Give in Style: Fashion of Goodwill Really Means "Let's Get to Work"

I'm kinda funny about charities. I don't like to be pushed or pigeonholed into giving my time or my money. When those United Way campaigns kick off with the email from HR or the office "decides" to do a walk, I dig my heels in and don't participate.

A big part of it is that I want to contribute to something that's going to help someone move forward in their lives. Literacy programs, mentoring programs, and job training programs...that's where you'll find me "spending."

Goodwill Industries does just that. Goodwill's whole purpose is to help someone help themselves and move forward. Sure, they have those stores where we can find great thrifty deals and fashion steals. They also partner with major corporations to give whole groups of people a new chance in a new career.

Before I get to the Fashion of Goodwill runway show and pop-up shop (and they were good), I need to tell you about Goodwill of Greater Washington and Marriott Corporation. Marriott may be a worldwide company, but they're also a local, family-owned business (root beer, anyone?). Their roots are in DC, and they figured out a way to work with Events DC and Goodwill to create a job training program that will give DC-area folks the chance they need. This program, my friends, is exactly the type of "charity" I can get behind: people helping people help themselves.

Goodwill of Greater Washington CEO Catherine Meloy. Oh. btw, she's the one responsible for me scoring that amazing silk caftan at the last Fashion of Goodwill pop-up. Remember?

When all the speeches were finished and plaques had changed hands (stop...shake...turn...smile for the camera), after the video played showing program graduates in their new jobs, there was one last moment. The graduates of the Washington Marriott Marquis Job Training Program came out on stage. Some of them were grinning, some of them smiling tentatively, unsure about the attention - and all were dressed to the nines. These are people who have jobs they didn't have before - because they worked hard to get them.

Next time you think about giving to charity, think carefully: how will this change something for someone today? Tomorrow? How will they move forward because I chose to give?

And now, to get cheeky, I chose to give by scoring $54 worth of thrift store fashion. The runway show was fun. Styling off-the-rack thrift clothes is challenging, and there were some savvy interpretations of workwear (and some crazy ones). Never mind the music. Prince? Michael Jackson? Blondie? Yes, please. (Hey, Goodwill! This girl wouldn't mind a copy of the soundtrack!)

A gloriously 1980s sequined gown? Um...please tell my bank account it's already gone in the online auction.

But the real fun (other than catching up with stylish friends I never get to see) was scouring the racks at the pop-up shop. Alison of Wardrobe Oxygen, Deb of Real Girl Runway, and I had similar fun earlier this year - and we recreated it. Everyone found a fun score - the real point of thrifting, in my book, is to find things you wouldn't buy otherwise, vice stocking up on basics - and shoppers were leaving with full bags.

From an Oklahoman furrier. Furs are one of my favorite thrift store goals...ahem...finds. Part of me loves just wondering who wore them and where.

I was so tempted by this Dalmatian print blouse. Over-the-top prints are so now, and because it was a whole $7? When "now" becomes "so yesterday," I'm not crying in my milk.

Toldya furs are one of my favorite thrift store finds. There were TWO of these stoles. I found one left. Mink. Stoles. Great condition, and I threw it on as soon as I'd bought it. $24.98. The leather tote bag? Lerkia-Lee of Modage Styles was taking it back. I nabbed it, and have carried it since. $24.98. Also, my dress? Vintage out of a pink garage in New Orleans. Not kidding. Maybe it was $10.

The results, next day. I worked from home, so donned a Hanes (yup) sweatshirt, my new amber-toned lucite-ish necklace ($3.98), and threw my crap in my new tote...to pick up the Beans from school. Now that is Mama Style! (Ignore the mess behind me)

Style Challenge: Lunch Hour Update

The Challenge: Work-appropriate pants that fit. In an hour. In Clarendon, not quite the fashion capital of the world.

The Solution: Ann Taylor Loft. Really. At heart, I'm a mass-production-hater. In reality, I appreciate the ATs and box stores for the anchor pieces - black slacks, a white shirt, you get the picture. So three blocks down from the office, in torrential rains (I really needed an update), I pulled every stinkin' pair of slacks off the racks that wasn't capri or some wierd knit that reminded me of the trousers the residents wore in the nursing home where I worked in college. Rapid fire dressing room - on, turn, squat, yes/no. Yes, hang on one hook, no, hang on another.

Out of 6-8 pair of slacks, I bought: One.

My motto: if they don't fit perfectly, don't bother. I didn't go to find another pair of poorly fitting pants. I went to find ones that fit. I ended up with the "Ann" cut, which isn't a high-waisted trouser, but certainly isn't a low rise - high enough to tuck in a shirt without looking strange, and not so high as to scream "2007." A little bit of perkiness in a pale blue double pinstripe - on navy, with a cuff.

The Backstory: Post M-clothes, I've been fortunate enough to loose the Bean Weight (I credit one-handed eating and choosing sleep over food. That, and walking as much as I can with her for months because that was the only way she'd sleep during the day.) So even the slacks I bought Post-Bean, because my others didn't fit, are now too big. Walking around in them, day after day with my single dress belt (also too big, actually) cinching them in not enough to look like a purposeful paper bag waist, well, it just feels plain old unhealthy, actually. This morning, when I put on my new pants (and a new blouse, see below), I felt trim, healthy, and alert. Told H, "I just can't believe how much better I feel - it's amazing what I new pair of pants can do for a girl."

I still have a few more updates to make, but in the meantime, I feel better, and have a few more choices in my closet. ATL has some adorable summer choices. Most are decidedly in the preppy camp, but if chosen carefully, and paired with some thought, you won't look like you've just stepped off the Annapolis-based yacht (not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you have the means to be yachting, but...). I've got this sweet button down on with my striped pants - stripes on stripes being my cheekiness today. The fabric is light, but substantial, and the fit good. I'm tempted to go back and pick up the navy polka dot version. I also picked up a fitted cable v-neck in what ATL calls "Embellished Blue." Not sure what "embellished" means in this context, but it's a clear, bright blue that provides just the right kick.

And for others on the update prowl, the sale racks are ripe for the pickin'. I didn't score any deals - nothing fit quite right, but there are plenty of little jackets (like the drool-worthy pink one in this earlier post) and a retro housewife dress I wish was still there in my size. It doesn't have quite the flair the Goodwill version does, but with well-chosen jewelry (Dariaux, here's the place for that blue necklace!), it can be the perfect canvas for individual style.

Vintage Inspiration

Baited breath, begone!

The Fashion of Goodwill 2008 Spring Lookbook is here. Take a look. Be inspired. Go buy - online at their e-Bay store or at any one of the local outposts (pssst! rumor has it that the Rockville store is the place to be).

Me? I'm in love with this vintage frock. How perfect?

Style Dilemma: A Guy's BizCasual

Hey Celine,

I'm involved in more and more investor type meetings where I feel out of place with my fashion sense. I'm pretty good at the old school suit and tie look or business casual (khakis, shirt, and tie)...but I need a little help updating my wardrobe to more of the sport coat and open collared shirt look...something sophisticated yet relaxed. Got any time to help a friend?

PS - my next meeting is Friday. Any short term advice I can use to update the wardrobe quickly and for not a lot of $$$?

Thanks,

M

Dear M:

Ooops! So I goofed and missed your meeting - hope this is still helpful. (But then again, something tells me you're not worried about fashion except for the blue & red kind at the moment.*)

Now...to your question. A couple of points:

1) The easiest way to do the "sport coat and open collared look" is to put your suits into service. It can be a little tricky to not look like you're missing your tie, but wearing a colored shirt (think pastels - sorry!) goes a long way to fight that battle. Wear your favorite (and well-tailored) suit with, say a pale blue shirt, and you'll make a good, cool impression. Think about what the suit at right would look like if you left off the paisley tie (which I think I'd do anyway, but I'm not a BR stylist, so...)

2) Again, putting your suits into service, update the shirt look with a collared sweater or two. Find yourself a merino wool (really, truly a 3.5 season fabric), polo-style sweater in a genteel shade, like charcoal or navy, and put it on under the suit.

3) Hit the stores and find three key pieces: a pair of snazzy (subtle plaid, pinstripes in unexpected colors) fitted, flat front (at the most one pleat) slacks, a neutral button down with a lovely hand (the fabric will add a certain something), and a jacket. The jacket's admittedly the toughest. Be sure to stay away from the overdone blue blazer, and do. not. buy. another pair of khakis.

Good stores to try that won't break the bank:

Zara (though their fits can be decidedly European) - for all three pieces

H&M (with the same caveat) - for the slacks. Shirt and jacket won't be in nice enough fabric here to make a good impression.

Filene's Basement, Loehmann's, TJ Maxx, etc. - a little more work, but you can score some deals

C-Mart. Need I say more?

You can also try the sale racks at J. Crew or Banana (though you'll have to watch the prep factor at both places - less so at Banana - see the looks above for hints)

And, if you have time and patience, check out the local Goodwill or Salvation Army outposts, especially for the jacket and slacks. You could find a pair of vintage pants with a great pattern for practically nothing. I had one coworker, always impeccably dressed, who found nearly his whole wardrobe at secondhand stores.

Lastly - think about ditching the khaki-polos look for business casual, and step it up a bit - all you need to do is leave off the suit jacket for any of the looks above, and you've got a stylin' look that's a little unexpected for the DC workplace.

*M just happens to be a died-in-the-wool-born-and-raised-in-Lindenhurst Giants fan. He's a little preoccupied right now.