Author: yourg724

The single easiest way to update an outfit during the cooler months is to add one accessory: a scarf.

According to herstylecode.com article 7 Ways to Wear a Scarf with Everything “Scarves are one of the most versatile, practical, and fashionable cold-weather accessories. They’re very inexpensive and their low price allows you to fill your wardrobe with a wide collection of scarves with varying styles, patterns, and materials for any occasion. You can completely transform the look of almost any outfit just by adding a scarf, which makes these accessories a life-saver for chronic outfit repeaters. When the bulky, dark pieces in your fall or winter wardrobe start looking a little dull or depressing throughout the season, throwing on a bright patterned or textured scarf adds instant interest and balance to your look.

The best part about scarves is their extreme versatility. Scarves are readily available in an incredible variety; these accessories come in countless different styles, colors, patterns, and materials that make it almost impossible to find an outfit that can’t be spruced up by a scarf of some kind. If you want to incorporate scarves into your wardrobe in as many ways as possible, keep reading to learn how to wear a scarf with everything to create a fashionable finish for any look.”

I really could not have said it any better myself. I whole-heartedly agree with everything the article said. Scarves are season-less accessories but are a fabulous option for fall and winter month to add not just style, but warmth and protection from the south-eastern Pennsylvania winds.

This beautiful camo-patterned J. Crew scarf was found NWT (new with tags) at the Shillington store on a recent outing. I was drawn to the color and pattern, and when I noticed the J. Crew price tag, I was elated. The retail price was $55. Goodwill Keystone Area’s price: $1.97. The pink, olive, and slate blue colors are surprisingly versatile.

I paired it with a green lace sweatshirt from Loft (Goodwill’s price: $4.75; Retail: $59). The DKNY jeans (Goodwill’s price: $6.50; Retail $69.50) and Sam Edelman “Kemper” fringed booties (Goodwill’s price: $12.97; Retail: $150) were also both NWT items, which can be the holy grail of thrifters everywhere! I am an equally-opportunity thrifter, so finding used items and gently washing my finds or taking them to a dry cleaner if needed is never a problem for me. I enjoy a good NWT find, but some of my best finds have been pre-loved!

Lastly, I added a faux-fur bag from Carlos by Carlos Santana. I liked mixing the animal print with the camo for a fun fall look. My cost at Goodwill was $6.97, but this would have sold for around $100.

Hopefully, you’ll give scarves a try, not just as accessories for on top of your coats this fall. Pick up some fun colors and patterns next time that you are shopping at your local Goodwill Keystone Area. You can’t beat the style scarves will add to your fall fashions for just a few dollars!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Scarf: $1.97
Sweatshirt: $4.75
Jeans: $6.50
Shoes: $12.97
Bag: $6.97
Total: $33.16
Retail: $433.50
Savings: 97%!

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.

The most popular fashion question I receive is about the acceptability of wearing white after Labor Day. I thought in this day and age people would not even care what color was worn when, but apparently, it is still an unofficial fashion rule. One that I break. All. The. Time. White is a timeless, elegant, and very easy to wear color, so why not incorporate it into your year-round wardrobe? Especially when you can easily stock up on white pieces from Goodwill Keystone Area at great prices!

White jeans, white shoes, white coats. You name it – I will wear it whatever the season is! Recently I scored this crisp white Michael Kors coat for $6.50. (Retail: $160) You might be wondering if white is a good choice for fall, but it is a great alternative to black, gray, or camel coats that seem to be autumnal staples for outerwear. White is neutral and looks great with almost any outfit.

The fit is a bit over-sized, which is perfect for layering over chunky fall sweaters. For this look, I paired it with a burgundy Hawthorne blouse accented with brass embellishments and a pair of printed trousers from Ann Taylor. Hawthorn is a Stitch Fix brand, and this blouse probably retailed for about $50. My Goodwill Keystone Area cost was $4.75.

You all know I love a great printed pant, and these navy, burgundy, and white trousers from Ann Taylor are a perfect dark floral for fall. Goodwill’s price was a cost-effective $4.75, whereas at the mall they would have sold for $98. I could pair them with a white wool sweater this winter or a lightweight blouse next spring. To give them a more casual feel, I’d add a chambray or denim shirt, knotted in the front.

I kept my shoes and bag neutral with a warm brown hue. The classic Michael Kors flats were just $4.99. They are great for my busy day job at school or still look polished with jeans while running errands on the weekend. This exact style is still available online for $99. The Banana Republic purse was used all summer as my go-to bag. I love all the pockets and the price – $6.97. (Retail estimate: $150).

Goodwill Keystone Area lets me break fashion rules (real or publicly assumed!) by offering all colors, styles, and trends at prices that mall stores can’t touch while helping my local community. That’s a win-win in my fashion rulebook!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Coat: $6.50
Blouse: $4.75
Pants: $4.75
Shoes: $4.99
Bag: $6.97
Total: $27.96
Retail: $557+

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.

Halloween is going to be different this year, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have a little everyday fun without wearing a costume. I work for a school and Halloween is usually a very festive holiday with costume, face painting, classroom parties, and of course, lots of treats. This year with social distancing and safety protocols in place, we are not able to dress up in a costume or a mask (well, we’re already wearing those!), however, we are permitted to wear Halloween-themed clothing or a decorative headband.

When I found out what I could wear, my first stop was the closest Goodwill Keystone Area store! There are still plenty of costumes on the racks and décor on the shelves. If you haven’t gotten a costume or decorated your home, there’s still time!

A visit to the Halloween section quickly turned up two great options. First was an embellished ¾ sleeve knit blouse featuring a haunted house, graveyard, spooky tree, and a sparkly spider. It was only $3.99! Next was a bright orange t-shirt with an embroidered decoration for $4.75. This is a bit more casual and perfect for my dress down day on Thursday at school.

In the Halloween décor section, I snagged this adorable classic pumpkin basket for just 99 cents!

Each top looked equally as good with a pair of gray cargo skinny jeans from Loft . These are a great wardrobe staple for only $4.75 (Retail: $79) and the cool gray is different than the typical black or khaki color I typically wear if I’m not wearing colorful printed pants, that is. The black suede Steve Madden “Gretell” combat boots were priced at $4.99 (Retail: $89). They will be another great addition to my closet for fall and winter.

Obviously, I had to check out the whole store while I was there and found a great outfit to be showcased later on the blog. Tune in later to see what might turn up. But for now, run out and grab some Halloween items at your neighborhood Goodwill Keystone Area store! It’s not too late!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Blouse: $3.99
T-shirt: $4.75
Boots: $4.99
Pants: $4.75
Pumpkin: $0.99
Total: $19.47
Retail: $225+

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.

Just like everything else in 2020, Halloween looks a little different this year… But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun with the holiday and dress up in something festive. Goodwill Keystone Area stores allow you to be creative and thrifty.

I won’t be trick or treating (I’m a little too old for that, however, I am known to raid my kid’s stash and steal all the Heath bars and Skittles) but I would like to enjoy the day and have a little hocus pocus with my outfit at work.

This Who What Wear (a Target brand) dress was found in the Halloween section for $4.75. It was new-without-tags and I was attracted to the beautiful floral pattern and ruffle detail. The ruffles along the sleeve and back added a feminine feel and lots of movement. Retail on this dress was $39.99. At first, I first did not imagine it as the start of a costume, but after a little thought, I knew I’d be celebrating Halloween as the Thrifty Witch.

The lilac bag from J. Lo (Jennifer Lopez’s former brand from Kohl’s) added a punch of color. Retail was probably around $60; Goodwill’s price was $7.47. Fall pastels always are a nice contrast to the darker and heavier colors usually seen at this time of year. And it will be a great piece for spring.

Black boots are a must for a Thrifty Witch. This pebbled leather pair of boots from Franco Sarto are extremely comfortable and a real bargain as $12.99 (Retail: $149) These are a great wardrobe staple and will be on repeat this fall and winter with dresses, jeans, and leggings.

Lastly, I added my own tights, necklace, and hat to finish up my look. I love the fact that without the hat, this piece will easily integrate into my closet and can transition from “costume” to everyday workwear. Goodwill Keystone Area stores still have plenty of costume ideas and fall and Halloween décor. Stop by and see what bewitches you!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $4.75
Bag: $7.47
Boots: $12.99
Total: $25.21
Retail: $250+

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.

Social distancing has caused many of us to get outside and explore nature to find some peace. While I don’t consider myself an excessively “outdoorsy” type of person, I enjoy the patterns of nature, specifically through fashion with florals – either realistic or abstract.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I have a love for pattern, texture, and color, but specifically patterned pants or shorts. It’s a way to express my creativity through my clothing.

While shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores, I am drawn to the racks of pants. Because Goodwill organizes the clothing by colors and patterns, I can quickly spot a floral, striped, or otherwise-patterned trouser or pair of jeans in my size. It is one of the first places I start when I visit my local Goodwill store. If I am lucky enough to find something with potential, my next top is to the shirts, blouses, or jackets to top off the look before I hit the fitting rooms. When I find a match that looks great, my last stop would be the shoes and bags (if there is a unique color I am looking to complete the outfit).

These black, cream, and brown Loft skinny jeans made me giddy. They ticked off everything I was looking for and since they had black as a primary color, I knew I had something in my stash at home to coordinate with them. They retail for $79, but my cost was $6.50. Not bad! And they work for all seasons – a cream tank top and sandals in the summer with a jean jacket thrown over it or a chunky black sweater and tall boots for winter.

For fall, I paired it with a sheer Swiss dot blouse from LC by Lauren Conrad, a Kohl’s brand. I added a new-with-tags Loft tank top underneath. (Retail: $26.99; Goodwill: $6.50). There is a slight pattern-mixing going on here since the pattern of the Swiss dot is noticeable. Pattern mixing is something I’m also a big fan of in fashion.

The pebbled leather satchel from Bric’s was a splurge at $14.97. I usually don’t pay that much for a bag, but since the brand was new-to-me, I investigated it online before checking out and discovered that Bric’s typically produces high-end luggage and travel bags. The bag would have sold for about $300 when new! Shoes and necklace were my own.

I considered patterns a signature style. They bring me joy when I select a creative outfit from my closet. And I love that I can quickly and easily find patterns pants, shirts, and jackets when shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores. I know my selections will be unique (and maybe a touch eclectic) but always affordable. Best of all, my pattern obsession helps my local community through my purchases at Goodwill.
From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

Jeans: $7.50
Blouse: $4.75
Tank Top: $6.50 (new with tags)
Bag: $14.97
Total: $34
Retail: $430+

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.

October is finally here after what seemed like a long summer. Everyone is hoping that the change of seasons brings more change than just the temperature. However, fall is my favorite fashion season. Maybe it’s all the warm colors and cozy fabrics, but I think it’s the great textures – soft cashmere cardigans, nubby sweaters, leather and suede (real or vegan), and especially, corduroy.

From October 1 – 7, as a rewards member, you can save $$$ on all these textures, fall colors, and more at your local Goodwill Keystone Area! Save $5 off $30; $10 off $40 or $15 off $50! Check out all the details here! 

As a child in the 70s, I despised the wide wale (width of the cord) corduroy pants and overalls my mom bought for me at Sears. I didn’t the rustle of the fabric against itself as I walked through the hallways of my elementary school. But, the fabric kept reappearing every few years as a trend and the modern fabrics became softer, the wale became more delicate and I started to see the fabric in a new light. (Fun fact: velvet and corduroy are derived from the same kind of fustian fabric.)

Corduroy blazers make me feel scholastic or collegiate – something a professor might wear, but this one has a sleeker, more modern cut, and a notched collar. The dark eggplant color is the perfect neutral for fall. It looks great with the floral dress I’ve paired it with here, but would also look great with a lightweight cotton sweater, jeans, and booties.

I’ve added a black belt, booties, and bag (all featured in past blogs as I’ve been trying to recycle even more of my wardrobe). Goodwill Keystone Area is where you can find all the autumnal colors and textures you need to add to your fall wardrobe. Maybe you’ll even find some great vintage pieces from the heyday of polyester corduroy! I’ll stick to my more modern cotton/spandex pieces for a great fit.

From my closet to yours,

Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

The temperatures and leaves are starting to drop and the crisp fall air means it’s time to swap out my summer sandals and flip-flops for fall boots. I’ve already starting to add an extra layer such as a scarf or jacket in the mornings and a sweatshirt at night. Summer seemed too quickly come to an end. However, I’m ready for pumpkins, apple cider, and the fashions that accompany them. Give me all the plaid pants, animal print shirts, and chunky sweaters.

According to Marie Claire “The Best Fall Boots for Every Budget” article, “Boots are the reigning champion of fall purchases. At the top of shopping lists every fall: A boot that you can wear every day, all day, and all night—the kind you invest in once and wear forever. And this season, you may not have to invest at all, because there are plenty of good options at even better prices.”

At Goodwill Keystone Area I don’t have to worry about finding good prices – they have great prices on shoes and clothing all of the time! I started to hunt for fall clothing and accessories in August, which is when I found these two pairs of booties at the Shillington Goodwill Keystone Area store for $7.47 each.

The embroidered gray pair from Crown Vintage immediately attracted my eye. The turquoise and brown stitching and the pewter metal studs made them unique. The two-inch heel is enough to give me some height, but not overwhelming that I couldn’t be comfortable all day. The original retail cost would have been around $78, so I saved 90%!

The basic, black low-heeled boots from Carlos were another great find. These are everyday boots – wear to work, out on the weekends with jeans, trousers or tights, and a dress. The dual zippers add interest and make them easy to slip on and off. These are the LBD (Little Black Dress) of boots – perfect for any occasion. These also retailed at almost $80 – another 90% savings!

Goodwill Keystone Area has a wide variety of shoes and boots (as well as clothes) for fall. More new merchandise will be hitting the stores every day since donations are once again being accepted. You can shop with confidence knowing the sales associates are working to keep the stores clean and safe and that your purchases directly help your community. Give those summer shoes the boot and start stepping out in new fall footwear.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

About The Blogger

Kirsten is a 40-something mom, wife and marketing professional. She loves all things crafty, tasty and fashionable, especially while being frugal. She enjoys hunting for treasures at her local Goodwill Keystone Area stores to decorate her home and wardrobe.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.