Eco-Chic Fashion

Have You Ever Experienced Buyer’s Remorse?

2010-06-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-05-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-03T15:10:00.001-07:00

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

2010-04-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-04-12T14:54:00.001-07:00

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!

Crammed Closets and Nothing to Wear

2010-04-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

How many of us have closets that are bursting at the seams, but we have nothing to wear?
Instead, why not take a Saturday and free yourself from the stress and guilt of past shopping mishaps.

Start by trying on everything that is a spring / summer garment. Yes, I mean try it on and look in the rear view mirror as well. If it is too big or too small, toss it into pre-labeled bins. Only keep one size bigger or smaller than you are and give the rest away.
How great is that….all the clothes fit and you have space!

Next, tear out looks that you like from magazines or ads.
Make a list of the types of outfits you need:
Business Attire: Clothes for work ~ Jackets, dresses, cardigans, skirts, tailored pants
Upscale Everyday: Clothes for meetings, brunch or church
Weekend Wear: Casual clothes to go to BBQ’s, sports games or the beach
Workout Clothes: Must fit and function well
Dressy Wear: One great LBD and other cocktail dresses/ wedding appropriate looks

Now for the fun part… let the magazines fuel your imagination and build outfits according to the categories. Match with jewelry, shoes and purse. Then, take a digital photo of each outfit to record each look. Set a time limit and see how many great outfits you will have ready to wear for the entire season.

Eco – chic shopping tip: If you are missing a top, blouse or jacket to complete an outfit, stop by goodwill to see if you can pick up the missing piece at an affordable price!

A Good Rule of Thumb in Fashion….

2010-03-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

If you’ve done it before, don’t do it again!
By Susan Lucas

Ladies, if you wore hot pants and mini skirts in the day, don’t do that again!!
Leave it to the young ones. There’s nothing worse than mutton dressed as lamb!
So what are we really talking about…look appropriate. If floral print is in, wear a small amount as an accent, not a whole dress with shoes. Buy a scarf that exemplifies the trend and shows that you’re up with the fashion trends of the season.

Eco Chic Shopping Tip: I found a beautiful floral print skirt and an army green urban safari jacket at the Goodwill Almaden Store. Where have you found something Great??

When cleaning out your closet…what should you Keep and what should you Donate?

2010-03-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

By Susan Lucas

To begin, separate spring/summer and fall/winter and remove the off- season clothes
to another closet or store in plastic out of sight.

• Keep ~ Brand names that fit you

• Donate ~ Cheap clothes that don’t hang well

• Keep ~ Colors that look good on you (pay attention to compliments)

• Donate ~ Colors that wash you out

• Keep ~ Jackets that are well cut for your body

• Donate ~ Jackets that hit you in the wrong part of your hips

• Keep ~ Dresses that look good on you today

• Donate ~ Dresses that looked good on you years ago

• Keep ~ No more than 2 tops in any color/style

• Donate ~ Any duplicate color tops, pants or skirts

Eco Chic Tip ~ When dropping off your donation, quickly check the Goodwill Store for a cool chain necklace, brooch or bracelet. Look on the back for the stamped signature of the designer or just pick up something you love!

Shoes, Shoes, and More Shoes

2010-03-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

By Susan Lucas

Ladies and some Gentlemen, do we seriously need 50+ pairs of shoes? Yes they are beautiful, help us remember wonderful occasions, and look great on display in our closets but what is the limit? Do we keep everything in duplicate in our kitchens - no?! So, what is this thing about shoes?

Just a few things to consider besides the two year rule...are they comfortable or are they cripplers? If they hurt, you will Never wear them, so why not be green and donate them to Goodwill. Someone who has 1/2 size smaller foot will get to be Cinderella and find them. Think of the joy you could pass on while creating jobs for disadvantaged workers!

Eco Chic Shopping Tip....when you drop off your shoes to the Goodwill Store, there may be a jewel waiting for you......I found a pair of brand new Dolce & Gabbana shoes at the Los Altos Store!

October Eco-Chic event was an Eco-Treat!

2009-10-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

The Eco-Chic Designer event on Oct.14-15 was a great success! Eco-Chic shoppers had the opportunity to talk to the designers about their fashions, enjoy some wine and cheese and take advantage of the wonderful prices at our GW Los Altos store.

Many of the pieces are now available at various stores in Silicon Valley at fantastic prices. (Store listings)

Highlights of the evening included live mannequins in the window and “on display” wearing both Eco-Chic and Eco-Street fashions and viewing “Dancing With The Stars” dresses donated by celebrity judge, Carrie Ann Inaba. Her dresses will be auctioned shortly on eBay. Stay tuned for details in our next blog.

Save money and be Eco-Chic for the holidays by shopping for your party gowns and outfits. Not only will you find great bargains, you’ll help the environment when you buy re-purposed items. Find some for as little as $19.00-$50.00!

You're Invited! Free Admission!

2009-10-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

Goodwill will preview The Eco-Chic collection to the public with a wine and cheese event on October 14th & 15th, 5-8 pm. It will be at the upscaled GW store in Los Altos, 251 Main Street.

The concept behind Eco-Chic is to re-purpose through redesigning what we already have. Goodwill's mission has always been to recycle resources, renew jobs and to re-purpose people. Eco-Chic is one of the ways they are approaching this for the 21st century.

The consciousness that Goodwill wants to create through this form of recycling is:

Re-purpose people
Re-purpose our throw aways
Reduce our landfill wastes
Nurture awareness toward a green, self sustaining earth

The Eco-Chic Team, directed by Monique Tsang, Cynthia Woong and Francesca Ordona have redesigned Goodwill's clothing from high end $1000 + evening gowns to totally cool, affordable street wear. The collection is re-envisioned, reconstructed avant-garde couture to quirky, fun and rockin' recycling at it's best!

Come and be a part of this incredible movement!

See you there!

For more information:

Email susanl@goodwillsv.org or visit http://www.goodwillsv.org/

Video highlights from the first annual Goodwill of Silicon Valley Eco-Chic Fall Fashion Show held at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, California.

2009-09-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

For more video clips and photos of the fashion show, visit dicambio.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

2009-08-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Susan Lucas (408) 869 - 9120
susanl@goodwillsv.org
www.goodwillsv.org

The Highly Anticipated 2009 Eco-Chic Fashion Show and Luncheon ~ September 11th

Can’t make it to Fashion Week in Paris this year? Don’t worry; Goodwill of Silicon Valley is bringing a very unique fashion show to the Dolce Hayes Mansion, San Jose. The runway show will showcase high quality Vintage and contemporary fashions available at Goodwill Retail Stores.

In conjunction with these unique runway show, Goodwill has partnered with international fashion designer, Monique Zhang,(moniqueartwear@gmail.com) who will be directing, coordinating, and choreographing the one-of-a-kind Event using Vintage and Designer clothing and accessories pulled directly from the donations made to Goodwill. Based in San Francisco, Monique is a globally respected Fashion Designer who will be incorporating her own visionary style to polish and modernize the donated Goodwill fashions. She is joined by 5 other fabulous Designers who have re-purposed donations to make Eco- chic outfits.

Goodwill has partnered with The Art Institute of California ~ Sunnyvale and the 2009 Eco-Chic Fashion Show is being produced by students in the Fashion Show Production class, where they work on all aspects of the Show under the direction of Jinah Oh.
(www.artinstitutes.edu/Sunnyvale)

Designer team

Carol Chen - avant garde suit recreation
Christina Pickard - glam-funk accessories
Cynthia Woong - couture brassiere fashion
Diane Jung - vintage slip recreation
Francesca Ordona - retextured surface fashion
Hector Martinez - ribboned corset fashion
Lily Dong - reconstructed event fashion
Miko Yamaguchi - felted woolie accessories
Monique Zhang - necktie woven artwear
Shekhar Rahate - restyled glamour fashion
Sheri Duchin - reconstructed formal wear

Immediately following the Runway Show and Luncheon, guests will be able to purchase Eco-Chic Fashions at a fraction of the price at The Shopping Event from 2:30 – 4:00. All sales support Goodwill’s job training programs for people with disadvantages and disabilities.

The 2009 Eco- Chic Fall Fashion Show will be broadcast over the World Wide Web starting at noon on September 11th. Some of the Designer garments will be auctioned off on Goodwill of Silicon Valley’s eBay store. www.goodwillsv.org.

Join us on September 11th, as we re-purpose the day in support of Goodwill!

Co-Chairs: Susan Lucas and Lori Fox

Anyone interested in donating to Goodwill or shopping at Goodwill Retail Stores can find the nearest store or donation site by visiting www.goodwillsv.org.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley’s Philosophy is to educate, train, employ and place people with disadvantages and disabilities, creating a stronger workforce and a more vital community while building dignity for the people we serve through the removal of barriers to personal success.

2009-07-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Be an Eco-Chic Shopper

2009-06-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Be stylish and current on a fixed budget

2009-06-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

How do you remain stylish and current on a fixed budget when all the Fashion Magazines are geared towards outfits that cost $00 to $1000?

Take your existing wardrobe and add one of the following elements from Goodwill.

Flowered blouse or dress
Graphic print
Citrus colors ~ lime, orange or yellow
Pencil skirts
Statement shoes ~ from Wedges in cork or wood to Peep toe pumps
Cool jewelry ~ Chandelier earrings, Cuff bracelets and large bright watches

You will feel updated in your look without breaking your budget. I have found all of these elements at Goodwill Stores in Silicon Valley.

Where have you found an Eco-Chic deal?

2009-06-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Goodwill is having a Fashion Show
Help us to be Eco-Chic!

For more information, please click here.

Goodwill Eco-Chic Fashion Show

2009-06-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

ecochica:

Goodwill of Silicon Valley is having a Fashion Show and we need your help to be Eco-Chic! We're collecting the following Women's items:

Evening Gowns
Suits
Hats
Cocktail Dresses
Jackets and coats
Purses/Evening Bags
Belts
Shoes
Scarves and wraps
Costume Jewelry

On September 11, 2009 Lori Fox and Susan Lucas will co-chair a Fashion Show with fabulous Designer and Vintage clothes and then have a Shopping Opportunity afterward.

Join us at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The proceeds will be used to create jobs for the disadvantaged and disabled by providing them with vocational and occupational training. In this economy, Goodwill is one of few companies actually hiring and placing people in new jobs! So consider donating a dress that doesn't fit, a bag that you’re tired of and shoes that hurt your feet! These will benefit many people and you will be green! Simply fill some bags and drop them at any Goodwill location.

Thanks for writing off your old perception of Goodwill!

For more information contact Susan Lucas at: susanl@goodwillsv.org