on a cool December day I added gray tights with the brand new ivory Bandolino boots. They fit perfectly and I gladly snapped them up for $9.97 when I saw them at my local Goodwill Keystone Area. Retail would be about $129. They’ll pair well with skinny jeans and a chunky sweater for a more casual look.

A classic gray leather bag from Tignanello (one of my favorite handbag brands to thrift!) kept the palette neutral and simple. Tignanello makes a range of bags and small accessories and a bag like this would have cost about $150. According to their website “Established in 1989, Tignanello is designed in New York, NY. We are a brand that focuses on classic styling with all the function and quality that our customer has come to know and expect! Our design team draws on inspiration from the aesthetic of traditional Italian craftsmanship.”

Like the star on top of the Christmas tree, the sparkling jeweled necklace was the finishing touch. The soft pinks in the bib-style statement necklace from Charming Charlie accented the dress without overpowering it. This came as a set with the earrings for $5.97.

Enjoy all the colors of the season, no matter what holiday you celebrate. Shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores gives you a rainbow of colors to choose from, any time of year.

Visit Goodwill December 10 through 24 for the Buy More, Save More Sale, details here!

Happy Holidays!
Kirsten

Dress: $5.95
Boots: $9.97
Bag: $6.97
Necklace: $5.97
Total: $28.86
Retail: $350+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

Turkey day is behind us and we’re speeding toward the holidays! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah, fun (or ugly, depending on your taste) sweaters can complete your festive look and make you party ready!

While you’re shopping, don’t forget to grab a few gift cards for holiday gifts or for yourself. Right now Goodwill Keystone Area stores are offering a $10 voucher with the purchase of a $50 gift card. Complete details here!

Chloe chose a subdued look befitting of a stylish teenager. Her navy and cream wool sweater featuring skiers is from Loft and was $6.99 from the holiday rack at my local Goodwill Keystone Area store. Loft sweaters sell for up to $69 when new. She paired it with a Brandy Melville cut-hemmed denim mini skirt and Seychelles Wheelhouse Lasercut Slip-On Sneakers. This style is still available online and retailed for $130. My cost was just $7.47!

I went with a true 80s vintage Larisa brand sweater, which was also $6.99. It features a graphic big red bow and fantastic gold embellishments. My skinny jeans are from Elle (a Kohl’s brand). I cut the hem on these – I still really love that trend! My lovely embroidered velvet flats from Judy & Charles were a Black Friday purchase.

They were brand new and only $7.47. For finishing touches I added a vintage embroidered poinsettia clutch – and dangling gold bar earrings.

For not a lot of cash, you can just ooze holiday cheer! Goodwill Keystone Area stores are packed with festive clothing and décor right now. Stop by your local Goodwill and get your fun and festive (or ugly) sweaters today!

Chloe:
Sweater: $6.99
Skirt: $4.50
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $18.96
Retail: $225

My look:
Sweater: $6.99
Jeans: $5.50
Shoes: $7.47
Clutch: $2.97
Earrings: $3.97
Total: $26.90
Retail: $250

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

Animal prints are a perennial favorite in the fashion world and are always attracting attention. And they seem to always heat up in popularity in the fall and winter months. I was happy to add a few pieces from Goodwill Keystone Area stores to my wardrobe this season.

This soft, faux fur jacket from Guess is a fun piece to throw on over almost any outfit. It adds punch to the more casual look that I am sporting here, but would look great over a classic little black dress or a red blouse and black trousers. Similar Guess coats sell now for $100 – $200, but my local Goodwill had this marked at just $9.99. Animal prints never seem to go out of style, so this can stay in my wardrobe rotation for a long time!

Underneath I sported a graphic elephant print t-shirt from Lucky Brand and jeans (which I distressed myself) from Loft. It was comfortable and casual for a day out in Phoenixville with my family. The t-shirt would have retailed for about $30; and the jeans $70. These are some of my favorite pieces to look for at Goodwill because they are already pre-loved and already broken in.

To add some color to the ensemble, I played off the shades in the t-shirt. A cobalt leather cross body bag from Kelsi Dagger added a punch of blue. These bags sell for about $119, but I snagged this for $4.97. And these amazing wedge booties from Catherine Malandrino (retail $100 – $140) are one of my new favorites for fall. The raspberry color is unique and I like the 2” wedge heel that gives me a step up! Finally, I added a silver tassel necklace to finish off the look. I added my own silver bracelets and my ever-present Fitbit.

Animal prints can be treated like a neutral these days – throw a jacket on over prints or patterns. Layer a scarf over a monochromatic outfit or go all out with some leopard print pants! These prints are easy to spot while you are searching the racks at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store – pick some up today!

Jacket: $9.99
T-shirt: $5.95
Jeans: $5.50
Bag: $4.97
Boots: $9.97
Necklace: $2.97
Total: $39.35
Retail: $500+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.