Our model this month, I.J., gives off movie-star vibrations in this monochromatic-fashion look.  All shades of almost any color can be combined to make a traffic stopping ensemble. In this case we went for a dressed-up, yet casual look. Every guy should own a pair of dark jeans or cords because they can elevate the style level of almost everything you pair with them. I chose these slim fit jeans from Seven Oaks to start our New Years look with the right foundation. Then it was a simple matter of adding in the DKNY subtly-striped black-and-gray v-neck sweater into the mix. If you’re at all apprehensive about wearing patterns like stripes, look for subtle color variations like this one. We topped that off with a fitted black-cotton blazer that had no label, but had a high-quality construction and good details. It fits his athletic physique very well so we went with it! Subtle, yet strong accessories such as the black and silver oversize watch, silver knot bracelet, and classic black Chuck Taylors that were I.J.’s own favorites. I think he looks amazing, and do you want to know what his best accessory is? His bright and happy smile, because he knows he looks great!

I.J.'s Favorite Item: DKNY sweater

Trish was our model contest winner last spring and what a great gal to work with! She was eager to step out of her comfort zone and ramp up her personal style in a big way. For the new year we did our own adaptation of the popular hippie/boho look. These might be items that have texture, pattern, and even a little bit of whimsy. We started with her favorite dark-wash jeans that had the perfect fit, not too tight, not too loose, with a tapered leg. To get the look started we added the long-sleeved shirt in a rich maroon color by American Eagle, and then layered-on a complementary long-sleeved sweater also in maroon by H&M. To give it that added punch, we worked in a multi-colored cotton scarf, some bronze beaded drop  earrings, a wonderful cuff bracelet, and let’s not forget the fancy footwear! I found these  purple and plum pumps by Stylelux that just made it all work. Topping it all off is a vintage faux-fur sweater combination that gives the whole outfit a casual, yet luxurious feeling. Even though these photos were done before they announced the Pantone color of the year for 2015, which is a rich, brownish-burgundy tone, I think we captured the idea that dark colors don’t have to be drab at all! Burgundy, deep purple, maroon, wine and all the variations will definitely be on display throughout the new year and beyond. Trish is right on trend and it shows with another fabulous look pulled together courtesy of Goodwill!

Trish's Favorite Item: Faux fur sweater 

Emily does up the holiday party circuit in style! Sometimes all you really need is one FABULOUS dress to make a great impression. The little black dress is a style cliche of the BEST variety! Every gal should have one as her ultimate go-to look for any dress up occasion. We found this NEW (with the original tags) dress from Marc New York, at one of our stores and knew I it would be the perfect foil for glamorous accessories of all kinds! The dress featured ruched details at the hip and draped beautifully because of the luxurious  rayon and spandex fabric.  Always look for fabric that feels rich and has a nice weight to it. This is an indication of high-quality construction. Because it’s the holiday season we glitzed up this look by bringing on the gold. Gold medallion necklaces, or for that matter any metallic necklace, is always in style, and so are these lovely bronze earrings from American Eagle. A simple vintage handbag with gold chain adds another touch of lady-like class! When it comes to shoes you can go with a strappy metallic sandal or you could also swap those out for some high heeled pumps in black. The possibilities are endless when you have a dress as great as this one is! A simple upswept hairstyle and some soft, yet glamorous make up creates party perfection! TIP: Whenever you’re at one of our stores, look at the dress section first so you won’t miss out on the perfect LBD for your wardrobe!

Our cool and casual model Cory is all about the layering and texture in this great look using items from our stores, as well as a few things from his own closet. I can’t stress enough how easy it is to shop our stores for items that could work with other pieces in your wardrobe! I was on a search to find some classic corduroy pieces and I really hit the jackpot when I found these BDG brand corduroy slacks with jeans styling! They're the perfect weight and color for winter-worthy looks. I was also fortunate to come across this great camel-colored blazer by American Eagle. The style can go casual or dressy depending on what it’s paired with. Now that we have our two cozy corduroy pieces we can go to work pulling it ALL together! We decided to go for a fashion-forward look so we used one of Cory’s graphic t-shirts in black to add some contrast to the jacket. By pairing some distressed Kenneth Cole boots in a rich brown with these pieces we grounded the look and kept the vibe young and casual. The use of accessories such as the scarf and the RayBan sunglasses are the final piece of this stylish puzzle. This particular look came together quick because we had all the  perfect elements, that when blended in the right way create a fashionable effect. Cory is looking great, I might add, as he prepares to attend all those fun get togethers that seem to pop up all through the holiday season!

Cory's Favorite Item: BDG corduroy pants

Anna is the daughter of a couple of my best friends. Her parents, involved in the fashion industry, have definitely influenced their daughter's choices when it comes to looking good for school, play, or any other event that might come up in a young lady’s life. Here we see her sporting a couple of different trends that are fun and easy to do - black and white, and the layered look. You just can’t go wrong when it comes to black pieces that can mix and match with other things in your child’s wardrobe. In this case her very chic mother, Stefani, who is a loyal Goodwill shopper, chose leggings by Justice, a skirt by Miley Cyrus, and a terrific black cropped blazer from the Children’s Place, all purchased at Goodwill. These three pieces alone can work with any color and any pattern, and they're perfect basic pieces to build from.  Black clothing for children can be tricky, but this is a great illustration of just how to put it all together in a fun way. To ramp up the look and make it seem a little more like her mom’s favorite city of Paris, we added a black-and-white striped cotton top from H&M, a gold metallic belt, funky spike bracelets in gold, and some charming black ballet flats that lace up around the ankle. This proud mom told me at the photo shoot that she takes the kids to Goodwill all the time to find basics that are good quality which they can wear to school and at play. Judging by the looks of this high-fashion outfit, I’d say she knows exactly how to take advantage of the great style at affordable prices available at our stores on any given day!  "I shop my local Goodwill store for outerwear, sports uniforms, and other items that kids grow out of quickly,” Stefani said.

Anna's Favorite Item: The whole outfit

TJ is Anna’s older brother, and already this guy knows what kind of style he likes, and what he doesn’t like. His dad, Tom, told me once that he sometimes has to have his son scale back his exuberant style so as not to distract others at school! Like that’s a bad thing? Here we see my good-looking godson sporting a cold-weather, school appropriate outfit that is fashion- forward in its use of pattern and color. Starting with the dark-wash slim-cut jeans by 1969, we added in a black-and-blue striped graphic t-shirt by Shaun White. All young dudes like this one enjoy wearing the famous snowboarder’s clothing line. What makes this look into fashion, however, are the gray sneakers from TJ’s own collection and, of course, the awesome abstract-patterned, black-gray-and-white ski jacket by Zero Xposur that I found at one of our Goodwill stores. I absolutely love the pop of the yellow zipper against all the other darker tones in this ensemble. TJ is not only ready for school as the temps drop, but he’s also ready for the runway in this sophisticated take on sportswear for the pre-teen set! TIP: Basic items + trendy items = fashion success!

Jeff heads into fall with a classic twist on the sportswear look. We started with a pair of GAP khakis in a tan color and added a J Crew button down shirt in a blue-and-white check pattern that plays well off of the plain pants. For fun we topped it off with Jeff’s own Express athletic jacket in green, a Martin Dingoman hat, and a J Crew belt, ALL items that were purchased by our model at Goodwill BEFORE our photo shoot! With his sense of style all I had to do was add some sporty Converse sneakers in classic black and white! All the elements at play in this ensemble are easily available at any of our Goodwill retail stores, they may not be the same brands, but the idea is what is great here. TIP: Pairing sportswear/athletic wear with traditional pieces gives them a new and stylish look! Hats off, literally to Jeff for being a loyal Goodwill shopper and for being a sensible style icon for guys!

Hayley illustrates a perfect day-to-evening look using just a few great pieces. Playing off the monochromatic trend, we scored this two-piece Prada outfit in a neutral khaki green that can be worn together or separately. (TIP: Two-piece outfits that have simple lines are the most versatile pieces for layering and mixing and matching with other pieces in your wardrobe!) First, for a daytime appropriate look for office or other pursuits, we topped off the two-piece wonder with a Jones New York plaid blouse that is self belted which gives it just the right amount of polish, as well as a counterpoint to the khaki color of the original look. (TIP: Plaid is in for fall, and will also definitely (still) be in as we head toward spring!) For fun and some color we added some cute accessories like drop earrings and a beaded bracelet, and our models own Etienne Agner orange sandal wedges. Keeping the contrast going is a purse in a variant on the orange theme. Now let’s go to an evening look with the same pieces! We simply slipped off the blouse/blazer, and let the simplicity of the two piece shine. To jazz up the glamor we added a gold chain necklace, gold bangle bracelets, a wooden bangle bracelet, and some stunning starfish earrings! High-heeled Mary Jane shoes in a lovely green add a level of sophistication and a vibrant purple handbag makes the whole look into a true fashion statement. These two looks can be a great addition to a stylish wardrobe as we head into the fall season!

Georgianne, or George as her friends call her is the very essence of chic style in this vibrant tomato-red linen dress by Amanda Smith. The shirtwaist style is an easy fit for most women with it’s self belt. This particular style features patch pockets at the bust and slits at the side that make it feel a little flirty. Finding something like this at one of our stores is a dream come true for a gal on the taller side that has a hard time finding dresses. The proportions here work well for this former model and her almost six-foot frame! Note how well the shoulder line accents her silhouette. That is the key to a shirtwaist dress! We dressed it up with just a few simple accessories that add to the look without distracting from the vibrant color. A gold tone necklace and earrings, along with Georgianne’s own leather pumps with gold detail make this daytime appropriate as well as super classy! My favorite pieces are the sunglasses and straw-and-black patent leather clutch by Echo. This outfit is movie star glamour that looks like a million dollars, but in reality was put together on a shoestring budget! Keep your eyes peeled for classic dresses in wonderful fabric like linen, such as this dress, the next time you’re out shopping at one of our stores!