Good Will Haul.

Good Will may not seem like the most appealing place to look for new clothing, however I seem to find some of my best deals there. Yes, when you walk in the door you are hit with a “secondhand” smell that lacks in comparison to Abercrombie & Fitch’s scent that can be detected  on the opposite side of the mall. Yes, it is 98% secondhand, useless clothes that will not interest you in the least bit, even for purposes of using as a cleaning rag. However, if you have some extra time on your hands and are feeling in the patient, scavenger-hunt mood, I guarantee that you will be able to find at least one piece in a Good Will store that you will like.

So, originally I went into the Good Will near my house searching for an inexpensive black lace top, to use the fabric for a project that I am working on. I left with precisely what I was searching for and much more. Within my Good Will haul I collected an impressive seven items for $18, one of such items being a pair of shoes, one of my best finds yet. My haul also included a new top from Target, a new scarf from Target, a new top from Kohl’s, a tank top and a vintage belt. 

It’s true - Good Will does carry items that are brand new! Local stores like Target and Kohls will donate clothes that they are unable to sell to local Good Will stores. The perks just keep getting better: every day Good Will discounts 50% off of certain items marked by the color of their tags, and if you have a school I.D. they will give you 15% off of your entire purchase. Their other discounts can be found at their website: www.goodwill.org, or you can shop online at www.shopgoodwill.com. If you donate clothes, you can get a 20% coupon, as well. Lastly, all of their proceeds go to families in need. If that’s not enough to have you stop in, then I don’t know what is!

(Pictured: belt found at Good Will in Bayville, NJ with flower engraving detail; 99 cents).

Chunk in the Trunk.

Chunky sweaters are a must-have wardrobe item for Fall and the transition into Winter. Not only are they cute and comfortable, but they’re warm too, which is the main focus for the cold months of November through February. Staying warm and fashionable at the same time during the winter can be difficult, but knitted sweaters tackle both of those jobs.

One of my favorite things about chunky sweaters is that they can be worn with practically anything; they have the flexibility of a good gymnast. If you want to transition one of your summer dresses into a fall outfit, you can add a chunky sweater, a belt, and some boots. If you want to transition a tank top to work in the fall, you can just layer on a big sweater and a pair of jeans. In addition, the texture of a sweater paired with plain or patterned clothing provides a great contrast that will draw eyes to an outfit.

Now, you might be concerned about the price of these sweaters, but where there is a will, there is a way. That “way” just so happens to be at fashionable stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Charlotte Russe, where you can buy a few of those sweaters for the price of one designer sweater. However, the best bang for your buck will be found on the sale racks at retail stores JC Penney and Macy’s, who provide quality clothing for killer prices when marked down. So I send you into the fall weather with the advice to remember to be thrifty and stylish, because they can be the same thing!

(Clockwise: H&M Fall Catalogue 2010, Marie Claire 2009, Free People Fall Catalogue 2010, FP Catalogue 2010)

Tough as nails.

In my opinion, no outfit would be complete without the perfect nail polish to - no pun intended - polish off your look. A personal favorite of mine in the nail polish brand category would be Essie. This brand, along with others such as O.P.I. are some of the most well known to be used in nail salons. With prices on each bottle ranging from about $8-$10 they are a splurge item, and therefore I believe should be bought in basic colors. The three main colors I would consider basic would be a beige or natural color, a pastel, and a deeply saturated color. 

First, a beige colored nail polish is a necessity for a quick color that provides that little extra shine to your fingers and pulls a look together. The neutrality of the color avoids any outfit-nail color clashes in a hurry. My pick would be Essie’s “Imported Champagne.”

(Buy it here)

Next, pastels are not only acceptable for Easter anymore. Light tints of pinks, greens, and blues work wonders with neutral colored outfits, adding the perfect pop of color that your boss, teacher, and friends will approve of. My pick would be Essie’s “Mint Candy Apple.”

(Buy it here)

Finally, a deeply saturated color can be worn year-round. The deep color can be considered a Thanksgiving or Christmas color when worn in the winter, and can also add a nice contrast to summer and spring outfits that are normally light in color. My pick would be Essie’s “Material Girl.”

(Buy it here)

If you're not happy with my choices, the Essie Boutique website offers hundreds of different colors, categorized in shades or collections. In addition, they offer nail treatments, solutions, and accessories which include solutions for almost any nail-crisis you can have. The special solutions, such as extensive nail strengtheners and even nail polish top coats specifically designed for people who use tanning beds, cost more than traditional nail polishes by Essie at about $15.

"These boots were made for walking."

Like a good outfit, this blog will consist of many layers. It will contain images from magazines, the internet, and other sources that inspire me in the world of fashion. In addition, I will post about current sales, trends, and how I mix the two by capturing my own thrifty purchases. I may even throw in a few D.I.Y. projects of my own, such as re-working pieces of clothing, or cute and easy ways to display and store pieces of your own wardrobe.

That being said, I will tell you about how a week ago I had made a serious decision to go on a “shopping diet,” if you will. That is, I promised myself not to buy any more clothing because I already have a closet stuffed to the brim that resembles a cream puff trying to fit through a keyhole. In short, I do not have any more room for new clothing, and more importantly I do not have the funds in my bank account anymore to support my shopping addiction.

My diet was all going good and well until a good friend of mine notified me of a killer sale at the popular store Charlotte Russe: all shoes (and boots!) for only $20. Now, “shopping diet,” or not, there was no way I would pass up an event such as this. Therefore, I decided to revamp my boot collection by purchasing a pair of knee-high dark brown boots with a strap and buckle detail. I justified my purchase through saying to myself, “boots are a staple piece for winter: they are comfortable, practical, and most importantly, fashionable.” I think that it’s safe to say that purchasing a staple piece for my wardrobe this winter - for $30 off the original price - would be an acceptable cheat to my diet. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a cupcake more than someone who hasn’t eaten carbs for the last two weeks?

(Buy them here).