Author: yourg724

Second-Hand September

 

Second-hand September is an online movement to encourage people to either limit their shopping or shop exclusively from thrift or consignment stores for September. If you search #secondhandseptember on Instagram, you’ll find almost 90,000 images of people from around the world sharing their outfits.

For me, second-hand is a monthly, if not weekly, and daily movement. I have been thrifting for over 40 years, starting when my mom took me shopping as a young girl. I remember desperately looking for Jordache jeans, Esprit shirts, and Benetton sweatshirts in the 80s. In the 90s, my style turned more alternative and boho when I was in art school in college, and then when I started in the business world, I looked for suits and office-appropriate attire. Now that I have kids of my own and I am more settled in my career and style, my look is all over the place, but still mostly entirely thrifted from Goodwill Keystone Area stores.

Now, the pandemic has opened many more people’s eyes to the benefits of thrift shopping. According to an article on Fortune.com about Goodwill in New York, “COVID-19 is expected to change shopping habits in favor of Goodwill, deepening the so-called “shift to thrift”: last week, a study by research firm Global Data projected that U.S. sales at thrift stores would rise from $21 billion this year to $28 billion by 2024, even as chains like J.C. Penney and The Gap deal with defecting shoppers”.

I’m all in for #secondhandseptember. I have been singing the praises of Goodwill for years and am glad it is finally making consumers realize the dangers of fast fashion and to embrace the slow fashion movement. My entry for #secondhandseptember is a very fall-ready look: a velvet kimono; soft t-shirt; vintage, flared Levis; caged, open-toed booties from Report, and a cross-body bag from Gap. All of these pieces were sourced at the Goodwill Keystone Area outlet bins in Reading, PA for under $5. The brand new Stella & Dot statement necklace was a $15 find at the new Phoenixville Boutique. The total for this outfit is only $20! I’m ready to throw on my mask and head out for a socially distanced dinner with family.

Goodwill Keystone Area stores are accepting donations again, so if you are heading out to source some new thrifted duds, grab a bag of your donations to take with you. Someone else will thank you for the second-hand style you are providing to them. It’s the circle of life (at least in the thrifted world).

From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

Summer to Fall Transitions

 

Early on, I learned that sometimes you had to suffer for fashion: Heels so high that they pinched, un-breathable faux leather leggings, itchy wool sweaters… but never did I think that being a fashion blogger would provide more outlets of fashion pain. In this week’s blog, I wriggled into gray leopard print tights and a lined leather jacket in 90-degree weather to show you how to transition your summer style into fall fashion favorites. There’s also no chance of a good hair day when the humidity is making everything frizzy and sticky. I hope you all enjoy this week’s entry on how to seasonally change up your wardrobe and appreciate the lengths I go to keep you stylish and thrifty!

Seriously, I long ago gave up my stiletto heels and binding or tight clothes. I work for a school now and need to be able to run around and dress in colorful, yet comfortable clothes when I’m around our students. My goal is to dress like a high school art teacher – a little off-beat, a little boho, but lots of fun. (Full disclosure: I am not a teacher; I work in marketing and fundraising).

With this look, I want to show you how to transition your summer dresses for cool weather. All pieces this week are from the bins at the Goodwill Keystone Area store in Reading. The only exception is the shoes in my summer look and the tights in the fall outfit – they are my own. My estimation of the cost of this outfit is under $5. A real bargain for multiple seasons of style!

Right now, this light-weight floral dress from Loft is perfect for the warm, late summer days we are experiencing. It came with a self-tie belt, but one of my favorite fashion tips is to remove them and the little belt loops provided. Chances are they won’t fall at your natural waist. By adding the chunky, pierced leather belt from Aimee Lynn (a boutique brand), I changed the feel of the dress from subdued to making a statement.

The bag for both seasons is a pale gray Tignanello. The brand is easy to find at Goodwill Keystone Area stores as they are sold in many local stores including Boscov’s, Macy’s, and from various online retailers. However, they are of good quality and come in a multitude of colors and variations – from this little bucket bag to roomy totes to cross-body styles. Look for this brand when out thrifting!

To create the cool weather look, I layered on this pewter leather jacket from Bradley Bayou. It’s not too heavy as it won’t get me through winter, but it is perfect for those chillier fall days. It would also look great over jeans and a t-shirt and black biker booties (all of which are in my closet!). To pick up the burgundy tones in the dress’s pattern the Franco Sarto suede pumps add just the right pop of color.

I could also layer the dress over a light-weight long sleeve tee or turtleneck or add a blazer or cardigan. Heavier tights and knee-high boots would also extend this look into colder days.

Goodwill Keystone Area stores still have plenty of summer clothing right now (when all the other stores have moved on to fall clothes) and maybe my tips can help you can envision how to transition dresses, skirts, or other pieces from season to season!

From my closet to yours,\
Kirsten

KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

Back to School 2020

 

It’s back to school time, but this year looks a little different. Many students – from college age to kindergarteners – are not even stepping foot into a traditional classroom. Educational options exist from in-person to virtual, but the one thing that doesn’t change is that back to school shopping is still happening and many kids are excited about it.

My teenage daughter and her friend are on a budget since they started driving and their expenses now include filling their gas tanks. But, having grown up around thrift shopping and visiting Goodwill Keystone Area stores, she felt comfortable taking her friend to visit the outlet in Reading. Her style ranges from vintage tees, distressed denim, and articles of clothing she can alter with her newfound sewing skills (she’s been sewing masks for our family and friends since quarantine started). She also looks for white items she can tie-dye or black items to bleach. The outlet provides inexpensive pieces that she can experiment on.

For under $10 she got 9 pieces of clothing: two pairs of shorts (1 pair was vintage Levi’s), 1 fleece jacket, 2 long sleeve button-up shirts, 3 t-shirts, and 1 blouse. Her outfit (pictured) was around $3.

I’m so fortunate that she gave up mall/big box store shopping and now focuses on sustainable style and being eco-conscious with her wardrobe. She likes cutting pieces up and sewing them back together and Goodwill is a treasure trove of material for a unique fashion sense. Passing along the thrift-shopping gene to my kids was one of the best things I could have done! Goodwill is also my older daughter’s first stop as she outfits her first apartment in New York. She often texts me pictures of her finds.

Back to school may look a little different this year, but back to school shopping is still a great deal at Goodwill Keystone Area stores. You can stock up on basics to wear whether you’re in the classroom or sitting in front of your computer. We’re all in this together – we might as well look good! Shop Goodwill Keystone Area stores today!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

National Thrift Shop Day 2020

August 17 is National Thrift Shop Day! NARTS: The Association of Resale Professionals states that “There are currently more than 25,000 resale, consignment and not for profit resale shops in the United States and about 16 – 18% of Americans will shop at a thrift store during a given year.” And that number is growing!

During the quarantine, consumers had time to clean out their closets and thrifters patiently waited for Goodwill Keystone Area stores to reopen with the bevy of donated treasures. But even before the pandemic hit, shopping second-hand fashion had started to become one of the biggest clothing trends of recent years.

Many online retailers have had noticeable gains in the last few years and while online resale shopping is great, I still prefer to be able to touch the fabrics and try on the clothes and I truly enjoy the fact that shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area benefits my local community as well as helping the environment.

Goodwill Keystone Area provides valuable life changing job training services to local community members with barriers to employment seeking hope and independence. In addition to this wonderful mission, these are the top 3 advantages of buying secondhand clothes at Goodwill:

1. Reduces your environmental impact. This is huge!
About 1,800 gallons of water are needed to produce the cotton in a pair of jeans, and 400 gallons to produce the cotton in a shirt. In comparison, it takes 39,000 gallons of water to produce the average domestic auto, including tires. Clothing manufacturing is the second highest polluting industry in the world. Reduce, reuse, recycle, it’s built into the Goodwill Cycle!

2. Saves you hundreds of dollars.
Most of the time, you pay pennies on the dollar for the items you find at Goodwill. My best find was a $2,000+ Longchamp purse for about $2.50. Stretch your dollars even further by shopping Goodwill!

3. Your unique style looks more authentic.
By shopping at a thrift store you are not bound by the trends presented in a mall store display. You can use what you see in fashion magazines as a guide, but creating your own style is more valuable than following current fads. Design your style by shopping Goodwill!

Don’t save thrift shopping to just one day – get out and visit your local Goodwill Keystone Area store today. Stores are open normal hours, Monday – Saturday 9 am to 9 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm, except where noted on their website. Restrooms and dressing rooms are also open. Be sure to wear a mask, maintain social distancing, and be respectful of your fellow shoppers and the staff.

In honor of National Thrift Shop Day, please enjoy a selection of some of my favorite Goodwill thrifted outfits: 

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten
KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

Hanging on to Summer

 

While nothing has been typical this year, summer is still here and we’re hanging on to the last sun-soaked, lazy days with all our might. Maybe it’s a day by the pool, a socially-distanced trip to the shore, getting ice cream, or enjoying a sunset. However, you are spending your summer days, be safe, be responsible, and don’t forget to be fashionable.

I’ve been enjoying time with my small circle of family and friends and trying to keep things as normal as possible while still wearing my mask and keeping those around me safe when in public. If you’re crafty, maybe make a mask (plenty of patterns are online) from the shirt that you love, but doesn’t quite fit anymore or has a stain in a visible area?

Speaking of stains, I think that is how this colorful J. Crew dress ended up in the bins at the Goodwill Keystone Area store in Reading. I purchased this on my last trip to the bins before quarantine. The fabric caught my eye and l quickly discovered it was my size and a favorite brand. On the front near the hem was a stain. Or what I like to call – a challenge. I have a small arsenal of laundry stain removers, but my favorite secret weapon is blue Dawn dish detergent. It’s well known to clean a lot more things than just dishes! Fortunately, a few pre-treatments later and the stain disappeared from the dress!

Clothing is sold by the pound at the outlets so this lightweight dress cost less than a dollar. I loved the orange and yellow Ikat print and the lace trim. It was easy to pack on a vacation earlier this summer. And could double as a bathing suit cover-up. J. Crew dresses like this originally sold for around $79, so after a little effort, I had a great find. And a features all girls love – pockets!!!

I paired it with gold canvas espadrilles from Clarks. These are the most comfortable shoes I’ve worn in a long time and the neutral color works with everything from shorts to jeans to dressier outfits. The shoes were $7.47 but retailed for $84.

This bamboo, structured bag was labeled as one of the hot purse trends of 2019. I always believe that every trend makes it’s way to Goodwill and now this one has too! Similar bags like this sold at mass retailers and high-end stores in price points up to $4,000. See article here: https://www.thezoereport.com/p/this-2019-purse-trend-is-the-new-basket-bag-its-about-to-be-huge-15511487

My version (which was new with tags from C & C California) sold for $90 and is still selling well on Poshmark in the resale community. My cost at Goodwill Keystone Area was $4.97. Not a bad deal!

Lastly, I added an older trend – the bubble necklace. I tend to hang on to trends I like and even if they go out of style, I still enjoy wearing them. Eventually everyone old is new again, especially in the fashion world. And sometimes a little elbow grease will go a long way! If you’re up for a little stain removal or some minor alterations, Goodwill can be even more of a fashion gold mine!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $1.00
Shoes: $7.47
Bag: $4.97
Total: $13.44
Retail: $250+

KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

There’s a New Boutique in Town!

 

Recently, Goodwill Keystone Area launched a new way to shop! They opened a 600 square foot Specialty GKA Boutique inside their Phoenixville store at 700 Nutt Road in Phoenixville.

According to Goodwill Phoenixville Store Manager Cathy McDonough, “We have many millennial and Gen Z shoppers who are looking for specific brands but do not want to pay a lot of money at a high-end store. With Specialty GKA, they can now find a wide assortment of merchandise and enjoy great savings while lessening their impact on the environment, which is very important to this generation of shoppers. The boutique experience will also be different than shopping at one of our Goodwill retail stores,” she said. “Compared to traditional thrift shopping, Specialty GKA will have a different look and feel, offer more upscale merchandise and there will be less inventory to sort through making it easier to find items.”

Excited to check it out, I took my own Gen Z daughter, Chloe. We visited on Saturday afternoon and she quickly starting going through the attractive racks and displays. The area has a chic, upscale feel with an exposed brick wall, ambient lighting, industrial-style shelves and racks, and hardwood flooring. The area was well spaced out and it was comfortable to look through the racks of tops, shorts, jeans, dresses, jackets, shoes, and accessories. It is also located conveniently near the dressing rooms, check out desk, and entrance. This makes it easy to come in, browse, try on your selections and check out, if you are not inclined to visit the entire store.

She chose several basic tees and some activewear including a tennis skirt from Nike. Brands were varied from high-end Kate Spade and Trina Turk to mid-range classics such as J Crew and Banana Republic. There were also Lucky Brand, Loft, Levis, and sporty brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Athleta. For myself, I picked up a new-with-tags long sleeve Loft blouse and a new-in-the-box Stella and Dot necklace for $15 (retail $139!). There was also a Kate Spade bag, Steve Madden sandals, and a small sampling of belts and scarves.The boutique also features a variety of men’s clothing.

She’s been thrift shopping for years with me, so she is comfortable combing through all of the racks so we did go through the rest of the store. But, to someone who would be new to Goodwill Keystone Area stores, the boutique is a perfect introduction to thrift shopping.

I’ve mentioned it to several friends (not of the millennial or Gen Z eras) and we are planning a girls day out. We may not be the target market, but are still ready to look through the racks and enjoy the new Specialty GKA Boutique! Bravo, Goodwill! I hope the idea spreads and we see more of them around the region soon!

From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

NOTE: As always, the safety and well-being of customers, donors and team members will be highest priority, and the following procedures will be implemented:

  • Face coverings will be required for all shoppers and employees (unless covered by a medical exemption).
  • Social distancing of six feet will be encouraged throughout the store.
  • A limited number of customers will be allowed in the store at one time.
  • Enhanced cleaning measures will be implemented, especially for high-traffic and high-touch areas such as shopping carts.
  • Donation areas will remain “no contact,” self-service for drop off of clothing and housewares – no furniture.
  • No returns, all sales are final until further notice.

KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

Summer Thrift

 

Did you know that Goodwill Keystone Area stores are now open longer hours? Most stores are open Monday – Saturday 9am – 9pm and Sunday 12pm – 6pm (Exceptions: East Earl Closed Sundays, Frazer Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 12pm-6pm, Cressona 9am-8pm, Sun 11am-4pm, Newport Mon-Wed & Sat 9am-5pm, Thur & Fri 9am-6pm, Closed Sundays). And fitting rooms and restrooms are now open as well!! Donation areas are still “no contact” and the stores are continuing to implement safety measures for staff and customers including requiring masks and social distancing. All of these things make me feel comfortable while shopping at my local Goodwill store.

One afternoon this week I stopped at the Shillington Goodwill location, which is the largest store in my area. I have not been there since March and wanted to see how a typically busy location was handling the new procedures. On entering I noticed they now have a “one way in and one way out” flow for the doors. It helps to control the movement of customers while entering and exiting.

Staff members in masks were restocking the shoes and clothing as normal and the keeping the return racks clear near the fitting room.

And speaking of the racks and aisles, there is no lack of summer clothing to outfit your entire family. Donations are still coming in and keeping the store full of new merchandise for you. This time of year big box stores are usually rolling out fall styles and it can be hard to find warm weather clothing when you need it. But, Goodwill has plenty of sandals, tank tops, shorts and summer dresses as well as fun Hawaiian shirts for the men in your life and swimsuits for everyone in your family.

Feel safe when you shop at Goodwill Keystone Area. Be sure to wear your mask (unless you have a medical exemption) and social distance while you shop. I found most fellow shoppers were glad to be back in the store and we politely kept our distance as we looked for fashion treasures. I quickly found a dress by Michael Kors, shorts from Banana Republic as well as a variety of summer items I liked but in the end chose a black and white Loft dress which I can wear to work. (I’m sure you’ll see it in an upcoming blog!).

All 43 stores are now open and the following procedures are being implemented:

  • Masks will be required for all shoppers and employees (unless covered by a medical exemption)
  • Social distancing of six feet will be encouraged throughout the stores
  • A limited number of customers will be allowed in the store at one time
  • Enhanced cleaning measures will be implemented, especially for high traffic and high touch areas such as shopping carts
  • Donation areas will remain “no contact,” self-service for drop off of clothing and housewares, no furniture
  • No returns, all sales are final until further notice

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

Wear the Rainbow!

 

While I can appreciate people who have monochromatic, classic and simple wardrobes full of white, ivory, gray and black such as Diane Keaton, I admire them from afar and fill my own closet with almost every color in the rainbow (except yellow – not always my favorite color on me).

I’ve always enjoyed bright, colorful and bold patterns such as florals and stripes, but lately I’ve been gravitating to even more festive pieces. I attribute that to the situation we’re all in right now and the months of being home wearing sweats and pajamas. Now that I’m back out (cautiously and always with a mask, of course) my outfits are down-right rainbow-colored.

A few months ago on the blog I shared a long-sleeved, winterized-version of this dress from laundry by Shelli Segal. I love the patterns and colors from this brand. If you don’t recall, here’s a little info from their website: “A leader in fashion, Laundry by Shelli Segal has been setting trends and inspiring women for more than 25 years. Laundry balances just the right blend of red carpet glamour and West Coast chic that is iconic and universal in its appeal. Always feminine and vibrantly colorful, the brand is known for its unique use of embellishments and signature prints. The result is a distinctive collection with a contemporary aesthetic crafted to fit the lifestyle and sensibility of a modern woman who is stylish, smart, sexy, and not afraid to make an entrance.”

Right now, wherever I go I want to make an entrance, so this brand is definitely for me. I had my months of working from home in comfortable (yet dull) attire and now I look forward to get back out in the world.

This bold-patterned shift dress with split neckline is comfortable and cool for humid, hot days. I paid $7.50 at my local Goodwill, but similar styles retailed for $128 at stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.

For this shoot I added stacked wedge sandals, but it is so rare that I wear such high heels anymore! My daughter remarked how tall I looked, which is surprising because I was always a high heel fan, never leaving the house for work in anything less than 4” heels. My new job is much more casual and I have come to appreciate being able to wear Bermuda shorts, sandals and even flip flops to the office! These black patent and rattan wedges are from New York and Co. They sold for around $45 when new, but my price at Goodwill Keystone Area was $6.97.

For accessories, I kept them bright and colorful: a long green stone necklace and a striped clutch from Juicy Couture. The necklace was $3.97 and the bag was $2.97 (Retail: $90!).

The other odd thing, besides wearing heels for this shoot, was wearing lipstick. Since mask-wearing has become the norm, I don’t use much makeup and never wear lipstick or lipgloss! Smile with your eyes and make your outfit stand out with a rainbow of colors – available at Goodwill Keystone Area stores! They even organize their racks by color making it easy to choose the hues you are looking for!

All 43 stores are now open Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm (see yourgoodwill.org for details and exceptions) and the following procedures are being implemented:

  • Masks will be required for all shoppers and employees (unless covered by a medical exemption)
  • Social distancing of six feet will be encouraged throughout the stores
  • A limited number of customers will be allowed in the store at one time
  • Enhanced cleaning measures will be implemented, especially for high traffic and high touch areas such as shopping carts
  • Donation areas will remain “no contact,” self-service for drop off of clothing and housewares, no furniture
  • No returns, all sales are final until further notice

From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

Shorts: $7.50
Sandals: $6.97
Necklace: $3.97
Bag: $2.97
Total: $21.41
Retail: $300+
KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

Fashion Fireworks

 

It’s July and usually time for picnics, carnivals, and fireworks, but this year is looking a little different. Gatherings are smaller and more cautious, but that doesn’t mean we’re not connecting or finding new ways to stay social and support one another.

Speaking of support, an interview with the new CEO of Goodwill Keystone Area, Rick Hill, revealed how he was leading the organization through the pandemic. Find the interview here: https://theburgnews.com/in-the-burg/goodwill-to-all-new-ceo-rick-hill-leads-goodwill-keystone-area-through-pandemic-and-beyond

One quote that jumped out at me was that “92 cents of every dollar Goodwill Keystone Area generates goes right back into the mission of creating employment and sustainable job skills”. That means that out of the outfit I am featuring in this post, $24 of the $26 I spent is going directly back to the support their cause and that’s something to celebrate right now.

This look features a red, white, and blue patterned Ann Taylor blouse. The lightweight cotton swing top is open in the back, perfect for the hot, humid days of summer. The graphic print is an explosion of a floral/paisley mix = fashion fireworks. Ann Taylor tops like this retail for $39.50. Goodwill Keystone Area’s cost was $4.75.

An all-American summer staple – cutoff denim shorts – are a wardrobe necessity. This dark wash version from American Eagle is casual without looking sloppy. At the mall, I would have spent $44.95, but my local Goodwill had them priced at $4.50. A savings of 90%.

For pops of red, I added Banana Republic sandals (Retail $108; Goodwill $6.97) and a red leather bag from Sophia Caperelli (Retail $200; Goodwill $2.00 (Outlet price estimate).

I hope everyone is having a safe, and happy summer!

Don’t forget to shop for your summer necessities at Goodwill Keystone Area. All 43 stores are now open (check Goodwill’s website for hours) and the following procedures are being implemented:

  • Masks will be required for all shoppers and employees (unless covered by a medical exemption)
  • Social distancing of six feet will be encouraged throughout the stores
  • A limited number of customers will be allowed in the store at one time
  • Fitting rooms and restrooms will be closed to the public
  • Enhanced cleaning measures will be implemented, especially for high traffic and high touch areas such as shopping carts
  • Donation areas will remain “no contact,” self-service for drop off of clothing and housewares, no furniture
  • No returns, all sales are final until further notice

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Shorts: $4.50
Top: $4.75
Sandals: $6.97
Bag: $4.97

Total: $26.21
Retail: $390+
KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.

Not Your Daughter’s Outfit

 

It’s well after Memorial Day and almost 4th of July, and if you follow antiquated fashion rules, I’m more than able to wear white. I love white jeans and shorts as a neutral in the summer season despite worrying I will end up spilling something on them!

These jeans are from NYDJ. (Not Your Daughter’s Jeans) A little back story from their website: “NYDJ jeans are made by women, for women—all shapes, all sizes, all women. Back in 2003, comfortable and flattering jeans for every woman simply did not exist. Most jeans had low waists and fit uncomfortably, and if they did fit well, they were just not stylish. Originally founded as “Not Your Daughter’s Jeans,” we set out to design jeans that fit in all the right places and make every woman feel comfortable and confident—like her best self.”

I do find their jeans to be comfortable and flattering, however I prefer Goodwill Keystone Area’s price of $4.75 over $119 retail. Higher-end denim is one of my favorite thrift items to find at my local Goodwill. These will be a summer staple for work or for weekends. I am happy to report that this brand is crafted in the USA.

My plaid sleeveless blouse is from Universal Thread, a Target brand committed to using more sustainably sourced cotton and recycled polyester. This colorful top is a blend of cotton and linen. I love the look of linen, but when not blended with another fiber, it wrinkles easily and ends up looking frumpy. Their price point, even at full retail, is not bad if you are looking for a socially conscious brand. This top would have sold for $19.99, but it was $4.75 at Goodwill.

My clutch was a fun find. At $9.99, it was a bit pricey, but I researched the comps before I bought it and although Hype is not a well-known brand, the leather is high quality and soft and the color block style was playful and unique. The brand used to be able to be found at TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores for under $100.

I kept my shoes neutral in a classic 90s kind of way – square-toe slides from Liz Claiborne. They are comfortable and would go with almost any outfit this summer. Retail would have been around $60, but these were purchased at the outlet in Reading (before the closures) for $2.75. Finally, my necklace was an older Goodwill purchase but the colors matched so well I just had to add it in. It was $3.97 and purchased several years ago.

While my daughters probably wouldn’t enjoy this outfit, I think it’s perfect for another outing… in my back yard.

If you plan to visit a store, Goodwill Keystone Area has many safety precautions in place and here are a few things to take note:

  • If you are ill, you will not be permitted to shop
  • Masks will be required for all shoppers and employees (unless covered by a medical exemption)
  • Dressing rooms are not open, so choose clothing items wisely
  • All sales are final
  • Bathrooms are also not accessible right now
  • Reward Card sales are not currently being offered.
  • Monday 10 am-11 am will be reserved for seniors and at-risk shoppers only.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Jeans: $4.75
Top: $4.75
Clutch: $9.99
Shoes: $2.75
Necklace: $3.97
Total: $26.21
Retail: $300+

KirstenBlogHeadShot

 

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.