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.

REMINDER: Join us Wednesday, July 18, 2018 for our 50% OFF Sale, details here! 

Sometimes I am not looking for a certain piece of clothing, but they happen to find me. That’s what happened with this colorful maxi dress. I have a lot of dresses, because of their fun and ease in getting dressed (one piece vs. two) and was not looking to get another summery maxi dress. Then I came across this beauty.

The tag was cut out, so I have no idea on the size or the brand; however, once I tried it on and it was a perfect fit, I knew it was coming home with me. The splashes of vibrant color, the ruffles and the fact that I could wear it with flats and not have to hem it, made it something I’ll want to wear again and again this summer.

As I was checking out, the bright pink and orange shell necklace caught my eye and in the bag it went! It’ll look great with simpler outfits as well.

The handbag from Ann Taylor Loft was a great find at the Reading Outlet. It has a unique pieced outer layer and an ivory fabric lining. Prices at Goodwill outlets are typically by the pound, so I am estimating I spent about $1.50 on it. But, it probably retailed for about $75 when new.

Lastly, these adorable bejeweled flip-flops from Aloha Island really complete the summer fun look. They are comfortable and sassy and I love them with this dress, but they will compliment jeans and shorts as well.

The beauty of Goodwill Keystone Area stores is that every visit is a treasure hunt and you never know what you will find. I wasn’t looking for this colorful maxi dress, but it found me and I’m going to enjoy it every time I wear it this summer.

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $5.50
Flip Flops: $4.97
Bag: $1.50
Necklace: $3.97
Total: $15.94
Retail: $150+

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 wedding season and you may have several nuptials events to attend, or perhaps even your own. Looking great, without overshadowing the bride or groom, is a must for any guest.

Today’s wedding party and guest attire can reflect any personality and style, but I always like a classic look including this simple dress, sandals and bag. Modeling for me today, is my friend Jeanette, who is no stranger to being the perfect wedding guest.

Her navy floral sheath dress is from Maeve, which is an Anthropologie brand. It retailed for $158 but at my local Goodwill Keystone Area store it was a real steal for $5.50. This dress is casual enough to wear with a jean jacket or work appropriate with a blazer or cardigan.

To add a pop of color, I included this London Fog brand bright red handbag. It’s roomy enough to hold your phone to take pictures of the new couple and a pack of tissues for those sentimental moments. It sold for approximately $150 when new, but was priced at $4.97 at Goodwill.

To reinforce the blue colors in the dress, I styled the look with a mosaic turquoise medallion necklace ($9.97) and Franco Sarto navy wedge sandals. The sandals retailed for about $79, but Goodwill comes through again for $6.97.

Being a perfect wedding guest isn’t hard – find an outfit that is appropriate and stylish and celebrate the new couple! Goodwill Keystone Area stores offer dressy, yet distinct options for wedding gowns and mother-of-the-bride and bridesmaid dresses. Stop in your local store before the big day and save big!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $5.50
Sandals: $6.97
Bag: $4.97
Necklace: $9.97
Total: $27.41
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.

Summer is a time for spending time by or in the water, be it on a lake, by the ocean or your neighborhood pool. Just because you are in a swimsuit, it doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize!

Goodwill Keystone Area stores have plenty of options to look like you’re spending your summer in the tropics vs. in the backyard by the kiddie pool. On this blog I’m featuring some accessories to jazz up your summer wardrobe.

I started with the sheer black cover up from J. Valdi. A little research uncovered that this brand is well known on the swimsuit cover-up circuit. Their retail prices range from $49 – $79, but I found this for $3.95 at a local Goodwill. This is lightweight tank dress is a smart way to cover up your suit and walk around without feeling overexposed when stopping by the pool snack bar.

To add some color, I chose a few fun accessories. The sandals and earrings were both new with tags from Target. The pompom and ribbon lace-up sandals from Mossimo were marked originally at $29.99, but at Goodwill they were only $6.99. The fabulous white and turquoise tassel earrings are from Sugar Fix by Bauble Bar priced at $12.99, but Goodwill’s bargain price was $3.99. The straw bag with red leather handles was just $3.97.

For under $20, I have accessories that will take any swimsuit from drab to fab and make you feel like everyday is a vacation day. Check the racks at your local Goodwill Keystone Area store for pieces you could use as a cover-up, such as a kimono, tank dress or scarf. Add some bright accessories and then make yourself that pina colada!

From my closet to yours,
Kirsten

Dress: $3.95
Sandals: $6.99
Earrings: $3.99
Bag: $3.97
Total: $18.90
Retail: $130+

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.