Ambush Style Makeover Winner - Joni!

Personal style is a funny thing. Once we think we have it all figured out, it changes. Why?

According to our Fashion Guru, Kathy Friend - wardrobe stylist and image consultant, it is because we (as women) are always changing! Our personal style is simply an outward look at who we are as individuals. Our clothes tell the story of who we are. As our lives change, our story changes. For so many of us, our story and the image of our story (our clothes) don't always match.

This is that fork-in-the road our first winner of the Goodwill Ambush Style Makeover found herself. See Joni's story below, and her amazing style transformation!

Easy Boho Look in 2 Minutes or Less

Nothing says summer, a day at a craft fair, outdoor concert or beach staycation quite like the trendy Bohemian look.  That Boho trend is a big one this season, and is super easy for you to implement into your style repertoire.

In this video, you will see what key pieces you will need to look for at your local Goodwill Store to create a simple Boho look. 

I would love to see what your interpretation is of this trend!  Post your photos here, or hashtag them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest #GoodwillBoho. 

  

How To Build a Capsule Wardrobe - with free downloads!

 

In a perfect fashionable world, we would all have a minimalist mindset and function perfectly with very few clothes. The truth is, most of us fall into the category called “closet full of clothes and nothing to wear”. 

I believe the reason so many of us get stuck in this “bursting at the seams” place is because we haven’t been intentional about building our wardrobes. This is the premise behind Capsule Wardrobes.  Before I tell you HOW TO BUILD A CAPSULE WARDROBE, let’s define it:

…according to Wikipedia

Capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called "Wardrobe" in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that will not go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces. This idea was popularized by American designer Donna Karan, who, in 1985, released an influential capsule collection of seven interchangeable work-wear pieces.

The term is widely used in the British and American fashion media, and has been the subject of several popular television series. The term has come to refer to a collection of clothing which is designed using only interchangeable items, in order to maximize the number of outfits which can be created. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying what are considered to be "key" or "staple" items in coordinating colors.

Building this elusive perfect wardrobe is simple.  The key to your stylish success is to plan and follow these steps.

Step 1 - Choose a color palate – up to 4 colors, 1 dark neutral, 1 light neutral, a pop color and your signature color.   Once you master how to create a Capsule Wardrobe, you can add in other colors that compliment your palate. The secret is all of these colors match one another, kind of like Granimals! So, everything will go together, GENIUS!

First, determine what dark neutral looks best on you.  For some, it may be black, however for most (yes, I am about to tell you that black might not be a good color for you) that dark neutral should be grey, brown or navy. Then choose a lighter neutral (white or cream).  Then add in some color; a pop (or wow color for the season), and your signature color (that one hue that you know looks great on you).

Here is an example of what your color palate might look like (this is mine):

 

For help matching your wardrobe, click here for a cheat sheet.

Step 2 - Figure out what cuts of clothing look great on you.  Knowing what your body shape is simply is knowing what your proportions are.  The cuts of clothing we choose can emphasize our silhouette, and camouflage  areas we hold a little extra fluff.  Some of us have broad shoulders, so need to wear pieces that minimize our shoulders.  

To start this step, choose your favorites: favorite pair of jeans, favorite skirt and so on.

For help choosing the right cuts of clothing, here is another cheat sheet.

Step 3  - List the pieces you are using in your capsule wardrobe. Typically, you will need about 30 items in your wardrobe, with 10 being your wardrobe backbone. I've seen a lot of numbers for a capsule wardrobe thrown around, but you should be able to build 30 outfits with 10 pieces of clothing.  You will want at least 5 shirts (some like enough for every day of the week).

Once you have completed your list, this will show you where you might need to add some things into your capsule wardrobe.  Try to get good quality pieces as the backbone of your wardrobe. Taking this list with you when you shop at Goodwill will help you to do a few things:

1. Shop intentionally - only search for those things on your shopping list
2. Choose pieces you can wear numerous times - as you will see by the chart, all of the pieces work together.  All of the tops match all of the bottoms, and all of the jackets can coordinate with any of the tops, bottoms and dresses.
3. Add pieces you know will look good on you!  By the time you have made your list, you will have a good understanding of your color palate and what cuts of clothing look good on you. 

Here is a chart to help you get started. With this chart, you will have 20 pieces of clothing, giving you about 35-40 outfits.  If you want to get technical, I counted 64 different combinations using these 20 pieces!

The final step is to take some pictures of your outfit combinations.  This will make it much easier to choose what to wear in the morning. There are numerous apps for your smart phone that will help you store and organize these pictures. My favorite is called Stylebook. It allows you to mark an outfit so you remember that you wore it recently. If you are a fashionista at heart, you NEED an app like this!

Here are some screen shots from my capsule wardrobe (of course, all of the pieces you see here came from Goodwill!).

I hope this helps you and challenges you to be intentional when shopping at a Goodwill Industries of Michiana store.  Be sure to check this blog for the latest on 50% off sale days!

#Capsulewardrobeonabudget #capsulewardrobe

Holiday Glitz Fashion Show in Warsaw this Weekend!

We would love to have you join us for a HOLIDAY GLITZ Fashion Show at the Warsaw Goodwill Store.  Our fashion Guru, Kathy Friend will show you some creative ways to use Goodwill finds to meet all of your wardrobe needs this holiday season.

Fashion Show starts at 11am! 

7 Ways to Upcycle a Coat Into Something You Really Love

With the fall temperatures upon us, it is time to start thinking about an extra outer layer to help keep us warm for these cooler Midwest temperatures. Jackets can be an expensive investment and finding one that is the perfect cut and style can sometimes be difficult especially with everyone's unique sizing and build. Today's tutorial offers some fun ideas for refashioning a Goodwill jacket into something you really love.

As a disclaimer, I am a sewing school drop-out and actually take everything I need altered to a seamstress because I flunked sewing school. That being said, one thing I can attest to is having someone alter items for you is the most worthwhile investment so that you always look and feel your best. As I am in the midst of a capsule wardrobe project for the fall, many of these pieces have been altered so that I always feel my best even with a smaller & more minimalist wardrobe. Alterations, whether done yourself or by a professional, are the wisest investment when you really love something. 

We are providing the after pictures to these projects so please click on the links to get the full scoop on the before and tutorials for each of these alterations.

Add Ruffles & Details

If the cut of a coat is good in the shoulder area, but the length is not, consider cutting off some length on your coat. You can then use that excess fabric for feminine details that add femininity to a more masculine piece. One of my favorite blogging friends, Tatertots & Jello, shows off a coat that she added a ruffled edge too and a fur trim on the end of her coat to create a coat that any girl would be proud to wear. She offers 14 ideas for refashioning a coat that can help you while navigating the Goodwill coat selection. 

Transform a Leather Jacket Into a Purse

Buying leather for your craft projects might be out of your budget, but buying a thrift store coat and then using the materials from it to create something truly unique might not be. I love this beautiful leather bag made from an old leather coat from Luz Patterns. This showcases not only the beauty of making something yourself, but it also showcases the way a commonly found item can be made into something you really love.

Consider a leather coat as a plethora of craft possibilities whether it is using a wood burning tool to burn initials in the material to make tags for handmade gifts, being cut and sewn into an iPad cover, or simply adding leather details to a belt or headband. The possibilities with a leather jacket, no matter what the size or style, are endless. 

Turn a Suit Set Into a Long Jacket

If you are looking for the perfect jacket that feels more like a blazer than a heavy coat, then consider piecing together two matching suit pieces to create a beautiful Edwardian coat. It is simply genius to think of these two separate pieces as something that could be made into a long coat, but Of Dreams and Seams saw hidden potential in this suit and made it into something she truly loves. 

This looks like something I would shell hundreds of dollars out at Anthropologie and I particularly love that this suit started out handmade and was altered and appreciated for many more years. 

Refashion a Hoodie Into a Peacoat Jacket

The peacoat will never go out of style, but I can't say that I am mad for hoodie sweatshirts. Perhaps you went through a hooded sweatshirt phase and are looking to whittle down your collection or you spy one at Goodwill that is the perfect shade, but you would love to look a little more polished? 

This hoodie turned peacoat tutorial from Sisters,What! is such a great example of how you can refashion even the most basic piece into a cozy coat for fall by simply removing the zipper, adding a flap of fabric, and adding some buttons. How cute is that?

Make a Mixed Media Jacket From Two Coats

This year the fashion world is mad about leather and even I, a very basic suburban mother, bought herself a moto jacket to wear this year.  In this tutorial from dream create, she was inspired by a very pricey Burberry Mixed Media Trench Jacket and decided to make a DIY trench jacket from two inexpensive jackets. 

I love the idea that if you love the sleeves from one piece that you could attach them to another jacket to add texture and detail to a basic piece. 

Add a Feminine Ruffle

The before photos on this piece from Charity Shop Chic is jaw-dropping. She takes a piece of clothing that is stained and many, many sizes too big and uses the extra material to create a belt, feminine sleeves, and a ruffled bottom that was inspired by Kate Middleton. 

While this Feminine Trench Coat is definitely something to be created by an advanced sewer, any crafter can appreciate the beauty in these feminine details and can be inspired that even the saddest and most ill-fitting pieces can be made into something of beauty when put in the right hands. 

Turn a Sleeve Into a Clutch

You can never have too many clutches and this beautiful clutch is made from a simple coat-sleeve. Over on Craftaholics Anonymous you can get the scoop on how they transformed a suit jacket sleeve into a beautiful clutch that you can carry your essentials in for a night out on the town. 

Look for a sleeve that has beautiful button details or is made from a great fabric or pattern that will go well with other items in your wardrobe to really make the most of this DIY project.

With the holidays creeping upon us, it would also make a fantastic gift for a girlfriend, sister, mother, or grandmother.

What are some things you have done with coats from Goodwill? Feel free to share your stories here! 

Style Tip - Shorts! Which are best for your body type?

Hot Trend Alert: Shorts! 
For years, we’ve been told by the fashion world wearing shorts isn’t trendy.  The tides have certainly changed, and shorts are all the rage!   Shorts are becoming more and more accepted in casual office environments and for ladies of every age.  But the question seems to be…what shorts look best on you?

In this month’s fashion post, I’m answering your short questions with some easy and practical tips to help you look your best this summer.

I DON’T LIKE MY LEGS

The most flattering cut for every body type is the walking short.  This is a mid-length short is  perfect to pair with a suit jacket and heels for the day, a silk blouse for evening or flip-flops and a tank top for the beach on the weekend.  The length of the short is about an 8” inseam, and should hit you right above your knee cap. 

BEWARE IF:  You are petite (under 5’4”) – be sure to balance your silhouette with a wedge sandal – the higher the better!

STYLE TIP:  Look for a walking short that has a slimmer fit.  This will be the most flattering, and not overwhelm your silhouette. 

I HAVE SHORT LEGS

 ** Shorts from Goodwill Industries

The best short for someone who is petite (under 5’4”) or who has an inseam under 31” is a mid-thigh short.  This would be one with an inseam of about 5”, that hits your leg right where your fingertips touch your thigh. 

BEWARE IF:  You have very long legs, or are tall.  The shorter length of this style can off-set the proportion of your silhouette.  If you choose to wear this shorter length, be sure to finish your look with a flat sandal.  

STYLE TIP:  Choose a short that does not have a cuff.  A cuffed hem is a design detail that brings attention to a part of the body (your hips) that you may be trying to camouflage.   

The best short for someone who is petite (under 5’4”) or who has an inseam under 31” is a mid-thigh short.  This would be one with an inseam of about 5”, that hits your leg right where your fingertips touch your thigh.

  
I DON'T LIKE MY THIGHS

 ** Shorts from Goodwill Industries

The best short for curvy gals, or ladies who have heavier thighs is a longer length.  A walking short (sometimes called a Bermuda short) is a good choice.

BEWARE IF:  If your body shape is “A” shaped, or pear (in other words, if you carry your weight on the bottom half), be sure to bring attention to the top of your silhouette with a brighter color of top or jewelry. Keep all the details on the top of your outfit, no stripes on your shorts, no fancy pockets, cuffs or contrast stitching.  The simpler the better.

STYLE TIP:  A heel over 2” will always elongate your leg, and make you look thinner. It has been said for every inch you wear on your feet, you will appear 5lbs thinner! 

I HAVE SKINNY LEGS

For ladies who have long thin legs, bring some oomph to your bottom half with either a rolled boyfriend short or a short with some swing or interesting detail like a skort.  This idea of additional fabric will balance your thinner bottom half with your shoulders.  Keep the top of your outfit simple, and focus all the attention on your bottom ½.  

BEWARE IF:  If you have wider hips check the length of your shorts.  You want to be sure they are longer than your fingertips.

STYLE TIP:  When wearing a floaty unstructured short pair it with something more form fitting on top.

Stop by Goodwill to find the perfect pair of shorts to flatter your shape and show off this hot trend. To find a store near you, click here!

I would love to hear what your favorite summer short looks are!