Tag: thrift

Hippie Skirts and Sleeveless Bargains

August 23, 2013

A New Generation of Thrift Store Shoppers

My daughter has become a thrift store shopper like me. On two recent trips to Goodwill, she went back-to-school shopping and she was excited to find a number of outfits – black camis and ‘hippie’ skirts.  She has her own sense of style and found exactly what she was looking for. Of course she did, she was shopping at Goodwill.

Hippie Skirts at Goodwill
(Photo credit: Emily Bateman) Making a donated item your own hip, current style is what thrift shopping is all about.

She’s a college student looking to differentiate her style from the crowd. When I saw her trying on outfits, I knew she’d struck Goodwill gold.  When you are shopping for your style, you often find exactly what you are looking for at Goodwill. Better yet are the bargain prices.  The skirts and shirts were both just $3.50 a piece.

Save More with Goodwill Rewards Card

Sleeveless Tee and Hippie Skirt
A young thrifter finds a great skirt and cami at Goodwill for $7.

With a Goodwill Rewards Card, shoppers can save an additional 25% on daily specials, which in this case was $6. Total bill – just over $25 with tax. The money saved helped pay for lunch.

Goodwill Sales Funds Job Programs

It’s also good to know that her purchases and support of Goodwill  fund job training programs.  Sales of gently used donated items benefit people with disabilities.  Bargains fund opportunities.  It’s a win win.

Goodwill Vintage Clothing Inspires Canine Couture

August 8, 2013

Guest Blog by  Annette Kaiser, Goodwill Keystone Area

You never know what you’ll find at Goodwill Keystone Area’s Tilghman Square store in Allentown, PA. Two regular customers at the gently used clothing racks are fashion designers Maribel and Jana Nieves, a mother-daughter team who own a studio called Bel Bijoux Couture in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Bel Bijoux Couture
Maribel and Jana Nieves, a mother-daughter team, in their studio.

While their shop looks like any other design studio — with spools of brightly colored thread and coat trees draped with rich textures and fabrics — the design pages and patterns folded neatly in rows of hangers are in miniature. That’s because this couture isn’t designed for humans, it’s designed for their pets.

The Nieves specialize in one-of-a-kind pet coats and were recently featured on NAT GEO WILD’s “Spoiled Rotten Pets.”  Their  favorite place to shop for material is the Goodwill store in Allentown,  because the selections of vintage clothes and modern fashions spurs their imagination and gives them endless choices for fabrics, buttons and other accessories that go into their line.

“When we work with a customer, they tell us what colors and type of fabric they would like,” said Jana Nieves. “We go to Goodwill, browse all sorts of pieces from skirts to jackets, from coats and pants. Once we find something that meets the description, we’ll take a picture and send it to them. You never know what you will find at Goodwill.”

Dogs Modeling Custom Coats
These fashionable dogs had their custom outfits created from Goodwill finds.

Jana Nieves says she can design and create up to three pieces from one Goodwill garment.  Unlike the “sleepy” bolted fabrics found on the shelves of retail textile stores, “the pieces we find at Goodwill have a certain life to them that transform into beautiful pieces.”

For more information on Bel Bijoux Couture, visit t www.belbijouxcouture.com.  Custom coats start at $55 and are guaranteed to fit your life, your style and your pet.

Fashion is Never Finished at Goodwill

August 7, 2013

Style is How You Define It

One thing great about style is that trends ebb and flow, so what was once cool, may go out of style, but it tends to come back in style sometime in the future, reinvented, considered new. Fashion is never finished.

Goodwill Outfits for Less
Corinne found her style at the Goodwill Runway Show.

This is why thrift stores like Goodwill are so fantastic to frequent.  New donations come in every day, meaning many new chances for new styles. 

Why We Do What We Do

With the proceeds from these donations, people who need job training can receive it, people with disabilities can receive care and socialization they need and older, lower-income people who seek opportunities can find jobs that suit them. Goodwill is a nonprofit organization. We invest 84% of what we take in to help people with disabilities and other barriers to independence.

Some Like the Thrill of the Hunt

We organize our clothes by color, so if you know what colors suit you, which are your favorites, you can start there.  Like most stores, shirts and pants are racked together, but unlike most stores, they are all the same price.  Jeans are $6. Pants are $4. Shirts are $3.50. Tee-shirts are $1.50. And so on. With our new Rewards Card, you can save even more on select items.

You might even find that thrifting makes you a fashion trendsetter. Sometimes just choosing to wear clothes you love is all you need to be fashionable.

Stock up on Super Bowl Party Supplies at Goodwill

February 1, 2013

 I went looking for a few extra  serving bowls for a Super Bowl party I am planning, but was discouraged at the exorbitant prices at some high-end and supposedly bargain-price stores. While I was shopping I suddenly thought ‘Goodwill to the rescue.’ 

I knew the prices would be more than affordable and that I would be able to find something different. I chose a couple neat serving bowls. 

Silver-plated candy dish.
Great pretzel bowl and drink glasses for the Super Bowl.

 

 

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Go fancy or plain with extra serving bowls for your party.

I found extra glasses in several Goodwill stores that I could use for drinks so my guests would not misplace their drinks.  I also found plenty of decorations in the purple and black shelves of my local Goodwill store – Ravens colors, and scarlet red and orange – San Francisco colors. This added some color to my party platters.

With the money you save on party decorations at Goodwill, buy some shrimp or wings for your guests.

Need Glassware for a Holiday Party? Goodwill to the Rescue!

December 20, 2012

If you’re having a holiday gathering and expecting more guests than you have glasses or you want to keep your set intact or ensure grandmother’s china doesn’t get broken, think about stocking up on some extra mugs, glassware and other kitchen items from Goodwill.

If the thought of serving drinks in your wedding crystal or good wine glasses gives you nightmares, why not get some inexpensive beverage glasses at one of our 35 Goodwill stores? Different mugs and glasses for each guest would also prevent drink mix ups from happening.

Barware 1
Budweiser Clydesdale lager glasses, a Planet Hollywood and a Brown University shot glass at Goodwill.
Unique quality barware from Goodwill doesn’t break your budget. Hand-blown champagne flute & martini glass – $0.97 each. Four matching tumblers – $0.47 each.

How often have we heard this exchange:” Where did I put my drink?” “What kind of glass was it in?” “It was like yours. Did you take my glass by mistake?” If you’ve ever been to a holiday party where identical wine glasses had different charms on them, but still got mixed up, you know how easy it is to forget where you left your glass when you get up to go to the bathroom and someone takes your spot near the fireplace.

Don’t lose track of which glass or beer mug is yours. Giving each guest a unique glass is easy if you shop at Goodwill.

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Need a Party Dress for Less? Think Goodwill.

December 13, 2012

Let’s face it, sometimes, last minute invitations come up. Your schedule clears and you are able to attend a holiday party you had not anticipated going to.  Sometimes your daughter comes to you and says she needs an outfit for the school dance tonight and has nothing to wear.

These dresses were available during a recent visit to a Goodwill in Lemoyne, PA.

You’ve done all of your holiday shopping already and came in at or near budget. You’ve fought through the Black Friday crowds and braved the parking lots packed with Christmas shoppers at the mall.  Now you want to get yourself or a family member a last-minute special outfit without paying retail. What do you do? This is the perfect time to think Goodwill.Our stores specialize in women’s fashions.You don’t have to pay $50 or more. Feel free to brag a little. ‘I paid $8 for this dress from Jones of New York at Goodwill.’ AND I used my Shop-N-Save card to save on this Liz Claiborne purse. Next time, bring along an envious friend to shop Goodwill with you.

Liz Claiborne, left and Tommy Hilfiger, right. Purses to accessorize any outfit and they won’t empty your wallet.

While you’re there, you may want to look for a housewarming gift for the party host. A serving dish.  A decoration. A game. You’ll leave knowing that you can still afford a bottle of wine for the hostess. Look for it and find it. At Goodwill.

Silver-plated candy dish. Perfect holiday impulse buy.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters. It’s Hip to be Square.

December 8, 2012

I can’t help but smile when I see someone at the mall, at a Christmas party or out and about boldly wearing a loud Christmas sweater, embroidered sweatshirt or Santa Claus hat. Normally this comes with slight disregard for traditional fashion sense. It’s festive, it’s fun, it’s something you talk and joke about.

Ugly Christmas sweaters are colorful. They’re busy. They’re garish.

They’re the opposite of cool, yet they are cool at the same time. They are conversation pieces. Who can find the most ornate, the most creative, the most daring? It’s Christmas and it’s time to celebrate. “Fashion can be put on hold when I wear my ugly Christmas sweater,” seems to be the prevailing mood. That’s why ugly Christmas sweaters remain a popular annual trend.

Where do we find our new favorite? To find an ugly Christmas sweater that suits your particular personality and budget takes some doing. If you’ve shopped online for them, they can also carry hefty price tag. Instead of shelling out $35 or $50 for an ugly Christmas sweater, shopping at your local Goodwill can save you plenty. In fact, you can afford to buy several different sweaters at thrift store prices for much less than you would pay for one at retail or online with shipping.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the wide selection, quality and variety of sweaters and sweatshirts that Goodwill has. Keep in mind, each Goodwill store has unique ugly Christman sweaters in stock.

Challenge your friends and relatives. Plan an ugly Christmas sweater party. Ask guests to wear an outlandish sweater or sweatshirt to your next gathering.

Shop Goodwill. You’ll be happy you did.

Father’s Day Finds

June 11, 2010

Father’s Day is just around the corner. Have you thought about what to get dear old Dad? Perhaps he likes vintage video games? You could check out this Atari game system and games! http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=6313301 Hurry, the bidding ends on Tuesday, June 15.

I was passed down my love of collecting from my father. I’ve found the perfect gift for his antique farming collection on shopgoodwill.com. A butter churn! Of course if you decided that your father would like to have it in his collection, I’d completely understand… Let the best bidder win! http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=6310551 Bidding on this item ends on Monday, June 14!

If these items aren’t just right, surf around shopgoodwill.com and see what you can find. The possibilities are endless! From vintage golf clubs, to books and cds, to sports memorabilia, you’ll find the perfect gift for your pops in time for Father’s Day on Sunday, June 20. 

Happy hunting!

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Let Your Creativity Flow

May 24, 2010

Being a bargain hunter isn’t easy, but when you find that great deal, it’s so worth it. As a Bargainista, you can find beautiful items at a great price. Take your house décor for example. There are so many clever thrifty ways to make your house look good.

I found these ideas from another blog about chic tips to decorating your home. Check it out!! http://parenting.leehansen.com/decorating/thrift-store-decor.htm

A good bargain is only really a good bargain if you can enjoy your purchase for more than just the low price. Your best bet is to go specifially in search of the item you need. When you find that perfect item, you’ll enjoy it both in your home and in your bank account.

Remember, a great bargain is just around the corner at your local Goodwill.

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Fashion on the Go

May 13, 2010

Save time! People are always looking for ways to get more time. There never seems to be enough of it. For those of us who want more time while getting great fashion deals, these tips could be your new best fashion time savers.

#1 – Make sure you try on the clothes. Tags that are on the clothes may be slightly off because of previous wearing and shrinking. Also, designers can  vary their sizes, which could also throw it off. This will save you time if you try them on now instead of getting home and realizing that the clothes you just spent your valuable time shopping for are the wrong size. Pity.

#2 – Lets say you want to stand out a party. Get your dress from a thrift shop and you can all but guarantee that no one else will have your dress. It probably was not worn that much and, with how quickly fashions change, your mild throwback dress could make you the cat’s meow at your next shindig. 

#3 – Love a pair of jeans with a broken zipper or that shirt with a missing button? Go ahead and buy them, those are easy things to replace! Stay away from clothing with rips or stains. Those could take too much time to fix or not be fixable at all.

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