Now, this outfit may not be popular with everyone, but if you scroll through the blog or my Instagram feed, you’ll see I’m passionate about patterns and today I’m combining two of my favorites – a floral and a check.

I started this outfit with this bold floral blouse from Ann Taylor Loft Outlet. It probably retailed for around $30-$40, but Goodwill had it for priced at just $6.50. I planned on going more casual and pairing it with a blazer and skinny jeans and boots. But after sorting though the pants rack and coming across these classic black and green checked trousers from J. Crew, I knew I had a great combo. The colors in the patterns coordinate so well that they were a natural fit to pair together.

During the same shopping trip, I spied the black enamel and rhinestone Art Deco inspired necklace from Ann Taylor. It was a great find at $2.97! The glass jewelry cases are one of my favorite places to visit when first visiting a Goodwill store. This originally sold for around $60.

To pick up on the blush tones in the floral blouse, I added the pink leather bag from Elliot Lucca. It’s crafted of soft leather and the attention to detail is top notch. According to their website: “Elliott Lucca speaks to the “art of the weave,” a tribute to the brand’s deep-rooted heritage in handcrafted texture, weaving together global influences with the beauty and intricacy of an original rattan bag from Bali. A combination of authentic textures with intricate design appears in each effortlessly beautiful piece.”

Finally, the shoes were found for me by a friend at a local Goodwill. When you’re known for your thrifty ways, people start to look out for you and pick up some amazing items. These gorgeous sparkling Circus by Sam Edelman’s were only $7.47 and are one of my favorite shoe bands to thrift!

So, start with some easy and uncomplicated pattern mixing and you can’t go wrong. Maybe you’ll work up to something bolder! Look at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store for some great mix and match pieces today!

Visit Goodwill Keystone Area stores this Wednesday, November 7 for the 50% Off Sale! Details here!

Blouse: $6.50
Pants: $6.50
Necklace: $2.97
Bag: $4.97
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $28.41
Retail: $300+

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.

Fall is settling in and the leaves are finally changing into gorgeous yellows, oranges and reds. And now is the perfect time to stock up on sweaters to keep you cozy and warm.

I love a good chuncky cable knit, so this burgundy hooded cardigan from BCBGMaxAzria was calling my name from the Goodwill Keystone Area racks. I adore the variegated color and the oversized fit, which is perfect for layering over t-shirts and blouses. BCBG is one of my favorite brands, so $7.25 was a great deal since their sweaters can retail for up to $300!

I paired it with this graphic t-shirt from Modern Amusement. According to their website, “Modern Amusement is the brand for someone who appreciates the finer things, but doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Confident, Bold, & Independent. The MA customer is effortlessly iconic, sometimes mischievous, always empowered, timelessly stylish, & forever eclectic.” The t-shirts sell at the mall store, Pac Sun, for about $30. I got mine on one of the daily discounts at a local Goodwill for $4.46.

To keep the feel casual, I added skinny khakis from d.jeans. These fit perfectly and were new with tags (NWT) for $8.95. You can find lots of items “NWT” at your local Goodwill, just look through the racks when you are shopping.

Camo is still a huge trend and these shimmery khaki and rose gold flats from Lands’ End are adorable and neutral enough to wear with many different outfits. They originally sold for $69 and were officially titled “Vivian Venetian Camo Slip-on Flat” – Pretty name for a pair of fun shoes!

I added a vintage-looking bag from Elliot Lucca. I have featured this on the blog before, but I like to recycle some of my favorite pieces and this one suited this look nicely.

Stop by your local Goodwill Keystone Area store and stock up on cardigans, crew-necks, turtle-necks or whatever you prefer – they will keep you just as toasty as mall store sweaters, without the high prices!

Sweater: $7.25
T-shirt: $4.46
Jeans: $8.95
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $28.13
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.

Fall and Spring are those seasons that have widely varying temperatures. It could be 50 degrees one day and 75 the next. Having a versatile wardrobe where you can change it up and accommodate those cooler and warmer days is very beneficial!

Shop at Goodwill Keystone Area stores from October 27 through November 3 and you’ll get $5 off $30, $10 off $40 or $15 off $50! Details here!

I started with the ikat-patterned ¾ sleeve dress from Lily Rose. Lily Rose is a brand available at Kohl’s department stores and retailed for about $30. My cost was just $5.50. I like the mix of colors and patterns that take a simple dress to the next level.

Sometimes when I am putting clothes away in my closet I see a new way to style something old, and that is what happened with this faux leather burgundy vest from Forever 21. I purchased it at least 4 years ago from Goodwill Keystone Area for under $4 and I get lots of compliments whenever I wear it.

For an on trend handbag, I added this Bolzano, an international brand based in Europe, cross body bag. It is crafted of soft leather and has bold silver hardware. It’s the perfect size for carrying your daily necessities. It retailed when new for about $200, but I scored it for only $7.47. I also added a silver and glass beaded tassel necklace to add some sparkle.

One of my amazing finds from last weekend are these gorgeous burgundy patent Kate Spade New York wedge heels. I couldn’t believe my luck at finding them in my size – no stretching or padding needed! At $14.97, they were a bit more expensive that Goodwill’s usual shoe selection, but I didn’t mind since they were about $250 when new. These will be a wonderful addition to my wardrobe!

When it gets cooler, instead of the vest I’ll throw on something more substantial like this black faux leather jacket from Vero Moda. I have used this in a past blog, but it’s such a classic piece, I keep it around. I added tights and a suede clutch from Ann Taylor Loft (also used in a past post). The cost of the jacket and clutch are not included in this total.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $5.50
Vest: $4.00
Heels: $14.97
Bag: $7.97
Necklace: $1.97
Total: $34.41
Retail: $530+

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.

It’s not often you find something at Goodwill that is written up in a recent top-top 10 list… But this exquisite piece from Anthropologie was listed in Rank & Style’s 10 Best Embroidered Jackets in a post from May of 2018. Read the article.

Rank & Style states “Life’s short. Don’t you want to live in full color while you’re at it? Liven up your standard jackets with gorgeous, vibrant embroidery that will take your garment from standard to outstanding. A small floral design is enough to transition you from spring to summer, while a large-scale illustration borders on wearable art that you can wear year-round. Have fun perusing the embroidered jackets that follow, and have even more fun stepping out in the on-trend designs!” I couldn’t have really said it better myself!

This Anthropologie Embellished Anorak originally sold for $198, but I snagged it for only $8.50! The details included printed and embroidered floral designs with accents of sequins and beads. According to the reviews from the article one user said: “My favorite Anthro piece ever! I have worn this jacket with every outfit imaginable, and somehow it always works. The beading and embroidery are beautifully, and there is quality construction to this jacket.” The article suggested to thrown it on over a casual shirt-dress.

I ended up going a little more casual that a dress – wider-leg jeans from Joe’s Jeans, a Life is Good t-shirt and on-trend leopard print slip-ons from Merona (a Target brand).

I’m definitely looking at all the possibilities on how to style this this fall – over dresses, with skinny jeans or boots or maybe dressed up for a night out.

I was thrilled to find such a fantastic statement piece at my local Goodwill Keystone Area store. It’s always a treasure hunt when you walk in the doors!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Jacket: $8.50
Jeans: $5.50
T-shirt: $6.00
Sneakers: $6.97
Total: $26.97
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.

When you think of fall, colors of orange pumpkin, burgundy and golden yellow come to mind, but sometimes I like to buck that trend and wear colors that are just as rich, but a little more flattering to me – cool fuchsias and indigos.

If you can’t tell from this blog, I love patterns and when I found these gorgeous, floral Joe’s Jeans I knew they had to come home with me. Joe’s Jeans retail for up to $200, so my $5.50 find at my local Goodwill Keystone Area was a steal! The pattern and colors were unique and since they fit like a charm (without have to be hemmed or trimmed!), they needed to have just the right pieces to go with them.

Since they were different, while I had them in my hand I roamed the aisles looking for a shirt, blouse or sweater to coordinate with them. I had almost given up hope when this beautiful and wonderfully comfortable Calvin Klein drape cardigan appeared, as if by thrift magic. The color is beautiful with these jeans or will work over a dress or work trousers. I love pieces that can adapt to different outfits and looks. A plain, neutral sleeveless blouse from New York & Company was the perfect underneath the cardigan and didn’t add bulk with another heavy layer.

As for accessories, these sky-high Steve Madden pumps took this outfit from 0-10 in 4 inches. While I don’t wear heels this high that much anymore, they definitely make a statement. The rich blue bag, which does not have a name brand inside, is made of vegan leather. I love the perforated detail and the gold accents. I used a gold bar necklace and gold leaf earrings to add a little shine.

While you may be decorating your home with pumpkins and fall leaves, don’t forget that nature wears all different colors and so can you, no matter the season.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Jeans: $5.50
Cardigan: $6.00
Sleeveless Blouse: $3.95
Bag: $12.97
Necklace: $3.97
Earrings: $1.97
Shoes: $10.00
Total: $34.36
Retail: $450+

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.

It certainly doesn’t feel like it, but fall is on its way. Most children are back to school, and September brings change to schedules, weather and your wardrobe.

I enjoy summer, but at this point I am ready for cooler weather and the fashion that comes with it – sweaters, boots, scarves… But, change is coming slowly, so the heavier clothing will have to wait.

These Bella Dahl denim joggers have been in constant rotation for the past few months. They are extremely comfortable and can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. They also have plenty of pockets and the elasticized cuff make them fun and different than the commonplace skinny jeans. Similar styles to this are available on the Bella Dahl website for about $140. So, this was a new-to-me brand that became a fantastic fashion find for $5.50.

The gauzy, patterned cotton blouse from Lucky Brand gets me many compliments whenever I wear it. The soft fabric and the geometric pattern make it one of my go-to pieces. This top would have retailed for about $70 – $80.

Still holding on to summer, I paired it with neutral open-toed sandals from Nine West

and a vintage-style leather and fabric bag by Elliot Lucca, which sold for approximately $100, but was just $3.97 at my local Goodwill! To add a little sparkle, a large rhinestone necklace adds plenty of bling for $3.97.

Talking about change brings me to Goodwill Keystone Area’s upcoming sale from September 1 – 4. Clothes are available for pocket change – as low as 99 cents! Stores will be open normal hours on Labor Day, so stock up on some fantastic fall finds for you and your family!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Joggers: $5.50
Blouse: $3.95
Bag: $3.97
Necklace: $3.97
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $24.86
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.

Total confession time: I never intended for this look to be on the blog. But, after I posted my pictures on Instagram and they received more likes than any of my (stylish, normal, regular, everyday) outfits did, I thought I should share my fancy duds with my loyal readers. And to my surprise, the September issue of InStyle magazine is highlighting a trend of “80s Prom” for Fall 2018!

Several months ago I bought a ticket to a “Mom Prom”. The event was hosted by two local Berks County ladies as a fundraiser for a local non-profit organization. I have heard of these Mom Proms in more urban areas such as Washington D.C., so I was excited that the idea finally made it to my suburban neighborhood. If you don’t know what a Mom Prom is, it is a festive event (typically a fundraiser) where women (not necessarily moms!) dress up in their old prom, bridesmaid or wedding dresses and dance the night away. Obviously my last prom was 28 years ago and despite still having all those prom dresses, none of them were going to fit.

So, this is where Goodwill Keystone Area comes in… I’ve come across some amazing pieces while planning for my blog, but a sequined, strapless dress with equally sparkly accessories is not usually on my shopping list. Until now.

With just a week to spare, I revisited the East Earl store where I had seen this dress a week or two before. Luckily, it was still there and it fit. And fortunately for me, the shoes, earrings and bracelet were all there as well. The dress (which had the brand tag removed) was $7.95, but had an extra percentage off because it was a “color of the week” came in at just under $6.00. It is a well-made dress and obviously someone chose it for a special event before donating it to Goodwill.

The rose gold and rhinestone shoes from SheSole were the most expensive part of the outfit at $9.97. They are still available on their website and originally retailed for $69.99. As for sparkling accessories, the earrings were $4.97 and the bracelet was $2.97. I knew I had the vintage silver purse at home and that was $4.97.

So, for under $30 ($28.84 to be exact), I had my pretty, pretty princess prom dress for my Mom Prom.

Goodwill Keystone Area stores are my go-to for whatever special occasion outfit I am shopping for. My friend and I had a blast and are looking forward to next year. Grab your girlfriends for a night out – you don’t need a Mom Prom to dig up a spectacular dress from your local Goodwill and kick up your heels!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Romper: $5.96
Shoes: $9.97
Bag: $4.97
Earrings: $4.97
Bracelet: $2.97
Total: $28.84
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.

So… apparently August 17th is National Thrift Store Day. I’m not sure why we need just one day to spotlight thrift shopping, because I think it should be every day. However, since it is getting it’s own special day, why not celebrate…and get 50% OFF at Goodwill Stores! Details here!

I’ve been thrifting for a long time and this is almost my 200th blog post for Goodwill Keystone Area. I’ve met new friends in the store aisles, at events and on my bus trips and all these people are passionate about thrifting clothes, accessories and even household goods.

By shopping at thrift stores, you’re not only saving money, you’re helping the environment by repurposing items that could have been taken to a landfill. And by shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores, you are also helping your local community. Did you know that the money brought in by the sales of goods at their stores helps provide training and employment services that could benefit your friends and neighbors?

Their mission 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.” I’ve seen this first hand on my visit to various Goodwill stores and offices. The outfit you purchase today helps someone receive training for a new job tomorrow.

But, since this blog is about fashion, I had to highlight something fabulous from Goodwill Keystone Area. On a recent trip to the Magic Gardens in Philadelphia, I styled a fabulous and on-trend romper by Espresso (a brand available at Target). This patterned beauty with pom-pom trim was $7.99, but retailed for about $39.99. It was perfectly light and comfortable for the hot and humid weather we’ve been experiencing this summer.

I paired it with bejeweled turquoise sandals by Nine West. They complimented the colors in the romper. I got them for almost 90% off at $7.47 at Goodwill. They sold for $69.99 when new.

The rest of the accessories included a Giani Bernini gold leather bag. This brand sells at Macy’s and would have cost about $99. My price was $4.97! And finally a necklace from Monet rounded out this thrifted-head-to-toe outfit.

Thrifting goes both ways, so when you buy from Goodwill Keystone Area stores, I encourage you to give back. Clean out your closets and house and donate a bag! You’re doing more than just getting rid of stuff, you’re making a difference.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Romper: $7.99
Shoes: $7.47
Bag: $4.97
Necklace: 3.97
Total: $24.44
Retail: $230+

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.

We’re still shopping for back-to-school fashions and while it’s nice to have some chic outfits for special days, a pair of jeans and a comfortable t-shirt is a classic look that kids of many different decades have worn to school. Jeans and t-shirts are the closest thing to a uniform that my kids will wear so I never mind investing in some of these basics for them. And at Goodwill Keystone Area, that look can be achieved for a little over $15.

Once again, my daughter Chloe is helping me out on the blog (and filling her closet). This week’s look is a distressed pair of American Eagle jeans. Denim like this retails at the mall store for about $65. Often she splurges on a full-price pair, but we’re both happy when she finds some on the racks of our local Goodwill store for $5.50. Skinny jeans still seem to be the most popular, but I’ve seen all kinds of fits coming in for fall – wide leg, boyfriend jeans and high rise waists all seem to be making a resurgence (as they usually do every few seasons).

The vintage-style black t-shirt is by Element, which is a brand founded in California for the skateboarding scene. They were one of the first companies to sponsor a female skateboarder, Vanessa Torres, at a time when the sport was dominated by men. This tee would have retailed for around $32, but we paid just $3.95.

For footwear, Chloe has discovered the Sperry brand. According to their website “Sperry or Sperry Top-Sider is the original American brand of boat shoe designed in 1935 by Paul A. Sperry, older brother of writer and illustrator Armstrong Sperry, whose books often featured a sailing theme. Sperrys, or Top-Siders, were the first boat shoes introduced into the boating and footwear markets. Today the Sperry brand is owned by Wolverine World Wide and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.” We’ve found several pairs at Goodwill and currently she loves this neutral-colored pair, which goes well with everything from shorts, to jeans to dresses. This particular style is called the “Angelfish” and still sells on their website for $89.95.

While she is wearing her own backpack, your local Goodwill Keystone Area stores may have a variety of new and pre-owed school bags for sale. You could also look for lunch bags and other school necessities, too. Goodwill’s shelves and racks are always changing, bringing you new merchandise daily. Stop by today to see what school basics you can find!

Stop by Goodwill Keystone Area stores now through Friday, August 10 to get $10 off $30, simply ask your sales associate for the offer when checking out. Complete details here. 

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Jeans: $5.50
T-shirt: $3.95
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $16.92
Retail: $185+

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.

It’s hard to believe that “back-to-school” is just a few weeks away. We’ve started back-to-school shopping at my house and the first stop for clothing and accessories is always my nearby Goodwill Keystone Area stores.

And, mark your calendar now: Goodwill will be offering $10 off a $30 purchase from August 6th through the 10th, get complete details! What a great way to stock up for the new school year.

My youngest is entering high school and her style is all about the labels. When we go thrifting she looks for certain mall store brands and was very excited to find this burgundy lace dress from Garage. This is a new-to-me store my daughter discovered at a local mall. They offer trendy clothing and accessories for tweens, teens and twenty-somethings. It’s a mid-priced brand, but my daughter was thrilled to pick up this $39 dress for $7.95.

She topped it with a denim and tapestry jean jacket from Cabi, which is typically more popular with women my age. She rolled up the sleeves and liked the coordinating colors. This jacket retailed for $79.00, so $5.50 at Goodwill was a real steal.

To keep with the slightly 90s feel of the outfit, she added chunky black and leopard shoes. These are by Relish and would also have sold for about $79.00. We picked them up for $4.97. She’ll be able to wear them with jeans or leggings and sweaters later on this fall.

Instead of a backpack, she styled this look with an oversized bag from COLAB. A little research revealed that this company has a unique philosophy: “COLAB was born with a whole lotta love, two handfuls of creative inspiration & a dash of pretty! COLAB is designed with you in mind, and this COLABoration is statement worthy. Celebrating the natural you & all its forms. Based in Montreal, 100% Vegan, each piece is created with beauty, simplicity & catered to the everyday girl. Together we look good, together we make a difference.” This retailed for about $119, but it was $6.97 at Goodwill.

Even if your kids love labels, you can find the mall brands at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store. My daughter looks for Garage, American Eagle and Calvin Klein as well as the basics like skinny jeans, vintage t-shirts and Converse sneakers too. Get shopping today! The first day of school will be here before you know it!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $7.95
Jacket: $5.50
Shoes: $4.97
Bag: $6.97
Total: $25.39
Retail: $316+

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.