In the ever-evolving world of fashion, style trends come from a lot of places that’s for certain. But none hit home harder and faster than the punk-rock look that accompanied the loud and brash music that came about in the late 1970’s. At that time in Great Britain, low-income working class youth had it up to here with the slow economic decline and decided to literally shout out their revolt against the mainstream government through a new form of discordant music - and rough looking homemade fashion. Pioneering bands at that time wore clothing that looked as if it had gone through a shredder and then was simply pinned back together. Outrageous and a little scary was par for the course for many of the bands of that era who sported spiky hair, torn t-shirts and a bad attitude. But, lots of folks in the fashion industry doubted whether regular people would embrace this as a style trend. It was the antithesis of high fashion, and the reaction to this movement by most of “normal” society was shock. Ugly and unkempt was suddenly in? Conservative and mainstream was now the realm of the old-fashioned and out of touch?  Currently, almost 40 years after its birth, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is celebrating this form of music and the fashion revolution it caused. The influence punk rock had on countless designers since the first slashed t- shirt was created across the pond is now distinguished with the Met’s own exhibit “Punk: Chaos to Couture”. Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute of the world famous museum states that “The punk ethos of do-it yourself might seem at odds with the couture ethos of made-to-measure. But in actual fact, they are both defined by the same impulses of originality and individuality.”

With the release of the film “Gatsby” there has been a consistent interest and fascination with all things related to that stretch of time. “The Roaring Twenties” as it was nicknamed, were emblematic of a period of change in the world at large.  WWI was over and a new and giddy prosperity seemed to be available to everyone rich and poor. Women earned the right to vote, as well as the right to ditch the Victorian fashions that their mothers wore. The modern girl opted for more fluid dropped-waist dresses and shorter hemlines that made it easy to dance the night away to the latest in “jazz-age” music, which was reaching un- paralleled heights of fame. For the first time ever, popular culture as promoted by film and print media made celebrities out of sports heroes and movie stars. That’s why this era is so important not only in history, but in fashion circles as well. Art Deco was an architecture and design style that flourished during this time and held influence worldwide. Geometric shapes characterize this particular period in fashion, along with over-the-top embellishment, rich fabrics and colors.  I’ve heard many people are holding “Gatsby” parties this spring and summer, to coincide with the film and the current mood of the style scene. Let’s look at the design elements that you should look for so you can recreate this fast-paced epoch for yourself.

For most of my adult life people have asked me about how I go about finding so many wonderful items when I’m out shopping resale, but in particular of course, at Goodwill. So many of those that ask questions also love to tell me about their resale shopping experiences, unfortunately most of them negative. Such as, “I never find anything.”  Or, “I just hate going through every item on the racks, and I become overwhelmed!”  Why is that? The answer is simple. They don’t know my secrets for getting the most out of the resale shopping experience. Never fear dear reader, because my tips and tricks can help to make a big difference in the success or failure of your fashion mission. Following is my checklist for resale success, and your next trip to Goodwill could just be your best ever!

Pastel or not to pastel, that is the question. Sometimes when I think of pastels, which are pale, soft, powdery colors, I am reminded of the 80’s, but not in a good way! Dreary floral prints and all the leisurewear loveliness of the Golden Girls is what comes to mind. But, you can have confidence that today’s fashion-forward pastel tones owe more to upscale gelato, ice cream and other sweet treats.  While some think that these subdued hues can be dowdy, we’ll discuss which ones are right for just about everyone, as well as how to wear them. 

As a rule, there are three big clean out/organizing dates on the calendar each and every year - fall, New Year’s, and spring. Taking into consideration that each of us hunts and gathers items year round to add to our wardrobes, it makes complete sense to take a seasonal approach to unifying our closet with the way we want to dress for spring and summer.  Taking on that challenge can be a daunting task for people who have a lot of stuff, or who are easily overwhelmed, but with my tips for success, you’ll soon be seeing the light at the end of that cluttered tunnel. Then you can experience the joy that an organized closet and fabulous wardrobe will bring you!

The term sportswear became popular in the 1920’s as fashions started changing. The world needed a description for the new relaxed, casual wear that became the customary attire for many sporting and social events. For those of you who have never been a fan of ruffles and flounces, but prefer a more straightforward and dare I say that dreaded word “comfortable” fashions, the Spring 2013 runways around the world have some good news in store for you! Responding to the need for grown up play clothes, designers have been busy stirring together sporty influences in lots of cool ways. Next time you’re at the Goodwill store make the most of your fashion budget by checking the racks for items that just might fit the springtime bill for your wardrobe.  The following is a roundup of the top items you’ll need to know about in order to pull off all the best sportswear-inspired looks from the catwalk.

Skirts are by and large considered a woman’s garment in the fashion world of today. But there are exceptions. Traditional minded men in Ireland and Scotland even now wear kilts, or should I say, the male skirt. Contemporary designers such as Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier have themselves paraded down the runway in variant on the look. I would assume they wanted to experience the freedom and self-confidence that a skirt ultimately gives the wearer. But, for now, the skirt remains fully in the realm of the fairer sex. Full, flirty and fabulous are the watchwords for spring fashion’s hottest trend - the humble skirt. Taking cues from the return to more ladylike silhouettes, skirts of all kinds are heading your way now that the chilly days are behind us. No other garment says fresh and summery more than a breezy, easy-to-wear skirt for most gals. Dressed up or down, skirts are a fantastic choice to pair and layer with lots of other closet staples. The beauty of them is that there’s a style and length to fit every woman stylishly as well as comfortably! Let’s break down the top skirt types for spring and summer 2013, shall we?

Cotton eyelet fabric and trimming has always been a warm weather option for summer brides as well as garden parties and the like. The fabric, for those not familiar with it, resembles lace because there are small holes within the embroidery detail on the textile itself. The edges around the holes are stitched with satin thread for a decorative effect. In many cases the use of the eyelet decoration on cotton or other fabric could be considered a little “country-western” or even childish looking, depending on how it is applied to the garments in question. I remember when the prairie skirt trend was in vogue and the full-tiered slips that accompanied them were always trimmed with eyelet of some sort or another. These ruffles were meant to peek out from under the skirts. But fear not fashion followers, eyelet looks are making a comeback, but not in the ways we have seen it in the past, thankfully. Today designers are using this see through fabric embroidery technique to embellish lots of up to date and stylish garments like shift dresses, chemises, cropped tops and blouses. I’m also going to show you how to use it to make a stunning statement collar from eyelet trim that you could wear with almost anything!

I guess I’ve reached that age where you start to remember your past and the “way it used to be.” I have no problem with moving forward in life at all, but I do have fond memories of my mom pulling together new (or newly remodeled) Easter outfits for us five kids every year. How proud she was of her brood as we walked down the street after church, on our way home to a fun day of Easter egg hunts, lots of candy and feasting with the family. I appreciate that this is a religious holiday and that not everyone will have shared the experience of dressing up for that special day. These days in our “casual world,” moms and dads struggle to get their kids to dress up for anything, let alone the first big holiday of spring! However, in reality, children should have at least one “dressed up” look in their wardrobe, no matter what their age or gender. Dressing for these special occasions is a sign of respect to society, parents and to the children themselves. That’s where the Goodwill Store & Donation Center can come in handy. You can pick up great children’s clothing at a fraction of the cost of retail! And, if you look and choose carefully, you’ll be able to hand down some of these treasures to younger family members as the older grow out of them. Since these are not everyday wear, keeping them in nearly new condition shouldn’t be a problem. So, what should you be looking for?

Historically, artists, writers and designers have always had a love affair with nature and all the botanical beauty surrounding it. Because of that, sonnets, paintings, sculptures and even clothing and jewelry have fallen under the spell of the natural world at one point in or another. Take for example the ancient Greeks and their love for the leaf. In their society these wreath-like headpieces were used as an adornment that would indicate the wearer’s station in life, occupation or social standing. These very elaborate wreaths were worn like crowns and would often be constructed of gold and other precious metals. Vegetation was also used to crown the winners at the original Olympic games. Like everything else in the fashion and design world, updating these, and many other ancient historical symbols, will never go out of style. But, for today’s trendsetter, the undeniable allure of what nature provides as inspiration and celebrating it has become a fashion classic, in particular when it comes to accessories.