Guest Blogger: 6 Tips for Finding Great Fashions at a Thrift Store

Finding great fashions at thrift stores is like a wonderful treasure hunt with marvelous treasures to be found. To make your treasuring hunting experience easy and fruitful follow these 5 easy steps to great fashion at any thrift store.

1. First look for the colors that you look best in. Go down the racks looking for color first. You don’t even have to pull an article of clothing off the rack until you discover a color that you are attracted to.

2. Next, check out the design lines of the garment. Do you prefer animated designs, stylized designs, or more angles and points in your designs? Look at the collars, pockets, hemlines, and necklines. If the design lines are not right for you, put it back.

3. Fabrication is the next item to consider in a garment. Do you like soft flowing, plush, comfy fabrics? Or do you prefer more structured, fitted garments? The sure way to know if the garment you are considering is right for you, try it on? How does it feel? Does it feel good on your body, only get it if you can say YES!

4. Now look at the pattern – if it has a pattern. Maybe you prefer less pattern or no pattern at all. Is it a pattern that you are attracted to? Is it too busy or too simple? Many women do not even like pattern and prefer solid colors in their clothes. If the pattern is right for you, move on to the next step!

5. If the article of clothing has made it this far, your next step is to look it over for quality. Are there any tears, rips, spots, or flaws? I find many new garments with their price tags and brand tags still hanging on the garment – bonus find!

6. Your last step is a simple question to ask yourself – “do you love it.” I no longer settle for clothes I don’t love and feel good in. I have to be able to say “I love it!” It doesn’t matter what you are paying for it, don’t talk yourself into an article of clothing you can’t say you love even if it is a great thrift store price. If you don’t love it , it will hang in your closet just to gather dust.

Use these simple steps to “step-up” your skills to find great fashion at thrift stores. I have become so successful at thrift store shopping about 80% of my clothes have come from thrift stores. To make it even more fun take along a sister or friend and challenge each other to find the best treasure in the store for the best price. The winner takes the other to lunch!

Here are just a few of my “best” thrift store treasures. I love everything about these clothes, the colors, design lines, fabrications, and pattern. They were all next to new and even the jacket is a high end designer brand that would sell for hundreds of dollars in a retail store. All true treasures from my thrift store treasure hunting.

Carol Tuttle is the creator of Dressing Your Truth. Dressing Your Truth is a do-it-yourself makeover system that helps you discover your unique personal style by first discovering your personal profile with Carol’s Energy Profiling system. Carol’s Dressing Your Truth is easy and simple to learn through her online learning courses at http://www.dressingyourtruth.com/. For more fashion tips and tricks for any budget, visit Carol’s blog http://www.thecarolblog.com/.

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of Carol Tuttle and do not necessarily reflect those of Goodwill of Greater Washington or the DCGF.

Operation "I Can Highlight My Own Hair, Yes I Can."

Step 1. Fuschia Highlights.
Step 2. Husband says I look Crazy.
Step 3. Sally Beauty Supply.
Step 4. Dark Ash Brown Lowlights.
Step 5. Caramel Highlights.
Step 6. Call a Professional.

Yeah.... so, a few months ago, I had a professional put some copper and magenta highlights in my hair, and I loved the magenta streaks so much I kept staring at them all day long. When my roots started to grow out, I decided that I wanted MORE fuschia, so I thought I could try it myself because I could not afford to go back to the salon.

Enter L'Oreal Colour Rays in Fuschia Flash. My local CVS just happened to have a box in stock. Bonus! According to the box:

A Rush of Colour:

Deep and graphic. Pure concentrated colour. For highlights so intense, they show up even on the darkest hair.
Do a few flashes or an all-over look. It's easy to experiment with our patented highlighting wand. No messy caps to cope with.
A double dose of super-fresh after-colour conditioning shampoo so hair won't freak out or dry out.
Colour Rays. Only for the experimental.

Hmmmm... I consider myself "experimental." Sounds like this is for me, because I like a rush of colour, espeically when it's spelled with a "u." So I gave it a try.

I tried to pick out small strands and go easy, but I was afraid it wouldn't show up bright enough. I guess I went a little bit overboard, and when Husband got home, he said I looked like either 1. a former Goth girl who is almost 40 and trying to rediscover my youth, in an embarrassing and inappropriate way; or 2. someone out of touch with reality and social norms. Either way, it did not sound like a compliment. Off to Sally Beauty Supply for help! [By the way, that store is like Hotel California. It's really hard to leave!]

I decided that I probably needed to use foil to separate the strands so the color wouldn't cover my entire head. The box said "you can lay each highlighted strand down onto the rest of the hair and it won't bleed." Apparently not true with Fuschia Flash! I bought both dark brown AND caramel highlighting kits, the foil, and got down to bidness. Dark Ash Brown first, and it definitely calmed down the neon fuschia to a more "normal" hue. Then on to Caramel, and it didn't really do anything. At that point, it was late Sunday night, and I needed to just take a break. I decided to sleep on it.

In the end, my friends made the following comments:

"I hope you played some appropriate music, Bauhaus???, to celebrate the "moment of fuschia"... ahahaha! (Our poor guys... they must be like, "I have to walk around with HER looking like THAT???!!!", too bad they're not more like Elton John)... hahaha!"

"The fuschia probably compliments the green in the law firm logo as well as the frosted glass."

And my favorite: "Gillian, step away from anything in a box!"


Actually, the Sam Gilliam sculpture in our stairwell has tons of magenta in it. Maybe I CAN wear this color to work after all!

Here's What It Is!

Well dear readers, there's no fooling you! It's a helmet!

What Is It???

Dear readers, what is it???

Goodwill Good Buy of the Week

Halloween Encroaches!

Hurry, hurry to your local Goodwill if you haven't found a costume yet. For some ideas on how to make a basic item into a costume, we have chosen 2 pieces to demonstrate.

The first piece is a long, orange kaftan with pretty orange and yellow embroidery. There is no fabric tag, but it feels like a natural material such as cotton or cotton blend. It has long sleeves and hits the floor. The measurements are 40" bust, 48" hip, open waist. I could see this dress as the foundation of a Nefertiti costume, or an African queen. A large hat or wrapped cardboard decorated as a crown, oversized hoop earrings, a beaded collar necklace and plenty of kohl eyeliner completes the look.

Here is a link to some pictures of Nefertiti for your inspiration.

Remember this?

---

You will really love this dress! It's totally "Pretty in Pink." Remember the prom dress???? Aptly named a Crime of Fashion Past, it is an iconic image that I will never forget. The measurements of the dress are 37" bust, 30" waist, and 40" hips.

Ahhh, memories! And just for fun, here is a eulogy to John Hughes with some great pictures and clips from his movies.

Molly was an inspiration to scores of broke indie girls like me. We realized we could be the Belle of the Ball, too, with limited means. A trip to the fabric store, the thrift store, some sewing skills and a healthy dose of creativity would nab us that popular guy with the fancy car, if we played our cards right.

Just the enterprising spirit you need to create the perfect Halloween costume! Links to shopgoodwill.com are coming soon!

Shirts vs. Blouses

No, I’m not really going to compare shirts to blouses, but I am going to talk about shirts. And when I say shirts, I mean oversized shirts. The crisp, classic simplicity of the oxford paired with leather leggings. The contrast between a preppy button-down shirt with tight, sexy leggings is the essence of “opposites attract.”


We’ll start with the ‘spensive one from Helmut Lang. This sheer white cotton shirt goes unbasic with its dolman roll-up sleeves and interesting seaming. At $265, it’s a bit pricey, but sometimes it’s worth it to pay for good design. I’ll let you be the judge of that!

The leather and jersey leggings it is shown with are BAAAAAD in a good way. (Just in case you love this look as much as I do, here’s another one from Helmut Lang.)


This outfit from Theory includes a cheaper oversized shirt, but more expensive leggings because they are all-leather rather than leather + jersey. I absolutely ADORE the dramatic cuff boots too. I would like to run right out and buy this outfit, right now, and suffer the consequences of my actions regarding my husband… but I won’t. He would be a “little” angry if I spent $900 on an outfit in this economy.

Onward, on to some selections that would not result in financial problems and a gigantic fight with the husband, we turn once again to Forever 21. Here are a few nice long tops that won’t break the bank. $19.80, that’s more like it. Honestly, I think this top is just as nice as the expensive ones. Here’s another one just for comparison’s sake. $14.80, can’t beat that with a stick.


And some faux leather leggings complete the look for $15.80.

The beautiful thing about this look is that you don’t have to be super-skinny to wear it. Oversized shirts like this cover all sorts of imperfections. I’m loving it.

You can probably get a start on this trend at your local Goodwill. We have a large selection of men’s oxford shirts that could be worn over leggings and cinched at the waist with a belt. It’s certainly worth a trip to Goodwill to check out what’s in store, and our shirts run about $5.99. Happy hunting!

Guest Blogger: EcoBusiness Suit?

A Stylish and Sustainable Business Suit? Does it exist? The short answer is yes.

Many of us are starting to wake up, as consumers, to where our food comes from. Recent pathogen outbreaks, movies like Food, Inc., and bestsellers like Skinny Bitch and The Omnivore’s Dilemma have put a spotlight on factory farms, conventional vs. organic, and the benefits of buying local. How about those who wonder where our clothes come from? We have only the vaguest idea of where our cotton was grown, our hems sewn, or the fossil fuels blown during the production of the frock winking in the Nordie’s window. The journalists exposing the food chain should train an eye towards the opacity of the fashion chain.

For those who care, there are a few safe options:

First, you can buy your clothing used. At, well, Goodwill – or through the cottage industry of crafty alchemists, transforming former jackets into fresh-looking leather handbags, repurposing sweaters and other goodies. I, for one, am an avid consumer of such beautiful products, but I’ll never be a producer, nor do I have the time to root through a consignment store instead of my local mall.

Second, in mainstream shopping, we can look for brands with a green ethos. Sustainable specialists are easy to find for yoga clothes (Prana, Lululemon), lounge clothes (Under the Canopy), outdoor apparel (Patagonia), or casual fashion (American Apparel). For those of us who can wear tights and Tee-s all day, we are set!

But, how about your average business suit? There are no business suits on the Green America Shopping List! If you’re like me, you spend 50 + hours a week in Ann Taylor or Banana Republic…with a label that usually reads something like, “Made in China” and might include acetate, rayon, nylon, and other fakey sounding fabrics. While some companies spend a decent amount of time minimizing their global impact, others, like Kate Spade, are likely to turn up on your friend’s boycott list.

Fundamentally, opting out is not a great option either. The clothing industry provides jobs in developing economies all over the world, no matter how bad those jobs are. We still want to shop, but shop well.

How does the consumer signal that we care about the whole cloth, so to speak…to Anthropologie, Benneton, and others? Ideally, we’d like to do so waving our recycled pocketbook, not our handmade cardboard signs! This is imminently do-able, and while it will come at a cost, the cost is not great. According to estimates, the average seamstress in a massive clothing manufacturer makes 3 cents a shirt; doubling her wage should be a rounding error on a $69.99 sweater. Clothing retailers, according to researchers, are able to track their suppliers and can monitor labor practices through third party auditors. Studies have shown that increased attention, in the form of labor activism, generally has positive outcomes.

So... here is what we have found. This lovely pantsuit by Amana, above, is from the UK, yes, it's true, but is so fashionable. If you have the time and the means to wait for it from overseas, pay for shipping, etc., you have found your interview suit!

Here are some other alternatives that may not be exactly your blue or black interview suit, but are certainly professional enough for many offices.


This is a handsome hemp suit from Sandstone Hemp. They have many other clothing choices, but not a huge selection in terms of business suits.


Finally, we have this adorable men's suit from Rawganique, another excellent source for eco-friendly clothing.

In sum, it is possible to find an eco-friendly, sustainable business suit, but it is certainly not easy or cheap just yet. Hopefully, it is the wave of the future, and as consumers, we can put our money where our mouths are to support this happening. Honestly, it might be easier to buy fabric yourself and have a local tailor make you one to order! Incidentally, there is a great bespoke service at Green & Blue Boutique on 1350 Connecticut Avenue, right here in DC. It is not cheap, but it is certainly about as far away from a sweatshop as you can get. And if you have the time and inclination, you can always look for suiting at Goodwill, where I recently found several designer suits from names such as Armani (yes, for real), Calvin Klein, Tahari and many, many others.

Layne Morrison is a consultant in DC, who can be found in nonsustainable business attire during the week and sustainable yoga attire during the weekends. She can be reached at elaynemorrison@gmail.com.

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of Layne Morrison and do not necessarily reflect those of Goodwill of Greater Washington or the DCGF.

Purple in Paris

Fashion Weeks are always exciting – the clothes, the celebrities, the parties. But sometimes, it can seem as though there is some sameness to the whole ordeal. It’s always Victoria Beckham, Lindsay Lohan, and the usual suspects attending the shows and parties. But this year, Paris had something extra special. Prince.

Suddenly, Paris Fashion Week was the biggest party since, well, 1999. (Forgive me, I couldn’t help it!) And all the follow-on stars showed up in his wake – Rihanna, Kanye, Janet Jackson, all seemed downright boring in comparison. Who can hold a candle to Prince? I couldn’t care less what freakish mohawk/tail/crop circle haircut any of them are sporting. Prince’s glow eclipsed them all, as well as some of the designers, for that matter.


Prince has always had his own strong, innovative sense of style as has been well-chronicled over the years. He did not disappoint in Paris in his sartorial choices such as the Red Suit (I need to get one of these), the grey ruffled long shirt with matching pants, boots and walking stick, and the gold lame/coins/black satin/I don’t know suit he wore to YSL, which, of course, he designed himself. Be still, my heart! He is such a little hottie!

I also like his taste in fashion shows – Chanel, of course, Yves Saint Laurent (my fave), and Christian Dior. This picture of him at Chanel’s country kitchen show makes me giggle. Prince in front of a hay bale. But Karl put it there on purpose, so…

His date, Bria Valente, is a very lucky girl indeed. She is part of a long line of Prince girls who seem to fit a profile – café au lait skin, big, dark hair, Mediterranean looks. Apollonia, Mayte Garcia, Manuela Testolini, and now Bria. Hmmmmm… he has a type, that’s for sure. (I left out Kim Basinger on purpose.)


He also did a few surprise concerts at the Grand Palais! I could faint! Can you imagine??

Anna Wintour? Please. Who cares??

Here's What It Is!

What Is It?!

Goodwill Good Buy of the Week

Good morning, dear readers. We have some nice neutral picks for you this week in a pair of Anne Klein shoes and a Burberry's coat.

First, the shoes. They are medium heel slingbacks in a khaki linen/raffia fabric with caramel leather trim and straps. As you can see, the way the straps are doubled up add an interesting detail to the slingback. These shoes are a size 9 and are in good used condition. The toes are a tiny bit scuffed as you can see in the first picture, but the rest of the shoes are good. (It is hard to see the scuffed toes when the shoes are on.)

Our second item is a really great find! At first, I thought, "Wow, Burberry!" Then, I took a closer look and noticed the tag actually says "Burberry's." After further research, I discovered that Burberry's is, in fact, the same thing as Burberry. They changed the name from Burberry's to Burberry around 1999, and Burberry's is more commonly found in Japan. So... take a look at the coat! It's a classic camelhair overcoat with a collar, covered button placket and long sleeves.

Bid on these great Fall finds on shopgoodwill.com shortly!

Extreme Ankle Booties for Under $100

I came across the phrase “Aggressive Shoes” in Glamour Magazine and wanted to know what it meant. I discovered they were referring to very high heels, very tall or chunky platforms, often with studs, zippers, chains, buckles, cages and any other hardcore materials or design features you can imagine. There are plenty of “aggressive” ankle booties in stores for very reasonable prices, and even some designer brands at Payless. Here are some of my favorites.

I especially love ankle booties with open toes. If you get cold toes, so what?? Sometimes we have to suffer for fashion! (As if the high heels weren’t uncomfortable enough!)



First up, Alice & Olivia for Payless! Put these on with a fitted LBD and some tights. A hot boot for a HOT price - $49.99!

Abaete has designed several styles for Payless. I adore these chain ankle booties w/turn over cuff. They are sold out online but might be available in stores.

Forever 21 has some very inexpensive ankle booties such as these 2.

“Kenzie” perforated open toe bootie for $29.80:

And these great zipper trim boots with ankle cuff for $32.80:
The next 2 pairs are from Bakers Shoes and are on the higher end of this low price range.

Stacey open toe bootie with cut-outs for $79.95:



Dalanya Suede and denim open toe booties. A unique look with 2-tone color scheme. Tough-looking with no black whatsoever.
When styling an outfit around extreme booties, wear them with skinny jeans or leggings to keep the look long and lean from hip to toe. Wearing outfits with clean lines let the shoes make the statement and don’t force them compete with the rest of the outfit. Keep pants either tight around the ankle or high enough that you can SEE the shoe, instead of covering it under a bootleg. Wear with feminine pieces such as ruffly miniskirts for a contrasting look, or pair dressy shorts with tights to show off the entire boot.

According to Stacy London of “What Not to Wear," "I think we're seeing a lot of black (shoes), we're seeing a lot of things that are slightly harder edge, because I think it extends that idea of black and even leather and things like that as being recession-proof."

Maybe the idea is that we need to get tougher ourselves to withstand this recession. To survive and thrive… and what better way to look the part than with black leather and studs?

Guest Blogger: Halloween Costumes

A trip to your nearest Goodwill should yield an abundance of costumes for Halloween. I visited my local Goodwill in California, and there were a number of costumes, both “ready-made” ones, and ones that you can put together from what is in the store. There was an amazing array of hats, scarves, belts, purses... you just need some creativity to put it all together!

For starters, this Chicken costume is pretty fun. Nothing to do to this one except step inside, and get ready for people to laugh at you:


And I thought this little dragon was cute. There were a lot of kid’s costumes, as you can see in the picture behind the dragon. A little person could climb inside this cute green furry costume and scare lots and lots of people.

Next, I found a spider web shirt that could be teamed with black pants or a long black skirt for a gothic-looking costume, a spider costume, and maybe some gauze to emphasize the web theme. Add a ton of gothic makeup and maybe a wig, and you have a frightening look for a very low price.


There are also lots of interesting skirts, dresses and other pieces of clothing that stand out but are not really costumes. For instance, this polka dot ruffled hem skirt would the the perfect beginning to a Flamenco dancer costume. Just add a black top, maybe with more ruffles, some red lipstick, high heels and some castanets or a fan, and you are ready to dance!


These three “prom-type” dresses could be used for a variety of different costumes. Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Simpson, pretty much any Hollywood star or R&B singer would fit the bill. You just need to tease your hair, wear a lot of makeup, high heels and maybe some rhinestone jewelry to make it work. Maybe even a feather boa...


Lastly, this skirt with a red devil tail is half of a ready-made costume already. Goodwill separates clothing by color, so it would be very easy to find a red top to match the tail. Fishnet stockings, heels and some devil horns completes the look.


I am sure that your local store will have some great clothes and costumes – and the neat thing is that all the costumes and other gear you buy can be turned back into Goodwill and sold again!

Kate Morejohn is a clothing re-designer and lover of Goodwill. She lives in Davis, California. She has an incredible husband, 4 grown kids and 8 grandkids. Loves life, old books, running, cooking, more. She can be reached at kate.morejohn@gmail.com.

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of Kate Morejohn and do not necessarily reflect those of Goodwill of Greater Washington or the DCGF.

Introducing... Intellectual Cleavage

I’d like to introduce you, dear readers, to my main man, Haider Ackerman. No, I don’t know him personally or anything like that, but I thought YOU should be made aware of his gifted and talented self. Ackermann is of Colombian descent and attended Antwerp Fashion Academy of Fine Arts where luminaries Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester also learned their craft. His work mimics Rick Owens’ use of innovative leather work and ultramodern draping. Is he “biting” Owens’ designs, as they say in the hip hop world? You be the judge.

He is a favorite designer of actress Tilda Swinton and dressed her for the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. I think she looks like an alien, but in this case I will admit she has good taste. She is one scary-looking woman.

Fall 2009


First, we have this trendy one-shoulder top with wrapped, folded and draped jersey in black, very Rick Owens, hard to tell the difference between the 2 designers sometimes.


Low necklines, long skirts of silk in smoky tones, and this leather jacket (above) is almost identical to the classic Rick Owens leather motorcycle jacket that I just tried on in Miami ($2600+, nope, not buying it… YET).


I particularly love this plunging neckline. You must be somewhat flat-chested to wear this look, but while not “demure,” it is not trashy in the least. It’s an example of what I like to call “Intellectual Cleavage.” Not the Pamela Anderson kind... but something a sophisticated, edgy lady would wear. The wrapping of the lower leg – where you struggle to distinguish between pant, boot, and the gold sock or whatever that is between the two – is especially interesting.


The red pieces are the strongest in my opinion, in a rich blood burgundy leather, fringe, and twill. This is another example of intellectual cleavage, just showing a hint of skin where the jacket closes. But the real story with this outfit is the mixing of textures, supple leather, multi-toned red fringe belt and the smooth twill of the jacket.

Spring 2010 “A Passage to India”


According to Ackermann, the increased popularity of and attention to his work made him want to use a different palette: “It made me want colors, brightness.”


He did not leave black and charcoal behind entirely (see black leather vests and grey leather belted shorts), but added saffron and navy satin to his collection in these striking pieces. I have always had a weakness for indigo satin.

While he may be a Rick Owens copycat, I am sold on his designs. I’m a believer! Could he be the next creative force behind Maison Martin Margiela? Stay tuned.

Here's What It Is!

Look what our friends at our South Dakota store conjured up for this Halloween!

It's a mummy!

What Is It?

Dear readers, what is it???

Goodwill Good Buy of the Week

This week, as it just begins to turn chilly in the DMV, we have 3 gorgeous vintage coats. All three are in outstanding condition and up-to-the-minute trendy. Jackie-O styling, swing coats, fur collars, cute buttons…

1. Chocolate brown suede ¾ length coat with fox fur (?) collar. We are pretty sure the collar is fox, although we could not find a tag saying specifically what it is. This coat is as soft as any suede I have ever touched. It is in perfect condition except that the bottom button is missing. However, there is an extra button attached to the sleeve, so it just needs to be sewn on, and the coat is ready to go. This beautiful coat has tags from Montgomery Ward from the 1960’s! I can’t stress enough how gorgeous this coat is in real life. Fabulous!

2. Identical smoke grey suede 3/4 length coat with fox fur collar. This one does not have the tags, but is in identical, flawless condition, and is not missing any buttons. It is fully lined as well. The suede on this coat is also buttery soft. Amazing.

3. The third coat is made of a faux fur fabric. I could not locate a tag anywhere that tells what kind of fur exactly, but it does say it should be cleaned using fur methods. I would guess it is a polyester blend of some kind. It is very warm and soft and is made up of many fine, soft “hairs,” for lack of a better word. (They are not “real” hair. More like fur.) It also has a fur collar that looks like real fox, and precious string-wrapped big buttons. This coat is in flawless condition as well.

Keep warm, look good, save money! Onward and upward!

Oversized Clutches

I am so glad the oversized clutch is still going strong for Fall 2009. I was afraid this trend would die off quickly, but there were tons and tons of them in the Fall fashion shows. I love them because regular-sized clutches are not nearly big enough for me, so the oversized ones are perfect. And I really dig how Seventies they look. As far as I’m concerned, anything Seventies is okay with me.

I have divided them into 3 categories that jumped out at me from the runway.

Embellished/Rocker Vibe

Ungaro’s interpretation is full of multi-sized studs and a tiny chain strap. V. expensive at $2210. I think we can find a good knockoff, don’t you? How about this studded clutch from Express for $29.99?


A little rock & roll from Marciano, above.

Studs from Cavalli, and the tough-looking chain handle is nice.

Prints, Animal and Otherwise


Gorgeous hand-woven ikat print clutch by Cleobella. It’s deeply discounted, marked down to $56.10 from the $187 original price. It has a convenient handle on the top making it easier to carry, and has lots of interior compartments to organize your stuff.

This one by Gucci is pretty flashy, with its animal print AND tortoiseshell patent shine. I like a little flash from time to time, and it’s on sale (still $1000, not much of a discount, if you ask me... but typical Bluefly). The crest ornament is old school Gucci.

This faux snakeskin clutch at Urban Outfitters is $38, and it even has a strap you can hide or use if you need it. Also, it is the best shade of green EVER.

Classics

Ralph Lauren delivers his American Classic version of the large clutch with this understated shape in cognac.

Nice, simple black ruffled clutch by Kimchi for $49 at Urban Outfitters goes with everything and is on sale.

Personally, I love my black faux patent clutch from Forever 21. But my next step is to search one out at my local Goodwill that is truly from the Seventies. I’m on the hunt…

Guest Blogger: Goodwill Finds…Refashioning, Upcycling and More.

Ever since I was a child, I have shopped at the Goodwill and loved it!. As one of 6 kids in the 50’s- my mom depended on the Goodwill to clothe us. I loved going there and I still do. (I only wish I still had some of those things we bought in the 50’s!)

Now one of the first things I do when I go to the Goodwill, is walk down the aisle of the clothing I am looking at, looking at color, texture, style. I think I have become kind of good at this, and I am able to pick out wonderful finds. Depends on what my purpose is for being there, but, if I am looking for linen, specifically, then I will look for linen fabrics. I will be sharing this week how I buy clothing and “refashion” it or “upcycle” it into something new and different.

I have been buying kid’s clothes and “refashioning” them for my grandkids and others. Here is a little girl’s shirt from the Goodwill that I dressed up with rick rack, hand embroidery and buttons. She is the 3rd granddaughter to use this shirt now!

Lately I discovered how to take a men’s or women’s shirt and make it into a dress for a little girl. This is my first one- from a Liz Claiborne simple cotton long-sleeved women’s shirt. I added the appliqué in the front, and the bow in the back. The front of the women’s shirt is now the back of the dress-


I have an Etsy shop, and will be making more and selling them there.

This is in my Etsy shop now- it began its life as a women’s Forever 21 shirt- I refashioned it into a little girl’s dress by cutting sleeves shorter, bottom off, adding lace and rick rack.


This little teddy bear was a cashmere sweater from the Goodwill-


These dolls- I call them “huggers”- I made them for our kids when they were young- perfect for curling up with for a nap- made from plaid patchwork shorts from the Goodwill- listed in my Etsy shop, too.


Here is an example of a denim skort I got from the Goodwill and embellished with embroidery and more. Our granddaughters love it! It was plain when I purchased it.


I love making these “shabby flowers” – made from men’s shirts from the Goodwill (that I am using to make quilts out of- will show you that next week)- I made these flowers and dyed new little tshirts and sewed them on the shirts- shown on granddaughter and for sale on Etsy.


Finally, I do have some items for adults as well, such as this absolutely lovely, classic vintage linen green dress sheath- could be a cocktail dress, wear to a wedding, mother of the bride, a very special occasion dress. Beautifully made. Probably from the 1950's. Label says- "Marion McCoy Originals Created in California" Kelly green, linen, white stitching (see photo of that) on front of dress; 2 lovely rhinestone buttons on plackets that cross in back over zipper. A beautiful dress. Fits so well, too. Like about a size 6 or 8- as seen on model. Belt is included.

Happy Upcycling!

Kate Morejohn is a clothing re-designer and lover of Goodwill. She lives in Davis, California. She has an incredible husband, 4 grown kids and 8 grandkids. Loves life, old books, running, cooking, more. She can be reached at kate.morejohn@gmail.com.

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of Kate Morejohn and do not necessarily reflect those of Goodwill of Greater Washington or the DCGF.

Smiling "g's", Green DC Festival, Trunk Shows, & Facebook Are the Few of my Favorite Things

Goodwill of Greater Washington has several fun events going on in the month of October that I would like to tell you about. Smiling G’s, Green DC Festival, a Facebook invitation from our friend Good Willy, as well as American’s Giving Challenge are a few things you can participate in to help our cause (and even your wardrobe)!

Smiling G’s Competition

In celebration of NDEAM (National Disability Employment Awareness Month) we are asking our shoppers to support Goodwill by participating in our SHARE A SMILE (photos from May 2009) campaign. When you shop at any Goodwill of Greater Washington retail store throughout October, you can purchase a “Smiling G” for just $1! Donors can sign their names on the "Smiling G", and they will get placed in the front window of the store. Every dollar helps Goodwill provide someone with the job training services they need to find sustainable employment. Please check out the website to read about our success stories.

The stores are having a friendly competition to see who can raise the most money. Last May we ran this campaign for Goodwill Industries Week and our Falls Church location won bringing in $557 with a total (all 9 stores) of $1,439 in two weeks! So we ask you local dear readers to stop by your favorite Goodwill store and help them win the competition (you'll also find some great halloween costumes)!

DC Green Festival

This Saturday, Oct. 10th, Goodwill will be participating in the DC Green Festival held at the Washington Convention Center. You can find us at the Teen Center from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m turning donated T-shirts into shopping bags - a way to reuse and recycle! Dear readers, please consider buying a ticket and come visit us! We would love to meet you and help you make a new shopping bag!

Save the Date

Dear readers, thank you for your loyal support as we have taken our Goodwill Travelin' Trunk Show across town this past year. It is always a pleasure to see your lovely faces and see the great finds you have purchased. We have trunks shows planned for November 14th at Greater Goods and December 9th at Caramel so please keep posted for the details....

Finally, dear readers, we would love to have you friend us on Facebook, under the name “Good Willy” and join our causes page. If you can’t make it to a local store, you can also buy a Smiling G here on Facebook.

We will also be participating in America’s Giving Challenge. Any cause can enter America's Giving Challenge to win cash awards for their nonprofits. Awards will go to the causes that inspire the most people to donate to their cause, regardless of the dollar amount. Please refer your friends to our cause to win the challenge!

As always, thank you so much for your generosity and support for our mission of helping people with disabilities and disadvantages! We deeply appreciate your help!

Here's What It Is!

Well dear readers, I kinda tricked you on this one. I would say you partially got this one right. It's a corkscrew set!

What Is It?

Dear readers, what is it?!

Goodwill Good Buy of the Week

Today we have some gorgeous Fall prints for you, some new with tags.

1. Izaac Mizrahi for Target size 8 skirt, burgundy base color with red plaid bow print and red grosgrain ribbon trim at waist. 100% polyester, 32in. waist, open hip, hits just below knee.

2. Banana Republic NEW WITH TAGS 100% silk skirt, size 2, lined with acetate fabric, Black base color with grey rose print, ruffle flounce hem, knee length, 30 in waist, 39 hip.




3. Izaac Mizrahi for Target dress, size 6, brown with rust and gold floral print, NEW WITH TAGS, 100% polyester exterior and lining, button-up placket, tie neck. 38 in bust, 28 in elastic waist that will stretch to 37 in.

Get these beautiful new, or like new, pieces for Fall and add some flowers to your wardrobe at shopgoodwill.com!

"Strong" Shoulder

Why, why, why are they coming back? I don’t know if it’s because I lived through this trend, but I just don’t want to see them again. It is not a happy homecoming reunion for me the second time around.


Shoulder pads were perpetrated on us in the 80’s because of Dallas and Dynasty. They give the wearer the illusion of broad shoulders and a slim waist and hips. But they also look stupid. They were supposed to make you look powerful as well, as if you could handle all kinds of business, whether professional, personal, or even beating up your enemy, Joan Collins.

After the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, do we really want to go back to this: “The 1980s was a time of greed and individuals living a lie that they had everything, whether it be fashion, champagne or property. Many fell into debt as the only way to acquire an 80's lifestyle for many was via the credit card.”

Greed, largesse and phony wealth… ah, sweet memories!

In 2009, they are calling shoulder pads “the strong shoulder” instead, trying to pull a fast one on us. As if calling them something different will trick us into not realizing what is really going on here! We are too smart for that, dear readers. However, there is a lighter side of this trend that is a mildly puffy shoulder, and I don’t mind this look nearly as much as the very very large shoulder pad. This dress by Diane von Furstenberg illustrates this subtler version of the trend well, and it does not scare me.


But this does scare me.

This quote used to be dead-on accurate: “It's probably safe to say that in recent history there were more shoulder pads at Goodwill drop-off bins than at fashion boutiques or department stores.” I would like to keep it that way. But if you are feeling this power dressing revival, head over to Goodwill ASAP before other fashionistas beat you to all the remaining shoulder pads.

Guest Blogger: To Heel or Not To Heel: A Fashion Revolution

I finally admitted it to a friend last month:

ever since my return home from a six-month sabbatical in the Caribbean, I’m in a complete state of fashion and shoe confusion.

During my time there, I wore sundresses, tee shirt dresses, flats, halters with shorts or minis…and flashy night time attire, island-style. I did wear my heels to the club the few times I went, but other than that I was in constant cute-flats mode.

Suddenly, I was back home in Washington DC and thrust back into city-life and city fashion. Everyone around me was rocking their pumps and their city outfits. It took me a month to even wrap my head around the fact that I had to now wear “normal” clothes (whatever that is) and in particular, normal shoes that restrain my toes.

Every day, getting dressed became a puzzling and almost philosophical, fashionista decision.

One of the most striking of my observations when I returned and moved out of my house was that I own mostly…high heels! It didn’t hit me how much until I had to pack up and box every single pair.

Oh yes, I do love my stilettos-my Pradas, Manolos, Gucci's, McQueen's... But over the last six months, I barely wore them. And now, I’m wondering what’s happened to me, because all of a sudden… I love flats (gasp)!

I’ve been to Europe many times in the past and each time, I bought flats by the dozen, except that I never wore them once at home. I would try them on, then take them off at the last minute. Now I’m looking at these never-before-worn beauties, some still with Euro price stickers on the soles, and I’m absolutely loving them for my every day life in Washington.

Last month I showed up in town to meet a friend and she exclaimed: “Is that Lily in flats I see?!” That's right, I’m not a strictly-heels-only woman anymore. My fashion style has somewhat changed or evolved. We had a long exchange about what heels mean, and why is it that they are such a symbol of a girl’s fashionista factor? History?

True, you can never replace the look of a pair of Louboutin’s, but during my last trips to Amsterdam and Paris, I noticed some fabulous girls - not because they were pretty, but rather because of the assured way in which they walked and were styled. And yes, they were in flats. It all seemed so effortless.

Could it be that it’s all in the mind- does wearing heels give you confidence, or is it just an accessory to up the fabulosity factor? As my friend put it, why is there such a fashionista-stigma attached to flats? It does seem a tad sexist to think a woman can only look fabulous or sexy if she’s in heels.

Okay, I’ll never rock flats to the club nor to a cocktail party, nunca! But daytime, and even for happy hour sometimes, why not?

Now that Fall is here, the same question presents itself: will it be platform booties or flat booties? In the past, that would never have been a question (unless it was snowing). But when you're a thirty-something entrepreneur, running around the city or even carrying heavy lenses as a photographer, your feet need a break. And with all the cute flat booties around this season, I don't mind one bit.

In fact, I’ve noticed a lot more cute flat shoes in US stores lately. Maybe there's a worldwide flats fashion revolution unraveling, or just a hord of fashionista women shifting toward the comfort factor.

So while I never thought I’d learn a valuable fashion lesson while on sabbatical in the islands, I was wrong. I learned more than ever that the woman makes the outfit, first and foremost. If you don’t have confidence, your heels won’t give it to you. Conversely, if you’re truly glowing inside and out, flats won’t steal your sunshine!

Lily is an attorney on break from the corporate world, and is currently busy running her online boutique Lily Lily! Shop when she’s not otherwise shooting concerts and events through her newly-launched photography business Lily Lily! Images. Lily is also a contributing writer at Suite 101 on travel and fashion.

Italophile

I’m a hopeless Italophile. Simply put, Italian things are better. It’s easy to love Italian food, architecture and art, but I prefer even Italian dirt, traffic, smog and corruption to their American counterparts. I love the good, the bad and the ugly of Italy. Makes no difference to me… Italy has my heart forever.

Needless to say, Milan is my favorite Fashion Week. I am crushed to hear reports of trouble and strife in the Italian fashion industry, but the decline has been coming for years. Recent economic problems have taken a large toll on the country. They say that designers played it safe and didn’t really show anything new or creative this year, but there were certainly some exceptions.


Roberto Cavalli – the King of Bling. How many sequined paisley dresses and sequined paisley jeans do we need in this world? I still love Cavalli’s evening gowns, but even I get a tad tired of the rest of his multicolored flashy designs. This time, he surprised me with this understated, well-tailored pantsuit. It’s not completely devoid of bling (notice the beaded waistband and satiny textured pants), but what a departure from his usual work. Check this one out, too. They even have high collars. So proper!


Etro is one of my favorite Italian fashion houses, started in 1968 as a textile house. It is relatively small and not especially well-known in the US, and may be too print-heavy for many American women. But oh, when they mix colorful silky prints with their fine Italian sensibilities, magical things happen. This print off-shoulder dress is simply divine. Sexy, yet innocent. Artistic, but wearable. The lacing on the sleeves is a beautiful touch. One of the things I love about Etro is that it is not a slave to passing trends, like the hideous 80’s trend. And this amazing gown reminds me of Capri or St. Tropez. Mmmmm…


Prada was called "ordinary" by Suzy Menkes of the New York Times, but I couldn’t disagree more. I have a hard time thinking that any collection that includes chandelier crystals woven into chain mail is ordinary.


Satin diapers under a postcard print Macintosh are commonplace? I must be missing something.


Finally, Raf Simons for Jil Sander really pushed the envelope by showing scenes from a film that displayed “an assemblage of bodies with no clothes on at all.” The film may have distracted spectators from his erratic, rough-edged collection, which was deconstructed much like the broken-down, struggling Italian fashion industry.