Filed under: Fashion, Frugal Fashionista, General, Karen Goodin, Retail and Donations | Tags: Apple, Clothing, Fashion, Female body shape, Flatter Your Figure, Frugal Fashionista, Karen Goodin, Look and feel, Mannequin, Pear, Shopping, Triad Goodwill
Are you an Apple, Pear, Rectangle or Hourglass?
Because you loved the last installment of The Frugal Fashionista, Karen Goodin, is back by popular demand to break down the keys to finding YOUR look.
Q. I have a really difficult time finding clothes that look good on me–on my body. When I go shopping, I just buy the outfit that is on the store mannequin. When I go to wear the outfit, though, a lot of times it just doesn’t look good. What’s the secret to buying clothes that go together AND look good on me?
A. The average size of the mannequin’s dress doesn’t typically “fit” the person who looks at it. Mannequins are made taller than the average person and thinner – having slim legs, a nipped-in waste and flat stomach. We have to remember that the stores WANT you to buy, so they show you what “looks” good and what you ASPIRE to look like.
The key to looking fabulous is finding those items that flatter YOUR figure and coloring and personality. Don’t worry about being the “perfect” mannequin shape. I can teach you how to create the illusion of the perfect body by choosing clothes that make you look deliciously lovely.
Knowing your body shape is the key to successful dressing, no matter what trends or fashion fads are happening. Stick to the ʻbody shapeʼ rules and you’ll never be stuck for something to wear again.
What’s YOUR body shape?
Apple – rounded tummy and big bust (one of the harder shapes to dress)
Pear - the classic feminine silhouette, with hips, thighs or derriere bigger than your upper half.
Rectangle – also called ʻboyishʼ figure, itʼs straight up and down. Normally the shoulders and hips are the same width with a small waist and chest.
Hourglass – characterized by a curvy bust and hips and a slimmer waist. It is often thought of as the ideal female body shape. But I think all women are fabulous and can dress to look smashing!
It makes fabulous sense!
Happy Shopping,
Karen Goodin
Frugal Fashionista
Watch Karen in action and get more information by visiting www.karengoodin.com. If you know you’re ready to look and feel FABULOUS, call 336-456-2072 to get started.
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Filed under: Fashion, General, Retail and Donations | Tags: Clothing, Consignment, England, Facebook, fashionista, Frugality, Goodwill, Home, Look and feel, Price, retail, Shopping, Triad Goodwill
Karen Goodin was born and raised in England, then catapulted across the pond in 2002. She’s always had a unique sense of style with an innate European flair. Before she began Frugal Fashionista, her friends (and sometimes strangers passing her on the street!) would ask her for her style secrets. It finally made sense for her to follow her abilities and make her passion for helping others look and feel great a full-time job!
In addition to shopping thrift stores like Goodwill, she answers a common question by other frugal fashionistas in training on how to save money. Is this you?
Q&A Submission:
Q). I know that one of the most frugal ways to fill out my wardrobe is by frequenting consignment shops, but I just can’t kick my addiction to new clothes. How can I still buy new items, yet be frugal?
A). There is a secret, and it is, in my opinion, one of the most savvy shopping moves a bargain hunter can make: Shop out of season so you can stretch your dollars to unbelievable lengths.
Buying items you may not be able to wear until months after you’ve made the purchase not only allows you to get great deals, but it also frees up funds so that you can take advantage of rock-bottom prices by buying in “bulk.” Just think of it as buying yourself a present you get to open and enjoy a little later. I like to keep the price tags on as the clothes hang in my closet waiting for their time to be worn. Not only does this allow me to see lots of new clothes in the que, but I love to see the marked-down prices as a reminder of the great deals I got.
From experience, if you can make a habit of not buying items until the end of the season, the savings can be substantial—often up to 70-80% off the original price. It takes patience and the willingness to really ‘work’ those clearance racks, but you get to leave the store with shopping bags stuffed full of NEW clothes!
Use this as a clearance season guide:
January – February: winter clothes
April – May: spring dresses and shoes
July – August: swimwear, shorts/tees
September – October: rain coats and fall suits
November – December: winter coats and fall shoes
In the game of smart shopping, timing is everything. Sometimes being behind the times can help you get ahead. It makes fabulous sense!
Happy Shopping.
Karen Goodin
Frugal Fashionista
Watch Karen in action and get more information by visiting www.karengoodin.com or check her out on Facebook. If you know you’re ready to look and feel FABULOUS, call 336-456-2072 to get started!
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Filed under: Anniversary, Fashion, General, Retail and Donations | Tags: anniversary, April 19, Birthday, Business, Cake, Coupon, Goodwill, North Carolina, North Elm, North Elm Street, retail, Shopping, Triad Goodwill
What could you do with an extra $5 at a Triad Goodwill store?!
Our North Elm Street location is turning 1-year old and we’re going all out to celebrate! On April 19, come out to an all-day party with the North Elm staff and our friends at 105.7 NOW to commemorate one year from the opening of our first retail store and career center model. Since, the location has become a neighborhood shopping favorite, a donation resource, and more than 800 people have utilized the career center’s free job training services.
But what’s a birthday without cake or present?!
PRINT OFF the below $5 coupon, good on April 19 at our 3519 North Elm Street store in GSO only, towards your total purchase. (You get the present, but save a little cake for us!)
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Filed under: Fashion, General, Retail and Donations | Tags: Antiques and Collectibles, Business and Economy, Clothing, Facebook, Granny, Shopping, thriff store, thrifting, Triad Goodwill, United States, Vintage clothing
Vintage and handmade emporium, Design Archives, has been a vintage clothing destination to many Triad shoppers for years. Today, owner Kit Rodenbough, reveals her secrets to finding that perfectly aged gem, and how many times, it begins at Triad Goodwill.
“I began my career in the seventies as a clothing designer, and on the side I have always collected vintage clothing and textiles. Ten years ago, the collecting became my full-time career, and now I sell vintage clothing to cool people for a living.
“One of my favorite places to do my hunting and picking is in Goodwill stores. These stores hold a host to treasures that can be found in all departments…but the clothing departments are my specialties!”
You might ask me where these treasures come from? Hint: The best treasures I find are those that have been deposited at Goodwill by family who have discovered that Granny and Grandpa have saved everything they ever wore!
Kit Rodenbough and Mike from the History Channel show American Pickers
The Picking Process
I always grab a shopping cart so that I don’t waste anytime later trying to find one when my arms are piled high with fabulous finds! I then assess the store’s layout to pick a key location inside each store to begin. I usually start in the Men’s Department. After a quick scan of the racks I start a slightly slower pace of skimming each rack for their vintage items.
Since I was in the clothing industry for many years, I can detect the older colors and fabrics pretty quickly and if I think the item is vintage I inspect it more closely. Vintage has been a trend in clothing design recently, and some retailers can make some pretty good imitations of true vintage.
After some inspection, I scan the labels to validate what’s authentic from what’s imitation. Often the simple phrase on a tag “made in the USA” is validation enough.
I recommend the seasoned thrifter to tackle the denim or T-shirts racks. These racks are usually longer and hold a lot of clothing. And with so many pickers out there who skim those racks daily, the competition is fierce, so put your picking shoes on – I know you’re up for the challenge! With T-shirts, I look at the neckline and see the way the neck binding is constructed as well as the type of label and brand to determine the age. For jeans, I scan the legs for bell bottoms, and the shade of the denim.
Current fashion trends will dictate how much time I spend in sections like the Children’s Departments. Young hip women have been wearing their tops and coats a lot tighter the last few years and the vintage items often give them the fit they desire. Therefore, I always stop in this department in search of cool colors and then I inspect the garment to see if it could fit an adult.
Take your time in this department. Women have always shopped more and owned more than men, therefore there is more to dispose of…and more to find! Before leaving the department, always look up and around in case there is something awesome like the beautiful vintage fox fur coat that I found several years ago!
And remember to relax and enjoy your picking experience. You will have good days and great days, good finds and great finds, and I can promise that if you do it right you will never be disappointed. I usually drive away with a car full to the brim, and cash to spare!
Find Kit Rodenbough on Facebook.
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Filed under: General, Going Green | Tags: Business, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, Gift, Gift wrapping, New Year, Shopping, Triad Goodwill, United States Environmental Protection Agency
Triad Goodwill loves to highlight fellow organizations working toward a greener world. Today, our resident “reuse expert” Executive Director of Reuse Alliance, MaryEllen Etienne, shares her zero-waste tips for this holiday season.
If your trash can is already feeling fuller than usual, you’re not alone; according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, our household waste increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day – this translates into an additional 1 million tons each year. That is a tremendous amount of trash in the name of good tidings. To combat this, we have provided a few tips that will help you towards having a zero waste holiday.
1. Rethink your Gifting
“In terms of holiday giving, I recommend that you give gifts that have a lasting impression, help reduce waste, and ideally support local businesses. I personally love to receive “experience” gifts (massages, concert tickets, tea for two). But what about for people who are more into “things”? You can give homemade gifts in reusable containers, pre-loved and upcycled goodies or even regift something you no longer love.”
Homemade: Who doesn’t love fresh baked cookies, cakes, and candies in a reusable tin? And homemade crafts and home décor are easy and fun to give, too. Your loved ones with certainly appreciate the time and effort you put into these special gifts.
Pre-Loved: Gently used items at thrift stores are great ways to give a zero-waste gift. You can find amazing items at your local thrift, like Goodwill, or consignment shops, antique shop or reseller/swap site. Whether it’s an antique jewelry box, a vintage chess set, or some funky art pottery – it will be cherished.
2. Green your Gift Wrap
“When it comes to wrapping your good tiding this year, be resourceful.”
Reusable Wrap: If it’s in your budget, I highly recommend reusable cloth gift bag sets. While the method generally uses a specific type of cloth, I don’t see why you can’t go to your local creative reuse center and find some colorful scrap fabric. You can also consider reusable containers such as baskets, wood boxes, cookie tins, decorative jars – and reuse them yearly.
DIY Wrap: You can decorate scrap paper, paper grocery bags, or left-over tissue paper with ink or poster paint using cookie-cutters or rubber stamps.
3. Eco-Friendly Holiday Parties
“Whether you’re hosting or attending a holiday party this year, there are simple ideas to eliminate waste.”
Invitations: You can email your invitations by using an online system like Evite, or just phone your guests instead of mailing invitations.
Serviceware: Avoid disposables at all costs. If you’re throwing this year’s party and you need extra serving dishes, glasses, or linens, consider borrowing them from friends (the sharing economy is becoming more prevalent around the country). You can also rent reusable plates, cups and cutlery from a party company for just pennies a guest.
4. Planet-Friendly Holiday Décor
“Home décor is one of the biggest places to reduce your environmental impact.”
Trees: Rather than having a paper or plastic debate (i.e. cut real trees vs. fake trees), why not go natural and reusable? I recommend buying a small pine tree and transplanting it into your garden next spring, or using a potted topiary that can be stored on your patio when not on holiday duty.
Lights: If you’re going to put up outdoor lights make sure you use LED Christmas Lights, which are up to 90 percent more efficient than their incandescent counterpart. Remember to put your lights on a timer, don’t let them burn all night, and recycle old lights.
During the hustle and bustle of the season, you can save time and money, and the planet by embracing these fun and easy zero waste tips.
Happy Holidays!
MaryEllen Etienne
You can follow MaryEllen Etienne at www.twitter.com/reusealliance
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Filed under: General, Retail and Donations, Spring Cleaning | Tags: Cleanliness, donate, Donation, Goodwill Industries, Hanes, New Year, Retailing, Shopping, spring cleaning, Triad Goodwill
So it’s March and time to resurface from the cold and dark winter, draw open the curtains and put a spring shine on things. For those with pets, this can mean collecting 4 months of hair and dander from every surface of the house since Fido or Fluffy became primarily an indoor pet in November! It’s also time to make your annual pilgrimage to your basement or attic with all your clothing and household items your rotating out for the new season. Yes, “Out with the Old and in with the New” is never more true than at this time of year and the cool thing about Goodwill is that we offer a solution to do both! This year, the pleasure you feel after your work is done can triple, because not only are all your donations tax-deductible, but you can also pick up that first spring ensemble or that perfect vase for the kitchen table – items we get everyday at our retail stores.
During spring cleaning is always a great time to visit a Goodwill, and this year Triad Goodwill partners with Hanes and Levi’s in the Donate Movement! Hanes and Levi’s is helping Goodwill spread the story of our mission and to learn the difference your donations make, for the environment and for our communities. When people think twice about what they donate, where they donate and how their donations affect others – and when they donate to reputable organizations – that can have a powerful impact on our world. Triad Goodwill for almost 50 years has used donations to put people to work and your goodwill does make a difference. See donation tips here.
Join the Donate Movement and Clean Out Your Drawers for Goodwill and Hanes this spring! Plus see some great tips to get you started–
#1 Peace of Mind–Stop hoarding and feel, cool, calm and comfortable.
#2 It’s a Time Saver–It’s not functional to sift through mountains of clothing when you could be doing something else.
#3 Value–Spend your money of something you don’t have 15 pairs of already
See more tips from Hanes spokesperson Bethenny Frankel…and Happy Cleaning!
