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!

Crammed Closets and Nothing to Wear

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….

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?

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

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!