Have You Ever Experienced Buyer’s Remorse?

It’s that awful feeling after you spent too much money or bought something you don’t really need. But how do we avoid those shopping mistakes? Sometimes we buy something just because it’s on sale or because it looked great on someone in a magazine. Before you get to the cashier ask yourself, what will I wear this with and how often? If you can’t come up with an answer, leave it behind. Another mistake is to go overboard on one trend. If you like animal print or skinny jeans, buy some, if you have nothing that looks like it in your wardrobe.

If all else fails, take a trusted friend with you, wear the same heels and undergarments that you will wear with the dress or pants that you’re buying, and return anything that has a tag on it within a month so you can at least get store credit.

Eco Chic tip: If you have waited too long, donate all items to Goodwill that have tags on in your closet. This will alleviate your guilt and you will be making someone else happy!

Inspiration for your personal style

This past weekend, I attended the Charity Fashion Show at Stanford. Besides being inspired by all the young and creative designers, I learned about a website started by San Jose State students called Mybfcloset.com. This site teaches how you can raid your boyfriend’s closet and transform his clothes into cool, feminine clothes for next to nothing. On the website, they demonstrate how to make these looks in fun, step by step
video clips. If you would like to release your inner designer check it out and make good use of some old T-shirts or jeans.

Eco Chic tip: Rather than raid your boyfriend’s closet….spend a couple of dollars at your local goodwill and that way you both win!

Ladies, Do you want to save time dressing in the Morning?

Wear a dress! That way you don’t have to match anything, just pair it with a cardigan sweater or boyfriend blazer and go. You can even wear the same dress from day to night by changing your shoes and purse. Another good way to wear a dress at work is to pair it with a sleeveless vest. This way, you have another layer for warmth and coverage but your look is updated. Also, don’t forget to add or change the belt that came with the dress. A black and white graphic print looks ordinary with a belt made of the same fabric. But, add a red belt, and the outfit pops!

Eco Chic Shopping tip ~ go dress hunting at Goodwill for a few summer dresses and a white boyfriend blazer….I found a great floral sheath dress at the Los Altos Store.
Where have you found inexpensive summer dresses?

What to Wear at Work

It used to be so easy to get ready for work. Years ago, suits were the no-brainer way to be dressed appropriately. Then, we went from casual Friday to casual altogether. Now however, casual is not best and job security requires that your wardrobe must be an asset, not a distraction.
The best advice is to figure what style is appropriate for your corporate culture and observe the wardrobe of a manager one level higher than you. Next, you incorporate your style, colors that look good on you, and at the same time, show professionalism, individuality and creativity. That’s a tall order in this economy with all of us trying to stretch a dollar! A helpful suggestion is to visit a Goodwill Store in the best city near you as the donations will reflect the typical residents. Look for brand names like Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Ann Taylor for basic suit jackets and work dresses.

Eco –Chic Tip: Check out the costume jewelry for a statement necklace or stackable bracelets. You’ll be on trend and still on budget!

High Style and High Energy at the Earth Day Fashion Show

It was great to see how design students from the Art Institute of California, Sunnyvale pulled clothing from Goodwill and produced a fabulous show at the Earth Day Celebration. The students put creative summer looks together that had the crowds cheering during the City of Sunnyvale’s celebration this Saturday. Halter dresses with
gladiator sandals and layered tops with shorts of all lengths were some of the crowd favorites. After the event, I went to the Sunnyvale Goodwill where I found a grey Talbot’s boyfriend jacket, a Forever 21 topper and a host of cool Tommy Bahama and
T-shirts for my teenage son. Judging by the response of the crowd, eco street wear is all the rage!

Eco Chic Shopping Tip: Don’t spend a fortune on clothes for growing kids. Instead buy some great summer clothes at Goodwill and re-donate them when your kids outgrow them…..now that’s really living the green lifestyle!

Give Something Away on Earth Day!

Have you been promising yourself that you’re going to adopt a more green
lifestyle? Why not start on Earth Day! If you take 1 hour to collect some shoes that hurt your feet, clothes that don’t fit and household goods that are filling your cupboards and garage, and then drop them off at your neighborhood Goodwill, you have made a great start. Any clothing or shoes that we cannot sell, gets send off to Ethiopia, Mexico or Morocco and the usable clothing is sold there while the remaining fabric is recycled to make clothes there.

Eco Chic Tip: Join the Earth Show Festivities at the Plaza Del Sol, 151 E. Washington St. Sunnyvale on April 24, at 1:15 where you can drop off your donation and watch a Free Fashion Show produced by The Art Institute of California ~ Sunnyvale.

What are the Classics of Fashion?

Some might say a crisp white blouse, a great fitting pair of jeans, a well cut trench coat,
a tailored blazer and of course a little black dress. Others might say that classic pieces in your closet are those that you will wear year after year such as a great fitting pair of black pants, a neutral pencil skirt or special designer jacket that you reach for, regardless of the trends, and still receive compliments after ten years!

Whatever your definition of classics happens to be, it is important to think about because
if something is worn more often, for a longer period, then the price per wear goes down!
So my advice is this, buy the best classics you can afford and add inexpensive, trendy
accessories to update your look.

My favorite classics for spring are white pants, both linen and jeans, and a boyfriend jacket. What are your favorite classics?

Eco chic shopping tip: Check your local Goodwill to see what classics might
be waiting for you. I found a brand new black leather jacket that was a Designer Sample!