Author: yourg724

Brights, stripes and neutrals brewed together in one outfit definitely makes this one caffeinated look! For a Saturday afternoon of running errands, I came up with this comfortable, casual outfit for a stop at our local coffee roasters. Pulling this outfit together is just as easy as throwing on jeans and a sweater, but much more fashionable.

The French terry jersey dress from Mossimo (Target) is as soft as your favorite old college sweatshirt, but much more stylish. The navy and neon pink stripes add bold color and flair. I tied the pink and orange ombré scarf in a slipknot in place of a necklace. Google “scarf tying” and you will find dozens of videos to up your scarf-typing skills.

The café-colored leather and jacquard fabric genuine Coach shoulder bag and leather cowboy boots (previously bought from Goodwill and in heavy rotation in my wardrobe with dresses and skinny jeans) added the right splash of neutral sensibility to the bright dress and scarf.

Up your weekend game and break out of the jeans, sneakers and shirt look. You’re wardrobe will thank you!

Goodwill in Morgantown:
Dress: $2.99
Scarf: $4.97

Goodwill in Royersford:
Purse: $15.97

Total:  $23.93

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

As I was getting ready to watch the Oscars, I realized I already had a movie-inspired look in my own closet. And it came from Goodwill. It is hard to believe that Clueless is more than 20 years old. The movie is still one of my favorites and I will always sit and watch it if I come across it on TV.

At the time the clothing in the movie was groundbreaking and according to Vogue magazine, “made a lasting impact on fashion.” The colors, patterns, and details defined the 90s and inspired young and old alike.

While I’m no Cher Horowitz, I’m channeling a yellow and navy, plaid jacket instead of her yellow, plaid, pleated miniskirt and matching blazer from Dolce & Gabbana.
I decided to go for skinny jeans, a navy and white polka dot blouse, yellow canvas wedges and a silver Kate Spade canvas tote. The Seven brand jeans were a real steal and are already a favorite of mine. But, the tote was one of my best finds. I paid $4.97 and after a little research I found it originally sold for $150!

One of Cher’s lines in the movie was “Do you prefer ‘fashion victim’ or ‘ensembly challenged’?” but I choose to think that with Goodwill’s help, I can win “Best Dressed.”

By the way, chunky heels are making a comeback this spring, so be sure to keep an eye out for them in one of my upcoming posts!

Kirsten

Goodwill in Morgantown, PA:
Jacket: $3.75
Blouse: $3.50
Jeans: $6.50

Goodwill in Ephrata, PA:
Tote: $4.97

Goodwill Outlet Center on St. Lawrence Ave, Reading, PA:
Wedges: $2.25

Total:  $20.97

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.local Goodwill stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

My friend Kristan has three kids to keep up with, so I wanted to give her a “glamorous” morning out as a model for one of my blog posts. I gave her comfortable, yet fun look that she could wear dropping the kids off at school, grocery shopping or running errands. And the best part is that the whole thing is machine washable!

I started with the burn-out velvet blouse in shades of teal, navy, green and yellow.The sheer-dotted pattern was eye-catching and just needed a black tank top underneath it. Bootcut jeans from Ann Taylor Loft in a soft denim wash are easy to dress up or down. A navy blue, floral scarf adds a bit of warmth for cool mornings and a roomy teal leather Tignanello tote holds all of her necessities. Navy blue sunglasses top off her look and give her a movie-star mystique.

Pieces that I can mix and match and coordinate with other items in my wardrobe are ones I reach for time and time again. She could pair the blouse with dark skinny jeans, black tall boots, chandelier earrings and a black leather or faux-leather jacket for a night out. The combinations are endless and will keep her on the go!

Kirsten

Goodwill in Bethlehem:
Top: $8.50
Jeans: $4.97
Bag: $12.97

Goodwill Outlet Center on St. Lawrence Ave in Reading:
Scarf: 60 cents

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

On a cold night near Philly, my hubby (and family) and I went out for a fantastic Indian meal. Anytime we go somewhere new, I try and plan a photo shoot around our outings. This night out was no different except it was 10 degrees out.

I had hit up the 50% off sale at Goodwill on Wednesday, February 10th and found some great deals. Be sure and sign up to be Goodwill Rewards Member and get their emails, so you know about their 50% off sales. Click here to find out how to sign up! You can’t beat the discount and you can score twice as much as usual. I visited two different stores that day and purchased plenty of pieces for future blog posts.

I had bought the crazy, colorful patterned (yet super soft) long-sleeved dress for only $2.00! The body con style was a little form-fitting for me, but with the black and white leopard scarf and faux-leather Joe Boxer black moto jacket, I felt covered up and slightly like a rocker chick! Since I was so bundled up you can’t see it, but I had recycled the colorful gold, bib-style necklace and bracelets from previous posts as well as the red envelope clutch. The black faux leather booties were a perfect height for suburban streets and only $2.48! Black tights (2 pairs!) completed the ensemble and kept me moderately warm.

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns like the ones on the scarf and the dress. Being bold with the patterns and colors, and edgy with the moto jacket made me feel young and hip and who doesn’t want that? Especially on date night.

Kirsten

Purchased at Goodwill in Morgantown, PA:
Jacket: $10.50

Purchased at 50% off sale:
Dress: $2.00
Scarf: $1.00
Booties: $2.48
Total: $15.98

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

If you love redesigning clothes and accessories, enter the Goodwill ReDesign Contest! I have participated for the past several years and it has been a wonderful, exciting experience. To give you some ideas, pictured below are a few of the items that I have redesigned for past contests.

I’ve had a lot of fun and met some great other designers along the way!
There are three different categories – avant garde, repurpose the dress, and accessories.

Here’s the scoop: buy an original piece or pieces at a Goodwill Keystone Area store (Click HERE to find a Goodwill Keystone Area store near you) and completely redesign it into something new and stylish. Go wild and unleash your inner Fashion Designer!

If chosen as a finalist, you’ll get to strut your stuff at the Goodwill Runway Show on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Body Zone in Wyomissing, PA (Trivia note: hometown of fashionista Taylor Swift) .

The prizes include:
• A $100 Goodwill gift card
• Featured in Berks County Living
• Featured on Goodwill’s Fashion Blog

Goodwill is now accepting entries. For more an entry form and more info, click here.

Deadline is March 25th, so get designing today!

Kirsten

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

I have always wanted a cape. They have gone in and out of fashion for decades and once again, they are back in style. A cape is not a winter coat. It is a stylish piece of outerwear for balmier winter days or cool spring nights. It shouts, “I am chic and not afraid of wearing something different!”

This cape is lightweight wool in a fantastic neutral, camel color with a belt to accent the waist. I found it brand new with the original tags from Ann Taylor Loft still on it, and it was a steal at only $8.50 at Goodwill.

I paired it with a colorful top (my own), vintage black suede and snakeskin leather boots and black velvet brocade tights. Sunnies, some bold silver jewelry and an oversized, bright red, snakeskin, envelope clutch are the perfect accessories. The clutch is large enough to hold all the essentials. It also came with a detachable strap to sling it over a shoulder. Last, but not least, I wore bright, red lipstick to tie it all together.

I would wear this outfit for date night, to the office or maybe for a day of strolling the galleries of a museum. Use your imagination and try something out of your comfort zone.

Goodwill is the perfect place to find those trendy statement pieces like the cape and clutch. You can try the trends without breaking the bank.

Ironically as I was finishing this article I came across this Instagram post from a TV show and it featured a camel-colored cape with a similar color scheme for the outfit. Shopping at Goodwill does keep you right on trend!

 Go out and save the world, one outfit at a time,

Kirsten

Pieces from Goodwill in Morgantown, PA:
Cape: $8.50
Tights: $4.25
Clutch: $4.97
Boots: $12.97
Total:  $30.69

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you can’t have too much pink in your life. Pink is a sweet color that suits any age. It also comes in many variations from salmon to pale pink (like one of the Pantone colors of the year) to a bright bubble gum hue. For many “Pretty in Pink” brings to mind Molly Ringwald and classic 80s movies. Pink is also tender and kind and is a sign of hope for many people.

My adorable niece is modeling a colorful patterned sweater, skinny black jeans and silver and black boots. I have a similar outfit except my heels are a “little” higher. MacKenzie’s sweater is perfect for Valentine’s Day with the embroidered hearts and colorful accents. For a photo shoot or an event, Goodwill is great for finding adorable children’s clothes, especially when you need a special outfit. I always went to Goodwill first to look for a Christmas dress or a recital outfit.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, you still have plenty of time to outfit the whole family in something special. Whether you are cooking at home or going out, dressing in red and pink is fun, festive and Goodwill makes it affordable. Remember, it’s not about the cards, flowers or candy – spending time together with the ones you love is the real gift!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

– Kirsten (and MacKenzie)

Outfits from Goodwill in Morgantown and Shillington, PA

Kirsten:
Sweater: $4.75
Jeans: $6.50
Boots: $6.97
Total: $18.22

MacKenzie:
Sweater: $2.50
Jeans: $2.50
Boots: $5.99
Total: $10.99

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

Goodwill is blue; I love all the unique styles you can get there too!

Curling up with a good book is one of the things I love to do on a cold, winter day. Finding beautiful clothes with interesting details at Goodwill is another thing I enjoy too.

Red is one of my favorite colors and it looks good on almost anyone. Red is the color of energy, action and passion. It is an empowering color. Who doesn’t love a bright red lip for confidence or a sultry red shoe for date night?

My friend Ralia is modeling that bright cherry hue in a Colour Works slim-fit sweater with unique silver chain detail at the neckline. When she saw it, she asked if I had sewn it on. The black soft knit palazzo pants from Chico’s are the perfect addition for lounging with a good book on a chilly afternoon. To finish off the outfit, I used a silver chain necklace as a belt to accent her waist.

Silver hoops complete the look. This simple, yet elegant and comfortable outfit is perfect for finishing your book, going to the office or for an evening out.

Looking for clothing with interesting details, wearing a bright color and thinking outside the box by using a necklace as a belt are ways you can easily make yourself stand out with your wardrobe.

Famous fashion designer Bill Blass said it best: “When in doubt, wear red.”

– Kirsten

Goodwill in Morgantown, PA:

Sweater:$6.75
Pants: $4.25
Necklace: $1.97
Total: $12.97

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

In the winter months, it’s easy to give up on your workout routine, but whether you practice yoga, pilates or any other type of physical activity, having a comfortable, colorful outfit will help keep up your motivation. Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others and maybe you can get your friends and family to join you!

My friend Susan loves Bikram Yoga and she was my muse and model for this outfit. The knit multicolored pink, blue and yellow leggings from Nike give her the freedom to bend and stretch. And the Ruff Hewn brand yellow space-dyed short-sleeved sweatshirt gives her room to move while holding poses without being constricting.

Finding quality workout wear that holds up well to whatever sport or activity you are involved with is not hard at Goodwill. And why not look good when you are running, working out at the gym or even doing your favorite videos in your living room? When you feel good about what you are wearing, you’ll feel better about yourself. Now lace up those sneakers, roll out your yoga mat or get on the bike – you’ll thank me tomorrow!

Kirsten

Goodwill – Shillington, PA:
Leggings: $6.50
T-shirt: $5.50
Total: $12.00

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

I love getting inspiration from my fellow Goodwill bloggers from around the country and from suggestions from my readers. The subject of this week’s post came from two different bloggers who I follow.

We’ve made it through January and are now “enjoying” a snowy February in Pennsylvania. Being the month of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to focus on the colors and feelings of that romantic holiday. Recently, my friend Meredith bundled up and we had a fun photo shoot knee-deep in the snow drifts in my backyard!

This outfit started to come together with the beautiful red, pink, black and white stripe scarf discovered at Goodwill in Morgantown.  How perfect for this month! Wanting to find a few more accessories to go with it, I came across the sassy, bright red beret and the Isotoner stretch-knit gloves, which were brand new with tags. I already purchased the dark grey Tribal brand jacket at the Goodwill store in Shillington and have been waiting for the right time to use it. The felted wool coat with a velvet geometric pattern caught my eye and I knew it was a unique find. And the color gray is a perfect background for the scarf and hat.

You don’t always need a new coat, because a different scarf, hat or mittens in a bright color or fun pattern will update your look and keep you warm! For just under $8.00, you can freshen up your look. And by choosing red or pink, you’ll be ready for date night!

Bundle up and head out!

Kirsten
Scarf: $3.00
Gloves: $2.00
Beret: $3.00
Wool jacket: $13.50

Total: $21.50

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.