When you think of the Art Deco movement in art, fashion and design, hard geometric angles and clean lines are the first things that come to mind.  This aesthetic fits right in with the “ladylike” trend that has been taking over women’s ready to wear. This development comes as no surprise to those of us who follow fashion, as the “vintage” era look has made a blazing style comeback.  With renewed interest in the flapper era, films like the upcoming remake of “The Great Gatsby” set in the roaring twenties, only serve to celebrate the glamorous silhouettes of that time period even more.

Every decade or so, since their heyday in the 1950’s, the ballet flat and its relations, come on strong in fashion yet again.  The simple shoe with little or no heel is parading down runways and streets once more with a renewed sense of purpose.  Often thought to be a girlish look, the ballet flat epitomizes a gamine appeal when paired with the full circle skirts of the Dior era (Remember Leslie Caron in “An American in Paris”?).  That exaggerated silhouette of longer, softer skirts was a good match for the simple slipper.  Currently trending on the fashion scene, the flat shoe has a lot to offer the woman of today in her quest for everyday elegance.  Let’s take a look at some cool options in style and fabrication that can take your outfit from drab to fab in no time!

Let’s face it; denim never goes out of style.  Sometimes, however, the fit and cut may be in question.  Thankfully, designers have taken us away from the low-rise look that was with us for far too long.  Today’s realm includes the higher waist and fitted look from the ‘70s, albeit without those elephant bell-bottoms!  Another denim classic sneaking its way back onto every “hot” list is the denim blazer.  More like a suit than a jacket, the denim blazer is a fresh take on both denim and menswear.  So, visit your nearest Goodwill Store & Donation Center and check the jacket racks to strike “blue,” rather than gold!

Well, that’s a great question.  After visiting New York City for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, I sometimes forget that six months after seeing a lot of runway looks, only a few will have a lasting impact on the fashion world and the public.  But I can tell you that colorful slacks, jeans and pants are still going strong and show no signs of decreasing in popularity.  If anything, they’re even more wildly fashionable!  So now is the time to scope out the racks at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center near you for one of the season’s best looks at a price that won’t break your budget.

Shorts have made a comeback in the past few years, and I know that some of you will say, “Did they ever leave?”  Well, “yes” and “no.”  As always with fashion and style, some trends stay on our radar while others fade into the distance.  That is the ultimate beauty of fashion!  Luckily for shoppers at Goodwill Store & Donation Centers, it’s a great opportunity to try out this new trend.  Even in winter, whether dressed up or dressed down, shorts are definitely back in style.

Every year at this time people around the world make "RE"-solutions in order to change things like their life, job, diets or organizations.  The list goes on and on.  Here at Goodwill, we think "RE" all year long, as in "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle".  The new year is a great time to become part of this "RE" movement.  "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" isn't just a catchphrase, but a philosophy you can adopt in your own life in the New Year.

Fashion looks that stem from sporting apparel is nothing new, and a great example of that is the winter trend of ski apparel for everyday wear.  While skiing was once the realm of only the rich, now anyone can access the look without having to fly to Colorado, or overseas to the famed Swiss Alps.  For those that only want to LOOK like they know their way around a pair of skis, there are tons of options to get that "just off the slopes" look.

Trends may come and go but certain fashion ideas stay with us season after season.  Such is the case with the embellished blouse.  Sequins and beads lead the way to glitter and shine throughout the holiday season and beyond.

O.K., so how many holiday sweaters do you see that you actually like?  If you were like me the answer would be only a few.  If that is true, then why do they keep on making these sweaters? In many ways they arrive on the scene as more of a novelty item than fashion staple, but I do think they’ve found a new niche to reside comfortably in.  The unique Christmas sweater party.  These celebrations have taken the world by storm in the last few years!

Like a magpie fascinated by anything bright and shiny, I too am attracted to clothing and accessories that catch the light.  It never fails; when I’m at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center near my home, anything with sequins, beads and paillettes (French for a sequin or spangle sewn onto a piece of clothing) immediately reels me in for a closer look.

Last week, I talked about how scarves are the biggest bang for your fashion buck.  But let’s take this a step further.  Did you know you can make your own scarves with sweaters from home? How about using one that has become damaged or is just down on its luck? 

There are many items in your wardrobe that do double duty right?  Things that can go from one season to another, or be worm multiple ways for different effects.  But in my estimation there are only a few that do triple duty or more.  One of those is the neck scarf.  These seemingly ordinary accessories do their service for us in so many ways.
 

The ‘80s are definitely back in case you haven’t noticed!  Many of the looks from some of the iconic films of the era like “The Breakfast Club”, “Pretty in Pink”, and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, have made their way back onto the fashion scene. 

On Monday October 17th, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin presented their major fundraiser of the year at the Potawatomi Expo Center in downtown Milwaukee.

The temperatures are starting to drop, and when the first chill is felt, thoughts of bringing out our fall wardrobe take root.  Are you someone that stores away all of his or her autumnal fashions in another area of your home?

The temperatures are starting to drop, and when the first chill is felt, thoughts of bringing out our fall wardrobe take root.  Are you someone that stores away all of his or her autumnal fashions in another area of your home?

The metallic trend is anything but cold this fall.  Bronze, silver, pewter and gunmetal are making appearances on runways, and lucky for you, at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center near you.

When it comes to creativity with their outfits, there is no star that shines brighter than that of Lady Gaga. Surprise is the order of the day from the lady that has emerged from an enormous egg, worn a dress made from meat, and has no problem with all sorts of goofy headwear. She was made to be emulated for the one a year “freak fest” that is Halloween.

A lot of the designers that I mention here in this column may not seem all that familiar to you, and there’s a reason.  It’s simply that I am not invited as a guest to shows like Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein or many other notables. Since, I am not a buyer or writer for a national fashion magazine, I would not be a priority on their PR person’s directory of whom to have in attendance.

As you may or may not know, what we see on the runways of MBFW is not necessarily what ends up on the racks in a shop, boutique or store near you. Designers propose looks that comprise clothing collections to buyers and the fashion press twice a year in hopes of getting orders for some of the garments shown. 

Do you remember being so excited to go shopping for your back to school wardrobe? The big difference today is that kids are way more sophisticated when it comes to what they WANT to wear.

That is why giving your fashionable tot, tween or teen a Goodwill gift card may just make you their hero this fall. Let them explore their budding style sense and choose some of their own ensembles!

While I was looking through some of my art books recently, I was really drawn to the artist Monet’s work. His “water lilies” painting just seemed to fit in so well with summer, and the colors were absolutely gorgeous.

I’ve always loved the subtle ways impressionist painters use color to blend and melt into one another. It was right then that I remembered that I had a tie-dye kit I purchased for a project last year that I never used!

Style icons come and go, but some trends endure (and rightly so). The menswear trend is all over the place this year.

Has it ever really gone away?

In the world of fashion, there are classic styles and patterns that are reworked over and over again by designers. At the top of that list is the striped knit shirt!

Let's take a look at practical and fashionable ways to wear this hot trend.