Goodwill Fashion Expert—Bjorn Nasett

Oh, how we all love winter in the Midwest! Snow showers, cold weather, and bundling up are the norm for us this time of year. While we love our layering and cozy sweaters a lot, now is when we start to think of the nicer weather to come; and with it the new fashion ideas for spring. While not all the ideas presented at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week are necessarily new, they are an accumulation of food for fashion thought nonetheless. I have chosen a few photographs that I took during the runway shows that illustrate some of the looks that we could all love for spring and summer in 2014.

There is nothing more fashionable than a scarf. There I’ve said it! Scarves are absolutely, hands down, one of the easiest ways to: A.) Stay warm and ward off the winter chill; and B.) Update an outfit in two seconds flat!

For winter you should have a collection of scarves in a range of colors and textures of your liking for obvious practical purposes. But do they have to be so utilitarian? Let’s do a little research on this popular accessory and get to the root of its popularity. Did you know that these pieces of cloth were originally used to absorb sweat from the neck and face in Ancient Rome? Of course women started to see their potential as an accoutrement to their daily attire before long. Next thing you know, they were being made from all kinds of luxurious fabrics like wool or silk which probably felt more comfortable to the wearer than the norm of rough cotton or linen. In many countries around the world, the silk scarf was also used to delineate the rank of officers from the cotton ones worn by the rank and file. The 20th century is when the simple scarf really came into its own. With mass production and the movie business showing people the way, soon anyone and everyone could be as chic and suave as a movie star or an elegant Park Avenue swell.

When January rolls around every year, the end of year lists come out. Lists like, best and worst, top trends, and all those lists that tell you how to motivate yourself to be a new person in the year ahead. Those are all fun to read and every now and then you can actually glean some tidbits of information that are useful to you personally. Putting those nuggets of wisdom into practice however is another thing entirely. Let’s face it, to quote American businessman Peter Drucker, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” When it comes to fashion advice to help you navigate your potential style makeover, I like to stick to practical ideas that work for anyone. There is something about this time of the winter, when we’re feeling housebound, that seems like a great time to play my “Ditch or Switch” game. This is a simple game that can be played alone, with a good friend, or someone whose advice you take seriously. It starts by creating a “ditch” box or bag that you’ll take with you into your closet, bedroom, or wherever you store your clothing. Next you’ll take a notepad and write, “switch” at the top of the page.This is where you or a friend takes notes. Let’s play!

First, go through every drawer and closet really quickly and make fast decisions on what you can purge without question.  It is best to do this as fast as you can and not really think about it. Go with your gut instinct. Remove said items to the “ditch” pile.  Remember these are items that are easy to let go, such as items that don’t fit, things you don’t wear, and things that you just don’t like anymore.  It should be simple and fast, no hesitation.

New Year’s resolutions are a big deal this time of year. They can come in as many shapes and forms as the people who make them. Some are huge life changes that require lots of planning and willpower; while others may be about adding a little adjustment here and there to spruce up or streamline things we do every day. I always say that it’s the small things that make the most impact, especially when it comes to style and fashion. So, making a resolution to step out of your comfort zone while putting yourself together for work, a party or special occasion, should be on that carefully written list as well. Learning to see ourselves differently in the literal sense can definitely help manifest those other changes we’d like to make in our lives as well. It’s all about taking that first step toward what can be a very attainable goal. This is where your local Goodwill store comes into play for you and your family all year round! By presenting you with an array of constantly changing clothing and fashion items at a fraction of retail, our stores will help you transition into the stylish person you’ve always wanted to be. While on set shooting some photos for our Living Amazing section, we decided to show how simple it could be to add some zest to your existing wardrobe with just one or two “new” items. I chose animal prints not only because they never go out of style, but because in many cases folks are a little fearful of adding them to their wardrobe. I will illustrate the ease with which you can pull together your own “call of the wild” in a confident way.

Lynn Highum is by her own admission a regular, once-a-week Goodwill shopper. Her employer, Premier Body & Paint in Waukesha, is also a supporter of the yearly Goodwill Retro Rendezvous fundraiser held in Milwaukee. As office manager for the company, Lynn says, “the days fly by because there is always something to do!” While attending the Retro Rendezvous event in October with her spouse and other folks from her workplace, Lynn noticed that yours truly was offering a personal shopping experience as well as a $100 Goodwill gift card as one of the silent auction prizes. She immediately informed her husband that it was just what she needed. With her position in the busy company Lynn needs to look professional, yet not too corporate and buttoned down. Since she’s always stated that she has struggles with her lack of fashion sense, her spouse agreed and urged her to place a bid. Later on in the evening, she found out she had won!  Lynn got in contact with me via email and expressed her excitement for the opportunity to get some new ideas on personal style out of the experience. She was hopeful that I could provide some insight that could guide her when it comes to making smart fashion choices while shopping at Goodwill. Below, she shares some of what she took away from our time together in her own words. Knowledge is fashion power, and we ALL have it in us to learn a few new tricks!

One question I am asked regularly is, “How did you get into fashion?” That’s a tricky question, because as long as I can remember I paid attention to how people dressed. Growing up in a rural area people rarely dressed up during the weekdays, as most were farmers and other working-class people. On Sunday, of course, getting ready for church is a memory that stays with me. Polishing shoes and getting my clip on bow tie just right! From then on, I realized that the way we present ourselves to people is totally dependent on where we’re from and how clothing and fashion fits into our lives. That is what is so amazing about my work with Goodwill. I am thankful that I am able to help people navigate the vast ocean of style and fashion and hopefully encourage them to create their own unique looks by shopping at our stores. This week, I want to share with you some of my favorite books on the subject of stylishness. Or, in other words books that can help your shape your own opinion in a fun and informative way. Some of these books are still in print, and some that are not can be found online.  Any one of these titles would be the perfect gift for the fashion lover you might know!

Plaid has been around for centuries. But is it a design, a textile, or both? Where did it come from and why does it have such great staying power in the fashion and design world? From shows like “Forever Plaid” on Broadway to the iconic lining of the London, England based Burberry brand, it goes without saying that as a culture we’ve been inundated with plaid for a long, long time! The origins of the plaid archetype itself come from the Scottish Tartan, which is most commonly associated with plaid. Think of bagpipe player’s kilts and you’ll know what I’m talking about. This well-known red and black pattern traditionally features crisscrossed horizontal and vertical lines of yarn that create that recognizable crisp look. Many plaid garments are made of wool or wool blends, so this pattern and texture is totally associated with the winter months, especially around the holidays. Though the pattern is considered traditional, designers today use a range of variations on it to create interesting garments for year round wear. Other examples of plaid patterns might include summery Madras, which is a very light weight cotton fabric with a checked design, and to a lesser degree Gingham that has equal sized bands in a simple woven pattern, and Tattersall which has wide bands alternating with narrow bands of contrasting colors.

Year round we’re inundated by “novelty” themed clothing items that fall far beyond the realm of fashion and fit more precisely into the category of humorous or in many cases advertorial statement. These would include t-shirts that have snappy comedic slogans like “I’m With Stupid,” while others feature oversized motifs declaring our love for a certain sporting team, place, event or product. But, at this time of year let’s grab a cup of hot cocoa and reflect on the history behind the current craze of wearing and totally celebrating the most garish and hideous holiday themed sweaters you can find.  Or in other words, the garment grouping that attacks our senses called the “Crazy Christmas Sweater.”  

Are there rules to follow when dressing for a trip to the theatre to see a play or musical? You bet there are! Just like so many situations we have in life, what we wear depends entirely on what we’re doing, and where we’re going. I look at it like this - would you wear the same outfit you go grocery shopping in to attend a theatrical production? The obvious answer is of course, no!  Although many people would beg to differ I’m sure. Now is your chance to dress up using my practical tips AND save money on theatre tickets, too! Our neighbors at the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre are offering $10 off the ticket price exclusively to Goodwill and Retique shoppers for any performance during the run of their production of the comedy “Things Being What They Are” from November 20^th to December 15th, 2013. To get your $10 off, just mention “GOODWILL” when ordering at the box office or by phone at 414-291-7800, or you may also purchase tickets online at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.com with the coupon code: GOODWILL (restrictions apply). The play will be held at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 North Broadway in Milwaukee’s chic and Historic Third Ward. 

By now we all know the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, correct?  If not, here’s a quick recap of their contributions and why we should be thankful for them. The very first thanksgiving celebrations that we know of were most likely held by Spanish settlers during the 16^th century. But, the most famous was the feast held by the settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. Pilgrims, or early settlers of the United States, came to the new colony seeking religious freedom from the tyranny they encountered in England. Inadvertently their fame over these almost four hundred years has spawned several fashion movements in addition to the holiday meal tradition. How many of us have had the pleasure of making Pilgrim hats, or other iconic symbols of Thanksgiving in grade school?  But, what are the stylish trends that suggest this central theme of the historic culture of our country? The following paragraphs highlight what styles we should be thankful (or perhaps not) to the Pilgrims for providing to us.

There is an old saying that goes something like, “beware the wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing!” So in other words, it’s dressed in the textile that is made from the shorn fur of the humble sheep. That textile is called wool! I realize that most people know what wool is, but it often gets a bad rap in the modern world of wash-and-go fashions. In fact the proliferation of synthetics in the twentieth century definitely put a crimp in the wool trade. Personally, I love wool garments and coats. Understanding the natural properties and peculiarities of this wooly wonder can be summed up in a few simple facts that anyone who loves fashion and design should know.

Leopard prints are on the prowl these days on the fashion scene. But, they’ve come quite a long way from the tacky polyester looks that are offered for sale by Frederick’s of Hollywood and other purveyors of questionable and sometimes tasteless clothing. Today’s leopard prints are all about standing out in a fashion forward kind of way rather than a flashy retro/costume look. Learning to embrace your inner animal kingdom is not a bad thing. Just because you’ve never worn or owned a leopard piece before doesn’t mean that you can’t partake in this trend that has shown real staying power. I like these prints in fall and winter, because they can play a supporting role in so many ways to otherwise ho hum attire! Let’s go on a style safari and get the low down on leopard.