Goodwill Fashion Expert—Bjorn Nasett

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.

Each time I return from Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City, I sift through all the thousands of photographs I took and look for the most interesting and wearable outfits that folks actually display at this twice-yearly fashion pow-wow, so that I can show you, dear reader, just what goes into creating a memorable and stylish ensemble. Let’s take a peek at the clothing choices some of the movers and shakers made and break down the elements into easy to swallow fashion terminology.

Is it okay to wear white clothing items post Labor Day? The origins of wearing white only in the summer were more society based than fashion obsessed. In the good old days when it seems that folks had much more decorum, class, and might I add, dignity, men and women didn’t expose much in the way of flesh in public ever - let alone during the sweltering summers. Wearing white in the hot and humid months made sense, because white linen, cotton and silk fabrics were much more breathable than the traditional winter woven such as wool. Even etiquette columnist Miss Manners, Judith Martin, says, “Not only was there no air-conditioning, but people did not go around in tee-shirts and halter tops. They wore what we would now consider fairly formal clothes.”  

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!