Last week the Thrifty Fashionista headed for the Big Apple and a broadway show, which was of course, about shoes!

As any good fashion blogger would do, I planned an outfit for the trip and my friends indulged me by helping me stage and take the photos so they wouldn’t be all selfies. Visiting such a cosmopolitan city gave me the chance to observe fashionistas in their natural habitat. It’s always good to have a change of scenery and explore somewhere different for some new ideas for my blog and Goodwill.

Being NYC in August, I needed something that was lightweight and comfortable for traversing the city streets. I did wear flats for the trip and changed into the stunning pink and orange Nine West stiletto sandals only for the photos. I didn’t want a sprained ankle as a souvenir. I paired them with a sheer, flowing blouse from Express and a burgundy tank top from Loft. I loved the bright red and pink colors in the top and how they coordinated well with the shoes. For more pop I added a purple and gold chain necklace from Target. The jeans were classic ankle-length skinny jeans from Gap. Gap has remained a solid choice for jeans for many years. They have so many varieties and I’m always happy to find them at my local Goodwill.

If you love thrifting at Goodwill as much as I do, you’ll love these two upcoming Goodwill Keystone Area events!

· On Thursday, August 17th, Goodwill is celebrating National Thrift Day with $5 off a $30 purchase! Hit up your local Goodwill and enjoy the savings! I’ll be out shopping! If you see me, stop and say hi and show me what you have found!

· And, on Saturday, September 9th, I’ll be hosting “Take a Thrift Trip”! Get your tickets now and get on the bus with me and all my thrifty fashionista friends as we visit Berwyn, Phoenixville and Trappe! Sit back and let us do the driving as you enjoy goodie bags, raffle prizes and coupons! I’ll be offering my best thrift tips AND helping you shop as we spend the day visiting three stores. Click here to get your tickets today! 

Whether you are shopping for National Thrift Day OR you get on the Thrift Bus with me, know that when you shop at Goodwill Keystone Area stores, you aren’t just finding stylish treasures at great prices, you are supporting people in your local community on their pathway to a new job or career. That’s something worth shopping for!

Blouse: $3.95
Tank: $3.95
Necklace: $6.97
Shoes: $6.97
Jeans: $6.50
Total: $28.34

From my closet to yours,
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 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.

REMINDER: Take a Thrift Trip with Thrifty Fashionista Kirsten Saturday, September 9, click here for details! 

Summer is in full swing! Local Goodwill Keystone Area stores are still filled with summer staples such as tank tops, shorts and maxi dresses. Meanwhile, I’ve seen Halloween candy at the grocery store.

I picked up this jersey knit Boden dress on a whim for $5.50 (Retail about $100) and hoped it would fit (sometimes I try things on; sometimes I don’t). I’ve recently found a few pieces from this brand and am a new fan. The blue and white stripes were crisp and clean. The drawstring waist was figure flattering and being petite, this length was perfect on me.

Maxi dresses are like wearing your favorite t-shirt – soft, comfy and cozy. I wore this dress all day on a Saturday – from some quick errands, to a casual country wedding to a dinner out with my family. I changed up my accessories, but the dress held its shape and was perfect for a warm summer day.

I added my own rose gold jewelry to compliment the cool blue in the dress. To complete the look I added a large, burgundy B. Makowsky hobo style bag. The gold hardware and quilted detailing on the bag were a nice touch. This brand of bag sells for several hundred dollars, so the $6.97 was a great investment.

The bejeweled metallic flats from CL by Chinese Laundry were purchased for $3.48 at the last 50% off day. These flats would retail for around $49.99. They added a last touch of bling and were super-comfortable to spend the day in.

For under $20, I had an outfit that would have retailed for about $350.00 and it lasted throughout multiple events and kept me looking chic all day. Big box stores may be starting to put out their fall merchandise, but you can still stock up on your summer necessities while the weather is still warm at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store.

Dress: $5.50
Bag: $6.97
Shoes: $3.48
Total: $15.95

From my closet to yours,
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 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.

REMINDER: Take a Thrift Trip with Thrifty Fashionista Kirsten Saturday, September 9, click here for details! 

Typically, I usually blog about the chic and stylish finds I purchase at local Goodwill Keystone Area stores, but there is also another side to Goodwill – the fun and funky side where people go to get Halloween outfits and ugly Christmas sweaters.

A few weeks ago a couple’s social media post about “Goodwill Date Night” went viral. The couple allowed themselves $10 each to shop for the other person at Goodwill and then they had to wear the chosen outfit (no matter how outlandish!) in public. They also picked fake names and personas to go along with the crazy, creative outfits.

My friends starting sharing this idea with me, so I had to find some willing participants and try it and I knew just who to ask – my friend, and fellow thrifter, Richard and his girlfriend, Cindy. They were immediately onboard and we set a date for the big Goodwill Date!

We met at the Shillington Goodwill store, set a budget of about $15 each they were off! I was there to mostly observe and photograph the big event. I may have intervened a bit, but each outfit was a uniquely, original creation. At one point Rich didn’t want to leave the dressing room, but we got him out and the rest is history!

For Rich, Cindy really wanted suspenders and she found a festive Christmas pair (which were featured as part of the Christmas in July sale). She also chose a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle t-shirt. But, the pièce de résistance was the wild chef pants. They were completely covered in more types of colorful vegetables than we could count!

Rich picked out a totally gnarly 80s look for Cindy. From the neon, leopard print maxi skirt to the bejeweled, cut-out tank top to the glam gold bag… Cindy looked like she stepped out of an 80s music video. Except for the shoes… they were Croc-wannabes with their completely underwhelming plastic design and pale lavender color.

So, the Chef and the 80s babe went out to a bar. Just walking in, we noticed some passersby looking in disbelief. Rich was a little self-conscious of the crazy chef pants, but our waitress commented on his clothing choices before we let her in on the joke. There were a lot of laughs and fun throughout the whole evening.

While I usually go for the designer pieces and fashionable accessories, playing along with a Goodwill Date Night Challenge (or why not grab your friends too?) is an inexpensive way to have a unique night out. If you try it, don’t forget to tag your Goodwill Date Night with #goodwilldatenight!

I think Cindy and Rich will look back on this and remember the laughs, but it will be hard to forget those chef pants!

To see the original post, click here. Please note, this is a fun challenge for friends and is not a legitimate contest of any kind.

From my closet to yours,

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 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.

REMINDER: Take a Thrift Trip with Thrifty Fashionista Kirsten Saturday, September 9, click here for details! 

Are you starting to shop for Back to School supplies? Did you know that Goodwill Keystone Area stores are having a Back to School sale August 7-11 for 15% off with student ID k-12 and college? ID or report card are acceptable and parents can bring the ID to shop and get the discount for their children. Complete details here!

But why wait, there are great deals to be had everyday at Goodwill! To find a store near you, click here.

My model Reghan, who I’ve already mentioned is a huge Goodwill fan, is back with a more casual outfit this time. We shopped for both of her outfits at the Robesonia store.

Her second look is what seems to be a wardrobe staple for kids these days: t-shirts, skinny jeans and ankle boots. She quickly found this outfit while shopping and it turned out to be a winner.

The dark wash skinny jeans were brand new from Mossimo (a Target brand) for just $6.50. They will transition with her through the school year as she can layer on a sweatshirt or sweater as the weather turns colder.

Both of her tops (she layered the pink tank under the printed t-shirt) were on sale this week. At 25% off they came to just $2.96 each! The tank was new with tags from Mossimo and the printed navy t-shirt was from Nollie. The description from their website states: “Look your best every day of the week in clothing by Nollie! Created in 2000, Nollie is known for their comfortable laidback tees, tanks and fashion-forward essentials. Plus, every piece from the collection is made from high-quality materials.”

Reghan’s faux suede gray booties are from American Eagle Outfitters. Flat boots are practical for school and fun for hanging out with her family and friends on the weekend.

Start making your lists now and save some cash on Back to School clothing and accessories at the Goodwill Keystone Area sale from August 7-11!

Jeans: $6.50
Tank top: $2.96
T-shirt: $2.96
Shoes: $6.97
Backpack: $12.50
Total: $31.89

From my closet to yours,
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 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.

REMINDER: Take a Thrift Trip with Thrifty Fashionista Kirsten Saturday, September 9, click here for details! 

It may still be summer, but many parents (and some kids!) have started thinking about “Back to School”. Pencils, notebooks, back packs and of course, new outfits, are necessities for any school-age youth! Shopping for all of these items can add up quickly, so getting a discount on them will help stretch your budget. Goodwill is here to help you out!

Goodwill Keystone Area stores are having a Back to School sale August 7-11 for 15% off with student ID k-12 and college. ID or report card are acceptable and parents can bring the ID to shop and get the discount for their children. For complete details, click here.

My model Reghan is already a huge Goodwill fan (along with her mom), so I didn’t have to do much convincing to take her shopping for some back to school looks for the blog.

Her first of two looks for my Back to School series is this adorable black and white Charlotte Russe dress. It has pockets and the bold stripes make it a fun look for someone her age.

We dressed it up with a patterned black and white infinity scarf. I’m a fan of mixing and matching prints, so we also added in colorful printed flats from Cherish Elegance. She’ll be able to run from class to class in style with these comfortable, yet trendy shoes.

Lastly, the most important part – her back pack! Reghan’s mom picked this beautiful Vera Bradley backpack up at the Robesonia store on 50% off day for just $12.50!

Back to School doesn’t have to cost a fortune when you shop at Goodwill Keystone Area! The stores are filled with lots of youth clothing and accessories including backpacks and assorted school supplies. Be sure and check your neighborhood store for some smart deals to send your kids back to school in style! And save the date for our Back to School sale starting August 7th!

Dress: $5.50
Scarf: $1.00
Shoes: $6.97
Backpack: $12.50
Total: $25.97

From my closet to yours,

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 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.

REMINDER: Take a Thrift Trip with Thrifty Fashionista Kirsten Saturday, September 9, click here for details! 

OK, there’s a double meaning in that title. I’m modeling shorts and I’m going to tell you that if you are short on cash, there is no need to be short on style with Goodwill. A subtle attempt at fashion blog humor…

I’m just going to come out and say it: this outfit cost about $6! The whole outfit including the shoes and bag! How, you ask? By spending some time and searching the bins at the Goodwill outlet centers. Clothing and wares are typically sold by the pound and shoes are a flat $2.75. I’ve said it before that it takes more effort to find fashion gold at the outlets, but it is possible! NOTE: learn about Goodwill’s Outlet Centers and find locations, click here.

This beautifully patterned linen top was the foundation for the outfit. It is well made with nice sleeve detailing and graphite buttons. Unfortunately the tag was removed, but I am guessing it might be Talbots. The colors are perfect for a summer outing. This fall I can wear this top with black trousers for work or jeans for a weekend look.

I paired it with cute embroidered shorts from New York & Co. Black shorts are a nice change from the typical denim, white or khaki you may have been sporting all summer.

The lattice cut turquoise wedge sandals from Bamboo would have originally cost about $35, but shoes at the outlet are just $2.75! These are such a beautiful summer color! I’m thinking of pairing them with jeans and maybe a coral or black top and a turquoise necklace.

The simple black Tignanello handbag is crafted of butter-soft leather with brown contrast stitching. I love finding this brand of bags because they are always high quality and often over-looked so they are plentiful at the Goodwill stores. This one would have retailed for over $100! The necklace was my own and a previous purchase from Goodwill.

I paid about $6.00 for this look that would have cost me approximately $275 if I bought it at the mall! If you have the time to sort through the bins, you can definitely walk away with some Goodwill gold!

Top: $0.50
Shorts: $0.50
Shoes: $2.75
Bag: $2.25
Total: $6.00

From my closet to yours,

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 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.

REMINDER: Take a Thrift Trip with Thrifty Fashionista Kirsten Saturday, September 9, click here for details! 

It’s July, so it’s hot. Whether you are spending time by the pool, on the beach or on a boat, looking cool is easy with a few summery pieces from Goodwill Keystone Area Stores in shades that are as cool as the water they are inspired by.

A tunic is the perfect wardrobe necessity for this time of year. They are typically light and gauzy and ideal for slipping on over a bathing suit or for a casual night out.

This beautiful turquoise and aqua cotton tunic with neckline detail was a major find at the Goodwill Outlet in Reading. At the outlet, you pay by the pound for clothing, accessories and home goods, so I walked away with this $110 Boden tunic for about $1.

Boden is a British clothing retailer selling primarily online and by mail order and catalog. It was founded by Johnnie Boden in 1991 as a mail-order business. The company sells in several countries, with websites for the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and Australia.

I paired it with some sparkling silver accessories. The Kate Spade tote I have featured before, but it has become one of my most favorite Goodwill finds. It is perfect for all my poolside accessories. The silver White Mountain sling backs are as comfortable as they are pretty! I’ve worn them with skinny jeans and a light blouse and silver jewelry. Last, the silver and turquoise beaded necklace adds a final touch and completes the outfit.

Let your surroundings inspire you! The sparkling water of the pool is reflected in my dress and accessories. Keeping cool and dressing well is easy when you shop for lounge wear at Goodwill Keystone Area.

Dress: $1.00 (approximate)
Shoes: $6.97
Bag: $4.97
Necklace: $6.97

Total: $19.91

From my closet to yours,
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 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.

In the last of my four part series about dressing professionally on a budget, I’m showcasing an effortless casual dress with neutral designer accessories. The whole look is under $20!

The A-line, ¾ sleeve dress has been in regular rotation in my summer wardrobe. The simple shape is loose and flowing on these hot summer days. The pockets make it fun and functional. Dresses are an integral part of my wardrobe. They don’t require mixing and matching like separates such as blouses, pants or skirts. One piece, a few accessories and you are out the door!

The bag and the shoes are the designer stars of this outfit. I picked up the leopard print leather satchel by Cynthia Rowley for only $4.97. Retail on this bag is about $250. The gold chain accents and the embossed python print in the leopard pattern are high quality details. When looking for a designer bag, be sure to look at the finishes of the metal and leather and check the liner for rips or stains. Some things can be repaired or cleaned, others can’t.

This brand of shoes has been on my wish list. I was hoping to find sandals, but thrifters can’t be choosers! These brown Jack Rogers ballet flats are perfect for summer. The iconic detailing on a Jack Rogers shoe is the lacing. They would have retailed for about $150 when new, but I paid only $4.97. Lastly I layered on a Target necklace, which I picked up new with tags for $3.97.

This neutral color scheme of denim and browns is perfect for a casual office look. You could upgrade this to an evening look with black heels and a statement necklace and colorful clutch. Or to adapt this look for winter, adding tights, boots and a scarf will add some extra warmth against the chill. A denim dress has many possibilities!

I hope I have showed you four different looks for different professional environments. Even if you don’t work in an office, having a dress, blouse and trousers ready for interviews or meetings is affordable with pieces from Goodwill Keystone Area stores!

Dress: $5.50
Shoes: $4.97
Bag: $4.97
Necklace: $3.97
Total: $19.41

From my closet to yours,

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 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.

While building your work wardrobe is necessary, enjoying your time away from your job is important as well. You might be heading out to a casual dinner or grabbing a drink with friends right after work, so looking a little more relaxed is easy when you have the right pieces.

Meredith’s work look started out with this art deco patterned sleeveless blouse by Calvin Klein. The green, pink, black and white pattern ties the outfit together and adds a lot of detail. For daytime, a short-sleeved pink cardigan by Loft makes it completely office-appropriate. It’s also good to have an extra layer in case of chilly air conditioning.

For office hours, we also gave her a roomy, zippered black tote with gold details by Steve Madden. This is large enough for files, a tablet or a laptop. Bags like this are perfect for the off hours as well, carting around your snacks or necessities for a weekend day trip.

Meredith wore her own black plants and flats, but we layered a silver and black beaded chain necklace to add a finishing touch.

For after hours, we changed up her look, just slightly. Gone is the simple pink cardigan. We replaced it with a perennial classic, a faded-wash jean jacket from Gap.
I love jean jackets and probably have half a dozen in various cuts and colors. But maybe that is a throw back to my 80s girl roots. But, they immediately make an outfit less fussy and add casual chic style to any look.

We unwrapped the necklace and left it long and traded the tote for a stylish green cross body bag. I picked up this little treasure at the Morgantown store. I knew it was well made, but I didn’t realize what a great find it was until I got home and researched the brand – Pulicati. It was made in Italy and when new it retailed for $150, so not a bad investment for $6.97.

Meredith has an effortless day-to-night look and shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores gives her the ability to treat herself to a night out after work.

Blouse: $3.95
Necklace: $3.97
Tote bag: $9.97
Cardigan: $3.95
Jean jacket: $5.50
Small bag: $6.97
Total: $34.31

From my closet to yours,

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 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.

Dressing professionally doesn’t mean you have to have a “uniform look” of plain trousers and a blouse. Adding some flair to your work wardrobe helps you stand out while working at your current job or interviewing for a new position.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Goodwill Keystone Area provides the pathway to employment for many people. And their stores provide a variety of wardrobe options for whatever career path you choose.

I love color, texture and pattern and this look provides all three items. My office environment is pretty casual, but I still like to add a little panache to my days with my clothing choices. The white blouse was new with tags from Talbots. It retailed for $79, but I picked it up for $3.95. The white piping around the neckline and sleeves adds an interesting detail to this classic white top.

Print pants are back in style! I love them as a fun choice for summer. These cropped blue print trousers from Loft add some balance to the simple blouse. If your office required you to be more covered up, a bright solid colored cardigan would be an easy option. Each office environment is different. When interviewing look around at how others are dressed, this will point you in the right direction on making your own wardrobe choices if you are hired.

As for my accessories, I added some color and balance. My necklace was my own, but these low-heeled fuchsia flats by Bijou coordinate and tie the look together. A gold, chunky beaded bracelet picks up on the gold in the necklace and the buckle on the shoes. And finally, the white leather tote from Tignanello was a great find from the Goodwill Keystone Area Outlet in Reading. Having a professional-looking bag helps finish off your look in a stylish way.

If you are starting at a new job, check out how your co-workers are dressing and adjust your new wardrobe accordingly. Shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores will help you fill your closet and adding a few fun pieces will keep your look fresh, clean and professional!

Pants: $4.25
Blouse: $3.95
Bracelet: $1.97
Shoes: $6.97
Bag: $1.75 (Goodwill Outlet)
Total: $18.89

From my closet to yours,
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 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.