Category: Fashion

50 Shades of Faux Fun – Part 2

 

There’s a certain movie coming out soon that is featuring lots of shades of grey, so I thought an outfit featuring that hue would be a timely choice.

My look started with this fitted grey herringbone dress from Banana Republic. Today Banana Republic is known for it’s chic, classic clothing, but according to Wikipedia: “It was founded in 1978 with the name “Banana Republic Travel & Safari Clothing Company” with a safari theme; in 1983, Gap purchased the company, changed the name to simply “Banana Republic”, and gave it a more upscale image.”

The ¾ length sleeve on this dress makes it appropriate almost all year round.Blog19
I paired it with a dramatic silver and gold waterfall necklace.Blog18 I love this necklace and it’s one of my favorite pieces of jewelry from Goodwill. It certainly makes a statement! To lighten up the serious tone of the dress, I added this faux fur bag. Faux fur isn’t something you want to wear all the time, but it adds a fun element to your wardrobe.

The star of this outfit (in my mind) is the boots!Blog20 I found these at the Goodwill store in Reading (Muhlenberg), PA and while they were priced at $25, I knew from the style and feel of the construction that they were worth the investment. I didn’t realize until I investigated them when I got home that they were Frye boots. Frye has been on my “holy grail” of fashion finds since I started thrifting. According to it’s own website, Frye is the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the United States! They retail for approximately $300 and you can still find this style available online. The dark charcoal grey makes them extremely versatile and you could also pair them with skirts, skinny jeans or leggings.

Grey can be a cool or a warm color, but it is always a perfect choice when dressing for the office. Add some unique accessories and you’ll be rocking this “Hazy Shade of Winter”!

Dress: $5.50
Boots: $25.00
Bag: $1.00 (Outlet store purchase)
Necklace: $9.97

Total: $41.47

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

Cobalt & Olive

 

Sometimes I purchase a complete outfit on one shopping trip and another time, a look comes together from pieces purchased separately. This outfit came about that way. Piece by piece…

Blog19 I enjoy mixing colors and finding new and interesting combinations. Cobalt and olive was a color palette I saw several months ago in a fashion magazine. I had tucked the idea away and after a few Goodwill shopping trips, I ended up with the cobalt blouse and olive trench coat in my stockpile of blog clothing.

The gauzy blue and leopard-print blouse by Gap is fun without being wild.Blog20 I paired it with skinny black pants from Ann Taylor Loft, which are a staple in my wardrobe. The blouse would also look great with boot cut jeans, black heels and a black moto jacket for a night out. I added flat, belted tall boots from Wearever for a comfortable, casual footwear option.

The olive trench from Club Monaco is a truly classic piece. Blog21 I had heard of Club Monaco, but hadn’t researched it much until writing this post. I had not realized the simple trench I had paid $10 for was originally sold for about $329! Club Monaco is a mid-priced, high-end casual clothing retailer owned by Polo Ralph Lauren. I found a hidden gem at my local Goodwill and will be on the lookout for more pieces from that brand.

The only items I bought after the outfit came together were the jewelry pieces. I found the (new with tags from Target) earrings and tassel necklace and instantly knew I had to have them to complete this look.

Fashion magazines often provide the inspiration for my blog looks, but Goodwill lets me recreate the high-end styles and play with unique color combinations at prices everyone can afford.

Necklace: $3.99
Earrings: $1.99
Blouse: $3.95
Coat: $10.00
Pants: $4.50
Boots: $6.97

Total: $31.40

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

Dressing for the Holidays

 

Today we are talking holiday classics and I don’t mean the Bing Crosby Christmas album your grandmother loved.

‘Tis the season for parties, events, and holiday get-togethers! But you don’t have to break the bank for festive attire to be dazzling at your gathering.

Start with a classic LBD and you’ll never go wrong. From a company cocktail party to an elegant dinner out, a little back dress is the most versatile piece of clothing in your wardrobe. Wear it to work with a blazer and classic pumps and swap out your accessories at the end of the day to be party-ready.entire outfit

This version has the embellishment built in so you don’t have to worry about finding a statement necklace or earrings to accent it. The ruffled and beaded neckline makes a simple knit velour dress a comfortable and stylish choice.

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A simple pair of gold hoops is always a classic choice and will not compete with the details on the dress. A graphic metallic clutch is trendy and can accommodate your necessities and a must-have bright holiday red lip gloss! The leopard flats are a comfortable alternative to stilettos. The low heel is perfect for dancing the night away or networking at your company party. The leopard is a neutral and will coordinate with many things already in your wardrobe after the holidays.

Kirsten in LBD The last accessory you need is the most important – your smile. Spending time with family and friends to celebrate the holidays is a gift. Cherish it.

Cheers,
Kirsten

Outfit from Goodwill in Morgantown, PA, Total: $22.43
Dress – $5.50
Clutch – $4.97
Earrings – $4.99
Shoes – $6.97

 

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 stores to decorate her home and wardrobe. She is a stylist and volunteer for the fundraiser the Goodwill Runway Show, which is held every spring in Reading, PA.

This Winter Go for an Oversized, Thick Sweater!

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This winter go for an oversized, thick sweater. Wear it with your favorite leggings and winter boots. I always want to look like I walked out of an L.L. Bean catalog…which was pretty easy when I found a L.L. Bean sweater at my local Goodwill store. Only $4.50! What a steal! A brand new L.L. sweater costs between $50 to $100.

When it’s snowing and cold, comfort is in and these rustic looks are becoming more popular this season! And here’s a tip – look for these comfortable items with earth tones like browns, tans, warm grays, and greens.

Peace & Progress, Alexandra K.

L.L. Bean Sweater at Goodwill : Only $4.50!

Stylish Layering for Winter

Blog

Vests are popular this winter, and a plaid shirt with an outdoor vest is a timeless, cozy pairing.

This southern inspired look keeps things casual and classy. This layered outdoor look is easy to throw on and just go – without feeling overdressed or underdressed.

And a vest is a perfect alternative when you don’t want to carry a coat.

Goodwill vest: $5.50

Peace & Progress, Alexandra K.

Crazy for Turtlenecks

 

I am crazy about wearing turtleneck sweaters this year and finding a place for them in my wardrobe. I think they are making a strong comeback. I’m seeing them highlighted in fashion magazines and websites. This simple look is warm and effortless. As we go deeper into the winter, everyone should own a cozy turtleneck. These sweaters compliment any body type.

And, of course, Goodwill is a great place to find turtleneck sweaters.

Turtle Neck
Goodwill green turtleneck: $4.50

        

Turtle Neck 2
Goodwill white turtleneck: $3.50

Heading to the Beach…

So, it’s the end of summer and I’m heading to the beach before I head back to college.

I stopped by Goodwill and I bought a few things that are perfect for the beach.

The first being a red crop top.

Red Crop top Adjusted

Crop tops and high-waisted shorts are very much in style right now…however…when it comes to high-waisted shorts be prepared to:

  1. Pay a pretty penny to buy the right ones for you.
  2. Spend a century trying to find the right pair. By the time you find high-waisted shorts that work of you, they will be out of style.

People ask me my opinion about high-waisted shorts. My thought is, for one reason or another, they aren’t for everyone. Some people can make them work, but for me, I’m not even gonna to go there. I’m going to stick with good ole’, traditional, cut-off jean shorts. I put the shorts together with a red crop top that I bought at Goodwill. A perfect outfit for the beach.

The second outfit I found was a casual, grey and white romper (it was brand new and the original tags were still on).

Romper adjusted

Rompers are easy because you just throw one on and you’re out the door. No fuss. It’s nice to be able to wear such a comfortable and relaxed style especially at the shore.

Outfits for Any Date

Here are a couple of pieces I found at Goodwill that I felt would be cute for different types of dates.

The first one (blue dress) is for a more summery, perhaps lunch date. It’s definitely a daytime dress – not something that you would want to sport at a night club.

bluedress1 Adjusted

On the other hand, the green dress is for this exact purpose, this dress is a little more daring. You could wear this dress on a date or you could wear this to a bachelorette party!

Alex green dress 2 Adjusted

Finally my third pick was this purple silk top which could be paired with quite a few things depending on your wardrobe. I chose to pair it with white pants. This outfit is for the more sophisticated date. Now I just need a date!

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All the pieces were under $6!

Peace and Progress,

Alexandra K.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Floral Blazers

I’m often asked about whether floral is in or out, or if it’s even acceptable. It can be as long as you stick to one fashion rule – Keep it simple. Rather than talking about floral, let me show you.

I literally found these two blazers side by side at a Goodwill store.

Floral dontAdjusted2          

Floral do Adjusted

Here we have what might look like two very similar floral blazers to some people, but to others, like myself, I see two different things.

First, the pink blazer is decked out in everything from shoulder pads to lace and bead trim, and it’s completed with a cinched waist. Also not to mention the bright pink floral pattern! This blazer, in my opinion, is just over the top. It screams out of this decade. Now the second blazer, it’s simple. I could see Kate Middleton wearing this one. It isn’t loud or embroidered to death. It’s just pretty and elegant and does the job.

Floral do outfit 1Adjusted

So when you are deciding on a floral piece, keep in mind that simple is always the way to go. Your floral is the staple to your outfit, let it accentuate your clothes – not disguise them.

Peace and Progress,

Alexandra K.

Summer Dress Tip for the Office

Blazer 1 Recently it was time for many of us to take off our 4th of July party hats and put on our work clothes and get back to the grind.

In my recent visit to Goodwill, I found a blazer that I felt was perfect for the upcoming work week. It’s getting hot and humid outside, but the air conditioning is cranking inside. When I came across this jacket, I thought it was the perfect solution for the office in the summer. I can pair it with a lot of different things and it was only a few dollars.

The trick with work outfits is not to over do it. Keep things simple, professional and classy. You’re at work to get the job done and it is important to make a good impression.

Peace and Progress,

Alexandra K.

Blazer 2