Author: yourg724

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

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

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Jacket: $8.50
Jeans: $5.50
T-shirt: $6.00
Sneakers: $6.97
Total: $26.97
Retail: $400+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

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

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

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

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Joggers: $5.50
Blouse: $3.95
Bag: $3.97
Necklace: $3.97
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $24.86
Retail: $400+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Romper: $5.96
Shoes: $9.97
Bag: $4.97
Earrings: $4.97
Bracelet: $2.97
Total: $28.84
Retail: $400+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

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

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

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

Their mission is: “To support persons with disabilities and other barriers to independence in achieving their fullest potential as workers and as members of the broader community.” I’ve seen this first hand on my visit to various Goodwill stores and offices. The outfit you purchase today helps someone receive training for a new job tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

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

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

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

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

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

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

Last month we went on a cruise and visited several beautiful stops along the Mediterranean. It was gorgeous and I was so caught up in the experience that I didn’t take time to stage photos for the blog. It’s not to say I didn’t wear my favorite summer Goodwill finds, because almost everything in my suitcase was thrifted!

On our visit to Corsica (the French island where Napoleon Bonaparte was born), I wore a new-to-me outfit from Goodwill Keystone Area. It was comfortable and perfect for a day of sightseeing in the historic, idyllic town.

The black and white striped cotton sweater and drawstring denim shorts were both from Loft. It was warm, but the sea breeze kept us comfortable. And I felt like the graphic stripe was almost a little French-inspired. Each piece was under $3.95 at my local Goodwill store. But they retailed for much more when new!

The perfect travel bag was my black leather Coach mini crossbody bag. I had plenty of room for my necessities while keeping my hands free to snap pictures of my family and the scenery. And at only $9.97 it was a steal!

Finally, comfortable leopard-print canvas TOMS were the perfect footwear for navigating cobble stone streets. These were $6.97 but sold for about $55. I haven’t featured TOMS on my blog before, so here’s a little background information on this philanthropic footwear company:

“While traveling to Argentina in 2006, TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie saw the hardships faced by children growing up without shoes. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a new pair of shoes for a child in need. TOMS is a lifestyle brand with giving at its core. Grounded in the One for One mission, every purchase has a purpose. Consumers are benefactors, philanthropists and activists that enable TOMS to help provide shoes, sight, water and more to people in need. To date, over 75 million new pairs of shoes alone have been given to those who need them. With every product you purchase, TOMS will help a person in need. One for One®” I’m glad to be home and back to blogging, but my family and I had a great time on vacation and I’ll have all my memories of where my Goodwill wardrobe has gone. Where have you gone in your Goodwill finds?

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.

Summer is for stripes, dress down Sunday morning brunch outfits and easy, casual and comfortable footwear. This outfit hits all those marks and more since it was less than $25 from my local Goodwill Keystone Area!

The star of this lazy weekend look is the striped black and white dress by Joe Fresh. It’s like wearing a giant t-shirt. According to their website “Joe Fresh brings the elements of modern style to life in essential designs known for their easy polish, exceptional value and thoughtful details. We deliver the building blocks of personal style in categories spanning apparel, accessories, footwear and beauty. With collections for women, men and children, we make shopping for the whole family convenient, fun and affordable. Joe Fresh is also proud to offer extended sizes with select women’s styles ranging from XS-3X and 2-22.” And they are very affordable, when new this dress retailed for about $29.

To add to the laid-back feel, I added a dark wash jean jacket from the king of casual, cool style – Gap. This cut is little more polished with a notched collar, defined waist and detailed stitching. I saved about 90% on this jacket when I picked it up for just $6.50. New jackets sell for $69 and up on Gap’s current website.

I’ve grown fond of the “non-athletic sneaker” style, meaning I’m not going to go out and run or workout in this kind of footwear. I’m sure these classic Adidas Superstar sneakers are good for some sport, but I’m happy to just run errands in them. They still sell online for $80, but I paid $7.47.

To bring a final pop of color, I added this cobalt blue leather and chain bag by Kelsi Dagger. Cross body bags are a favorite of mine lately. Big enough for the basics and small enough to not get in the way. This one has gold chain and stud detailing to give a simple shape a little extra style. This bag would have sold for about $128, but my price was $4.97.

I never thought I’d wear a dress with sneakers, but here I am proudly sporting this look with pieces from my local Goodwill!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $5.50
Jacket: $6.50
Shoes: $7.47
Bag: $4.97
Total: $24.44
Retail: $300+

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.