Thinking of Christmas, you obviously reach for traditional colors of red or green, gold and silver. For a more sophisticated choice, I selected this merlot colored knit dress for Catina. It was perfect for our photo shoot at a local winery.
The body-hugging knit accentuated her figure, but was flattering and comfortable. The side ruching at the waist and sleeves added interest and detail. The dress was accented with a gold zipper detail at the neckline, so several gold chains and a spikey gold bracelet were the perfect accessories.

For a modern edgy look we added black and metallic peep toe booties by Wild Rose. Like many of my pieces, I plan how I would style these in a different way. These would look great with rolled up skinny jeans and a black leather (or faux) leather jacket. Lastly, an elegant gold and black satin structured bag finished off her look. Being festive can be understated, and doesn’t have to always include glitter or sequins. The color of this dress gave a off a warm glow that embodies the holiday spirit. And for less than the cost of a bottle of wine, this outfit shows that Goodwill is a great place to shop for special occasion outfits.

Dress: $0.99
Necklace: $6.97
Shoes: $6.97
Bracelet: $0.98

Total: $15.91

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.

Now’s the time of year for holiday party invitations to be arriving in your email or mail box. Be it your company Christmas party, an elegant dinner out with close friends or a neighborhood get-together, Goodwill Keystone Area stores are the perfect place to find a little sparkle and shine to dress up your wardrobe.

The December fashion magazines featured lots of sequins and glittering accessories and all those things can be found for much less than retail mall prices at your neighborhood Goodwill.

Meredith’s beautiful green, blue and gold sleeveless brocade dress looks expensive, but in reality it was originally from Target. The dress itself was so bright that it didn’t need a lot of jewelry. Since the dress had a vintage “Mad Men” kind of feel, I added simple gold bar earrings and few beaded bracelets.

The rhinestone-encrusted gold heels add plenty of glamour and she can dance the night away, while the gold clutch can hold her necessities.

To enrich the lushness of the dress’s fabric, I added a suede blazer from Ann Taylor Loft. In addition to keeping her warm, this versatile piece can be also worn with a casual outfit such as jeans and a t-shirt.

When the invitations arrive, don’t worry about spending a lot on a party outfit. Stop at your local Goodwill and pick out a little sparkle and shine!

Dress: $5.50
Clutch: $2.97
Shoes: $2.25
Earrings: $1.97
Bracelets: $1.97
Jacket: $10.00

Total: $24.66

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.

In the next three posts, I will be featuring a few party-ready looks (see the sneak peek of all our outfits at the end) that won’t break your holiday budget. My girlfriends and I visited a local winery for a festive photo shoot and the owner (and my models) were impressed that every single piece featured was from Goodwill!

When heading out to a holiday event, comfort isn’t always something you think about. And nothing says the holidays like a sequin dress! Sequins can be surprisingly itchy, but this Old Navy dress was very comfortable and I feel like I could dance the night away! I found this dress new with tags (it was about $50 when new) and I paid only $8.00!

Old Navy provides inexpensive classic and trendy pieces for men, women and children. I love their jeans and they have a variety of lines including casual, professional and active wear.

This dress didn’t need much embellishment but I wanted a pop of color. This set of beaded gray and red necklace and bracelet was just what I needed. The bright red oversized clutch ties it all together. And the silver and black snakeskin print Via Spiga heels were comfortable and understated.

The best part of holiday events is not the clothing and accessories, but the fun you have spending time with your family and friends. Goodwill makes it easy and affordable to look great, but the joy of being with with people you love is priceless.

Dress: $8.00
Necklace/Bracelet set: $6.97
Shoes: $6.97
Clutch: $4.97

Total: $26.91

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.

Sometimes you don’t need a whole new outfit to feel festive. Sometimes just a touch of holiday cheer can revamp your look.

I started searching for a few accessories to jazz up some simple outfits and Goodwill Keystone Area stores never disappoint. And the best part is that all of these items were under $5.00 and most were just a buck!

This vintage black, poinsettia-embroidered clutch will enliven even the simplest of little black dresses or a sweater and jeans.

A couple pairs of holiday socks will keep your toes warm and a Christmas song in your heart.
For the man in your life, a new Santa tie will spruce up his work wardrobe for the office party or for your neighborhood get-together.

This floral scarf will not only help keep you warm, but it will add some festive red and green flair to your outfit.

Lastly, I found this beaded Oleg Cassini blouse at the outlet in Reading. For around $1.50 this would add some serious bling to your Christmas party outfit. I would style it with skinny jeans and black boots. With all the sparkle you don’t even need any accessories. Keep the rest of your look simple!

For just a few dollars Goodwill lets you accessorize the clothing you already have in your closet! Looking great at the holidays doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

Clutch: $2.97
Socks: $1.00/each
Tie: $1.00
Scarf: $1.00
Blouse: $1.49

Total: $8.46

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.

Living in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, cheering for the Eagles is almost a requirement. My daughter has become interested in the Eagles since she started cheerleading for her own school and recently I found this “ugly” or “festive” holiday themed football sweater for her.

This NFL brand sweater would normally retail for $50, but I found it for just $6.50. The Eagles green, black and white sweater sports the team logo and some traditional Christmas motifs. I’m not sure I would have ever paid full price for something like this, but she thought it was fun. She said she will only wear it when they win though.

She chose Abercrombie and Fitch skinny jeans, which she styled with a wide single cuff. These jeans would have sold at full price for $78, so I consider $6.50 (a savings of more than 90%!) a great deal.

To finish it off, she pulled a pair of black, modern, wedge heels from my closet. These Donald J. Pliner beauties are a great find. These designer shoes retail for hundreds of dollars, so I didn’t mind spending $9.97. They have a classic design that apparently even teens like.

From crazy sweaters to designer footwear, Goodwill Keystone Area stores hold such a variety of goods! Score a touchdown and bring some of your own treasures home today.

Sweater: $6.50
Jeans: $6.50
Shoes: $9.97

Total: $22.97

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 was originally planning to use this sweater as an “Ugly Christmas Sweater” blog post, but after seeing it styled and photographed, it is way too cool to be considered “ugly.” I have a few more (shall we say “festive”?) sweaters to share with you on a later post.

But let me back up a moment – I’d like to introduce you to the first male model on my blog: my friend Rich! He and I share a love of thrifting and he often tags me in his posts on Facebook with the great items he has found at Goodwill Keystone Area stores. He also attends the annual Goodwill Runway Show to support his sister, who is one of the models.

I offered Rich the chance to model this lovely vintage 80s wool and acrylic sweater and he jumped (or should I say pranced) at the chance. The red, black and grey knit sweater by Campus is perfect for the holidays, and despite its age, it looks modern and festive. I did a little research on the brand and discovered it was a menswear company that started in 1922 as the Campus Sweater Company in Cleveland, Ohio. They produced a wide variety of men’s sporty clothing, but were best known for their sweaters and casual shirts. At one time, Campus was the largest producer of men’s casualwear in the USA.

While most of the time I blog about women’s fashions and accessories, Goodwill stores are filled with men’s, teen’s and children’s clothing as well as home goods. I found this classic sweater at a Goodwill Outlet for just about a dollar and Rich told me his khakis were also Goodwill finds.

If you are on the lookout for holiday goods or fashions, be sure to start shopping now! Cute and “ugly” holiday sweaters will get snapped up quickly as we get closer to Christmas. Goodwill Keystone Area stores are starting to load up their aisles with holiday merchandise, so shop early for the best selection!

Sweater: $1.00
Total: $1.00

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.

This week is Thanksgiving and I have a lot to be grateful for this year. One of the things I am thankful for is this blog. I love being your Goodwill Keystone Area blogger and I enjoy sharing my fashion finds and the mission of Goodwill with you, my readers.

This weekend while shopping with a new friend at Goodwill in Shillington, I found the perfect blanket scarf. It’s huge and has a unique pattern which is excellent for fall. Wrapping it around me is like giving myself a hug. I could style it several different ways such as wearing it as a shawl, a vest or around my shoulders or neck.

I paired it with a coordinating orange cowl-neck sweater by Willi Smith (a brand usually sold at T.J. Maxx stores), Paige skinny jeans and my one of my favorite pairs of boots. These were purchased at the store in Phoenixville before I started blogging. I paid approximately $30 at Goodwill for these Lucky Brand distressed leather boots, but I knew they were worth it (value $200+) and they are in regular rotation in my wardrobe with anything from jeans to dresses.

No matter how you spend Thanksgiving or who you spend it with, take a moment to say “thanks” for whatever makes you happy. I am grateful for Goodwill Keystone Area for giving me the opportunity to write this blog and to you all for reading it and supporting me for almost a year now. Happy Thanksgiving from Goodwill Keystone Area and my family to yours!

Kirsten

Sweater: $4.25
Scarf: $1.00
Jeans: $6.50

Total: $11.75

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.

When one thinks of fashion they might think of sky-high heels and boots. But, sometimes you need something a little more functional, yet still stylish.

Lately, my wardrobe has been become more casual. I’ve been attracted to footwear that I can wear running errands or working in the yard (now in the leaves and rain, but soon in the snow).

Being an 80s girl, I always loved Espirit and when I was a kid, we called these brown and black laced boots “duck boots.” I saw this pair and since they brought back great memories and were extremely functional, they went in my cart.
They would have originally retailed for around $69.99, but I picked them up for just $9.97 at Goodwill in Morgantown, PA.

Next are these rainy-weather-necessities by L.L. Bean. The leopard print makes them stylish and very useful on damp days. These “Wellie” styled boots would have sold for around $89.00, so for only $2.25 from the Reading Outlet, I got another bargain!

My daughter has been waiting for me to use these turquoise Converse sneakers on my blog ,so they can go in her closet! She and I both love this color and style. It’s basic, yet fun and I see people of all ages wearing and loving Converse. I found these the day of grand opening at Goodwill in Trappe, PA for just $6.97. Retail would be about $50.

Lastly are these black and white Adidas Dragon sneakers. I found them at Goodwill in East Earl, PA (Lancaster County) and they are in like new – just $9.97. Online, they are going for up to $100, so I’m pretty happy with this deal! I have loved this style of sneaker since I was in high school. We didn’t have a football team, so all the cool guys played soccer and off the field they wore Adidas.

All of these shoes are fun, yet functional and are extremely comfortable. No pinched toes or cramped feet here! Sneakers and flat boots give your feet a break from heels and these make you look a little more stylish during your everyday errands! If I had paid retail for all of these shoes, the total would have been over $300, but with Goodwill, I picked up these shoes at an average of 90% off!

Goodwill – Morgantown, PA:
Duck boots: $6.97

Goodwill Outlet – (Mt. Penn) Reading, PA:
Rain boots: $2.25

Goodwill – Trappe, PA:
Converse: $6.97

Goodwill – East Earl, PA:
Adidas: $9.97

Total: $26.16

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.

When I find something that is on my fashion bucket list at Goodwill, I feel so lucky! One of those things was an Aztec-print swing cardigan. These have been popular for the last few seasons. It is unique enough that I could wear this in various ways for years to come.

This version by Full Tilt came from the Trappe location and was a bargain at $4.25. I loved the cozy feel, the pink and blue color combination and the perfect fit. It was easy to layer on top of a black Mossimo (Target) tank top, but in cooler weather a turtleneck would work too!

These black “Skinny Curvy” jeans from Ann Taylor Loft sell for $79.50, but I paid just $6.50 at Goodwill in Morgantown. They are a classic piece that I can style in many different ways. For this look I cuffed them and added black leather ankle boots by Bandolino.

My accessories included the turquoise and silver beaded necklace ($6.97) and a roomy black leather bag by Tignanello ($6.97). Tignanello makes high-quality leather goods and you can often find them at Goodwill stores. They hold up well and I’ve found many of them in a variety of colors and styles over my years of shopping at Goodwill. Look for their unique chain-print lining to help spot them on the purse rack!

This cardigan is sure to become on my wardrobe staples. Besides this look, I could throw it on over a little black dress and add some fun accessories for a night out. When thinking about your wardrobe, make a list of things you would love to find and keep your eye out when shopping at your local Goodwill store!

Goodwill Trappe, PA:
Sweater: $4.25

Goodwill Morgantown, PA:
Jeans: $6.50
Purse: $6.97
Tank: $3.95

Goodwill Ephrata, PA:
Necklace: $6.97

Goodwill Shillington, PA:
Boots: $6.97

Total: $28.64

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.

Fall can be a tough time of year to dress appropriately. Mornings and evenings are cool, but it can be sunny and warm in the afternoons. Layering your clothing can keep you comfortable all day long. On a recent outing to Pottsville with my sister to visit an antique shop, I put together a multi-layered outfit including several coordinating pieces.

I started with a sleeveless olive green, ivory and purple print blouse by Jones Studio.
I topped that with a solid-colored fringed swing cardigan. Fringe is big for fall and I’ve seen it decorating lots of boots and handbags.

I topped those pieces with a coordinating plaid down vest by Lands End. A vest like this would cost about $60-$70 when new, but I picked it up for just $5.50! I enjoy mixing and matching patterns such as the print blouse and plaid vest. One of my favorite phrases for fashion is that “it doesn’t have to match, it just has to go”! I added my own gold necklace and bracelets (former Goodwill purchases) to accessorize the look.

My White House Black Market pants are one of my favorite new finds from my visit to Goodwill in Robesonia, PA a few weeks ago. They are an ivory, skinny, cargo pant and are accented with gold. My lush suede boots from Nine West played off the purple in the blouse and vest. Lastly, the structured brown suede Zara handbag was the perfect neutral against the rest of the outfit.

As the day warmed up, it was easy to shed the vest and keep comfortable as we strolled around town, enjoying the history of the area. If it was cooler I could have added on an ivory scarf. Keeping easy pieces to add on or subtract from your outfit will keep you comfortable with these fluctuating temperatures!

Goodwill in Shillington:
Blouse: $4.00
Cardigan: $3.95
Bag: $4.97

Goodwill in Robesonia:
Pants: $5.50

Goodwill in Morgantown:
Vest: $5.50
Boots: $6.97

Total: $30.89

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.