Goodwill Fashion Expert—Bjorn Nasett

5 Easy Pieces

There’s a fashion formula that all the stars know, and you can too! I call it their “off-duty” look. I recently saw photos of Julia Roberts in Paris just casually strolling down the street while looking quite stylish. What was she wearing? A variation on a theme of menswear, that’s what. There are just a five elements you’ll need to pull this look together for yourself:

Streetwise Style for Everyone!

Over the years I’ve taken notice that the style I see on the street OUTSIDE of the New York Fashion Week shows is often more chic and wearable than what is being shown INSIDE on the runway! The people who actually attend the shows pull together looks representing what’s in style for THEM. 

Goodwill Drive By with Bjorn

Thrifting with the Thrift King!

I was shopping in NYC a few years back and went into a thrift store on 3rd Avenue around 21st Street. Behind the counter was an old friend from Milwaukee, whom I hadn’t seen for quite a while, Ricky Becker. He’s the owner of The Spooky Boutique, a fabulous collection of vintage he sourced from thrift stores, flea markets and Goodwill. He has sold his vintage wares to the likes of Chloe Sevigny, Vanessa Hudgens, Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, Adele, Kelly Rowland, Lisa Bonet, the late Patricia Neal and Erykah Badu during his career in “the rag trade.”

Shiny New Year!

New Year’s fashion is always a little over the top isn’t it? Sparkly, shiny, and sometimes sheer!  All these elements come into play in this fashion flashback to designer Ann Bowen’s collection for Autumn and Winter of 2012. Since starting her eponymous collection in 1999, Bowen has kept busy honing her aesthetic of ultra-feminine, yet not-too-girly couture. Expanding into the bridal world with a collection in 2009, she has definitely made her name in the New York fashion world. Her designs are currently sold at only the highest of the high-end retailers, including Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, to name just a few.  

Runway the Real Way

When you look at a picture of a model on the runway, what do you really see? What elements should you take away from the style and apply in your own fashion choices? When I look back on photographs I take during New York Fashion Week, I see more than just an outfit itself. Let me show you how to do the same thing … 

Tassels, Tassels Everywhere

“A tassel is a finishing feature in fabric and clothing decoration. It is a universal ornament that is seen in varying versions in many cultures around the globe.”  - This is the Wikipedia description for the word “tassel."  Basically, a tassel is a type of decoration which has been around for a very long time and, just like anything that has historic value, it has been modified and reimagined over-and-over again in popular culture worldwide. 

Tie On Style

Hands down one of the hardest-working accessories in the fashion game is the humble necktie. Whether you had that one uncle with the light-up “novelty” tie, or the clip-on you wore as a kid, neckties have still been stylish for centuries. But, it was the advent of the free-wheeling 1920s when the necktie, as we know it today, caused a minor sensation. Mass manufacturing also gave guys quite a few more options, too. Bold colors and bright prints were a welcome antidote to the more somber colors men sported up until that time.   

Style Behind the Scenes

Fashion shows are all about putting new ideas out there for people to see and possibly get behind. But, what do people who actually attend Fashion Week wear? What is it like behind the scenes? This week, just for fun, I randomly selected some shots that encompass many years, and various locations, to give you a glimpse into the circus and theatre that is Fashion Week. As always, you can note some cool trends, or some over-the-top looks, but one thing you won’t be is bored! See if you can spot the celebrities I’ve crossed paths with, as well as some of the denizens of the stylish set of NYC.

Winter to Spring Transitions

With today’s focus on getting more bang for our fashion buck, many designers are creating collections that can easily go from one season to another without a hitch. And, with the wildly-fluctuating weather we’ve seen across the country, it’s hard to know when to wear a parka, or simply throw on a sweater or a cape. Mom, and fashion designer, Mara Hoffman, puts a lot of ideas on display in this fall and winter collection that can make the bridge toward early spring a little more foolproof. From her ethnic prints (which are seasonless FYI), to her fun accessories and on-trend hairstyles, this collection has something for everyone. What do you see when you look at the photos below?

Rock and Roll Runway!

The design duo Mark and Estel are very unique in the fashion world. As I waited with the rest of the photographers for their show to begin at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, I didn’t know what to expect from the collection they were about to show that afternoon. 

Winter Nomads

With the “snowpocalypse” that hit hard across the country in the last week or so, I thought we could take a look at the Nicholas K  Fall and Winter Collection to see what we might make of their thoughts on fashion survival. The design duo states, “we looked to the street and to the utilitarian brilliance of uniforms to invent a new platform of luxurious, everyday sportswear with an urban edge.”  The harsh winter weather we’re experiencing made me think of films like “Mad Max,” or even “Lawrence of Arabia” with the vast landscapes covered in sand, or in our case snow! Known for their high quality and quirky details, I think you’ll find their looks interesting, to say the least. We can also take away some trends which show through their apocalyptic vision of street wear.