Red plaid is almost synonymous with Christmas. You see plaid ribbons and bows on wreaths and presents and little girls with crisp plaid dresses waiting in line to see Santa. Plaid is such a classic, yet modern pattern and can fit almost any occasion.

The star of this outfit is a vintage (1980s or 1990s) plaid zip-up blazer from Dress Barn. I was attracted to the cheery pattern and knew I could modernize the look by adding the right accompaniments and rolling up the sleeves. I plucked this blazer (and the sweater) from the bins at one of the Goodwill Keystone Area outlets, so I am estimating my cost on each piece at around $1.

To play off the red tones, I added a striped cotton sweater from J. Crew (also from the bins). It is a classic v-neck that will be in style for a long time. Sweaters from J. Crew start at about $80, so this was an amazing price. The cotton is lightweight enough to wear in warmer temps, and layer on in the cooler months.

Grey skinny jeans (instead of standard blue) were a nice neutral. These are from Elle (a brand sold at Kohl’s). My price at Goodwill was $5.50, but these jeans retail for about $50, so I saved 90%! They are slightly distressed which pairs nicely with the structured blazer.

To add some shine, I added metallic boots and bag. The woven leather hobo shoulder bag from Elliot Lucca (only $4.97!) is a real beauty for the holidays. The metallic finish is subtle without being too shiny and bold. This brand is known for it’s intricate woven patterns and this bag would have retailed for around $140.

The zip-up pewter boots with the stiletto heel from Fioni (a Payless brand) added a little glamour. The heel was low enough to be comfortable as I walked around and shopped at a local garden shop, Cedar Hill Flowers.

Finally a red scarf ($2.00) and a gold and silver beaded necklace from Chico’s added the finishing touches. I snapped up this statement necklace for $5.00 at my local Goodwill, but it sold for about $59. What a bargain!

Add a pop of plaid this holiday! Goodwill Keystone Area stores makes it easy and thrifty to weave this pattern into your wardrobe! Pick up a jacket or scarf next time you are shopping at your neighborhood Goodwill.

Happy Holidays!
Kirsten

Blazer: $1.00
Sweater: $1.00
Jeans: $5.50
Boots: $6.97
Bag: $4.97
Necklace: $5.00
Scarf: $2.00
Total: $26.44
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.

Tis the Season! This time of year is so festive with all the lights, decorations and rain… Shooting outdoor blogs get tricky when I’m trying to capitalize on natural lighting and holiday décor and I end up running between the raindrops.

For now the weather was moderate enough to venture out in this fabulous red and black houndstooth cape from Charlie Paige. It was new-with-tags for $6.99 at my neighborhood Goodwill Keystone Area. I found similar styles from the brand online from $35 – $50. I love the ease, comfort and style of a cape. Throw them on over jeans and boots and instantly feel like a fashionista!

Underneath, I sported a simple black top from BLNK for $8.50. It was also new-with-tags and you can’t go wrong with a classic black blouse. For a little edge, I wore high-low jeans from Mossimo from Target. They were cropped enough that you can enjoy the amazing leopard print velveteen boots, which were also new-with-tags for $7.47 from the A New Day brand from Target. I love the panache they will add to any outfit from these trendy jeans to a sweater dress or even skinny black trousers. New they would have retailed for about $30.

For accessories, I added a metallic chain link necklace (or is it a belt?). It added a bold statement and some bling. The red purse by Sophia Caperelli was a great find from a Goodwill Keystone Outlet. I probably paid less than $2 for this soft leather bag, which sold originally for up to $200. What a steal!

When heading out for a holiday party, Christmas shopping or a event with friends or family, throw on a cape and let your fashion sense steal the show!

Happy Holidays!
Kirsten

Sweater: $6.99
Blouse: $8.50
Jeans: $5.50
Shoes: $7.47
Bag: $2.00
Necklace: $3.97
Total: $32.43
Retail: $350+

Visit Goodwill for unique Christmas gifts and decorations and save BIG during our Buy More, Save More Sale, details here!

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.

December may be focused on a few specific colors such as red and green or blue and silver, but there are still so many other colors to help celebrate the season. And florals are classic, any time of year.

I love the soft floral print of this gray and pink Gili dress. The tie sleeves and split collar drew me to this simple shift dress. A little research showed it was most likely sent to a shopper from Stitch Fix and retailed for around $60. My cost was just $5.95. I saved 90%!

In warmer weather, I probably would forgo the tights but on a cool December day I added gray tights with the brand new ivory Bandolino boots. They fit perfectly and I gladly snapped them up for $9.97 when I saw them at my local Goodwill Keystone Area. Retail would be about $129. They’ll pair well with skinny jeans and a chunky sweater for a more casual look.

A classic gray leather bag from Tignanello (one of my favorite handbag brands to thrift!) kept the palette neutral and simple. Tignanello makes a range of bags and small accessories and a bag like this would have cost about $150. According to their website “Established in 1989, Tignanello is designed in New York, NY. We are a brand that focuses on classic styling with all the function and quality that our customer has come to know and expect! Our design team draws on inspiration from the aesthetic of traditional Italian craftsmanship.”

Like the star on top of the Christmas tree, the sparkling jeweled necklace was the finishing touch. The soft pinks in the bib-style statement necklace from Charming Charlie accented the dress without overpowering it. This came as a set with the earrings for $5.97.

Enjoy all the colors of the season, no matter what holiday you celebrate. Shopping at Goodwill Keystone Area stores gives you a rainbow of colors to choose from, any time of year.

Visit Goodwill December 10 through 24 for the Buy More, Save More Sale, details here!

Happy Holidays!
Kirsten

Dress: $5.95
Boots: $9.97
Bag: $6.97
Necklace: $5.97
Total: $28.86
Retail: $350+

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.

Turkey day is behind us and we’re speeding toward the holidays! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah, fun (or ugly, depending on your taste) sweaters can complete your festive look and make you party ready!

While you’re shopping, don’t forget to grab a few gift cards for holiday gifts or for yourself. Right now Goodwill Keystone Area stores are offering a $10 voucher with the purchase of a $50 gift card. Complete details here!

Chloe chose a subdued look befitting of a stylish teenager. Her navy and cream wool sweater featuring skiers is from Loft and was $6.99 from the holiday rack at my local Goodwill Keystone Area store. Loft sweaters sell for up to $69 when new. She paired it with a Brandy Melville cut-hemmed denim mini skirt and Seychelles Wheelhouse Lasercut Slip-On Sneakers. This style is still available online and retailed for $130. My cost was just $7.47!

I went with a true 80s vintage Larisa brand sweater, which was also $6.99. It features a graphic big red bow and fantastic gold embellishments. My skinny jeans are from Elle (a Kohl’s brand). I cut the hem on these – I still really love that trend! My lovely embroidered velvet flats from Judy & Charles were a Black Friday purchase.

They were brand new and only $7.47. For finishing touches I added a vintage embroidered poinsettia clutch – and dangling gold bar earrings.

For not a lot of cash, you can just ooze holiday cheer! Goodwill Keystone Area stores are packed with festive clothing and décor right now. Stop by your local Goodwill and get your fun and festive (or ugly) sweaters today!

Chloe:
Sweater: $6.99
Skirt: $4.50
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $18.96
Retail: $225

My look:
Sweater: $6.99
Jeans: $5.50
Shoes: $7.47
Clutch: $2.97
Earrings: $3.97
Total: $26.90
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. Meet up with her at one of Goodwill’s shopping events! Check the event pages for details.

Animal prints are a perennial favorite in the fashion world and are always attracting attention. And they seem to always heat up in popularity in the fall and winter months. I was happy to add a few pieces from Goodwill Keystone Area stores to my wardrobe this season.

This soft, faux fur jacket from Guess is a fun piece to throw on over almost any outfit. It adds punch to the more casual look that I am sporting here, but would look great over a classic little black dress or a red blouse and black trousers. Similar Guess coats sell now for $100 – $200, but my local Goodwill had this marked at just $9.99. Animal prints never seem to go out of style, so this can stay in my wardrobe rotation for a long time!

Underneath I sported a graphic elephant print t-shirt from Lucky Brand and jeans (which I distressed myself) from Loft. It was comfortable and casual for a day out in Phoenixville with my family. The t-shirt would have retailed for about $30; and the jeans $70. These are some of my favorite pieces to look for at Goodwill because they are already pre-loved and already broken in.

To add some color to the ensemble, I played off the shades in the t-shirt. A cobalt leather cross body bag from Kelsi Dagger added a punch of blue. These bags sell for about $119, but I snagged this for $4.97. And these amazing wedge booties from Catherine Malandrino (retail $100 – $140) are one of my new favorites for fall. The raspberry color is unique and I like the 2” wedge heel that gives me a step up! Finally, I added a silver tassel necklace to finish off the look. I added my own silver bracelets and my ever-present Fitbit.

Animal prints can be treated like a neutral these days – throw a jacket on over prints or patterns. Layer a scarf over a monochromatic outfit or go all out with some leopard print pants! These prints are easy to spot while you are searching the racks at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store – pick some up today!

Jacket: $9.99
T-shirt: $5.95
Jeans: $5.50
Bag: $4.97
Boots: $9.97
Necklace: $2.97
Total: $39.35
Retail: $500+

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.

Now, this outfit may not be popular with everyone, but if you scroll through the blog or my Instagram feed, you’ll see I’m passionate about patterns and today I’m combining two of my favorites – a floral and a check.

I started this outfit with this bold floral blouse from Ann Taylor Loft Outlet. It probably retailed for around $30-$40, but Goodwill had it for priced at just $6.50. I planned on going more casual and pairing it with a blazer and skinny jeans and boots. But after sorting though the pants rack and coming across these classic black and green checked trousers from J. Crew, I knew I had a great combo. The colors in the patterns coordinate so well that they were a natural fit to pair together.

During the same shopping trip, I spied the black enamel and rhinestone Art Deco inspired necklace from Ann Taylor. It was a great find at $2.97! The glass jewelry cases are one of my favorite places to visit when first visiting a Goodwill store. This originally sold for around $60.

To pick up on the blush tones in the floral blouse, I added the pink leather bag from Elliot Lucca. It’s crafted of soft leather and the attention to detail is top notch. According to their website: “Elliott Lucca speaks to the “art of the weave,” a tribute to the brand’s deep-rooted heritage in handcrafted texture, weaving together global influences with the beauty and intricacy of an original rattan bag from Bali. A combination of authentic textures with intricate design appears in each effortlessly beautiful piece.”

Finally, the shoes were found for me by a friend at a local Goodwill. When you’re known for your thrifty ways, people start to look out for you and pick up some amazing items. These gorgeous sparkling Circus by Sam Edelman’s were only $7.47 and are one of my favorite shoe bands to thrift!

So, start with some easy and uncomplicated pattern mixing and you can’t go wrong. Maybe you’ll work up to something bolder! Look at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store for some great mix and match pieces today!

Visit Goodwill Keystone Area stores this Wednesday, November 7 for the 50% Off Sale! Details here!

Blouse: $6.50
Pants: $6.50
Necklace: $2.97
Bag: $4.97
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $28.41
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.

Fall is settling in and the leaves are finally changing into gorgeous yellows, oranges and reds. And now is the perfect time to stock up on sweaters to keep you cozy and warm.

I love a good chuncky cable knit, so this burgundy hooded cardigan from BCBGMaxAzria was calling my name from the Goodwill Keystone Area racks. I adore the variegated color and the oversized fit, which is perfect for layering over t-shirts and blouses. BCBG is one of my favorite brands, so $7.25 was a great deal since their sweaters can retail for up to $300!

I paired it with this graphic t-shirt from Modern Amusement. According to their website, “Modern Amusement is the brand for someone who appreciates the finer things, but doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Confident, Bold, & Independent. The MA customer is effortlessly iconic, sometimes mischievous, always empowered, timelessly stylish, & forever eclectic.” The t-shirts sell at the mall store, Pac Sun, for about $30. I got mine on one of the daily discounts at a local Goodwill for $4.46.

To keep the feel casual, I added skinny khakis from d.jeans. These fit perfectly and were new with tags (NWT) for $8.95. You can find lots of items “NWT” at your local Goodwill, just look through the racks when you are shopping.

Camo is still a huge trend and these shimmery khaki and rose gold flats from Lands’ End are adorable and neutral enough to wear with many different outfits. They originally sold for $69 and were officially titled “Vivian Venetian Camo Slip-on Flat” – Pretty name for a pair of fun shoes!

I added a vintage-looking bag from Elliot Lucca. I have featured this on the blog before, but I like to recycle some of my favorite pieces and this one suited this look nicely.

Stop by your local Goodwill Keystone Area store and stock up on cardigans, crew-necks, turtle-necks or whatever you prefer – they will keep you just as toasty as mall store sweaters, without the high prices!

Sweater: $7.25
T-shirt: $4.46
Jeans: $8.95
Shoes: $7.47
Total: $28.13
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.

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.