Re-Blogging: Best of Guest Blogger: Could you go one year without buying “new” clothes?

Here is one of my top ten favorite blog post. It truly captures my 2011 challenge which has been both exciting and rewarding. I’m looking forward to continuing on this path and recycling/recreating my wardrobe. Enjoy….

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Hey there readers! My guest blog post for Goodwill of Greater Washington, DC Goodwill Fashionista was re-posted today as “Best of Guest Blogger”. Just in case you missed it.

DC Goodwill Fashionista Blog

Best of Guest Blogger: Could you go one year without buying “new” clothes?

 

Well, I’m giving it a try with Goodwill by my side. At the start of the New Year I made this extreme resolution to refrain from shopping department and specialty retail stores for one year. For the past 90 days I’ve reignited my sewing skills, sharpened my Goodwill and thrift store shopping skills and gained a new best friend in clothing swaps. In many cases I have found brand new designer clothing. However, uncovering these “Fabulous Finds” requires time, patience and determination.

 

“Being frugal does not mean being cheap! It means being economical and avoiding waste.”

 

–Catherine Pulsifer

 

So, how did this self-imposed challenge come about?

 

Quite simply, I realized I had become a clothes hoarder. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. I’ve been sewing my own clothes since the age of 9 and as a result I have added to my custom wardrobe in excess. Coupled with regular shopping trips with my girlfriends over the past couple years I’ve accumulated more than my fair share of items that have become unworn. I had to find a solution that would help me get rid of clothes/shoes that I no longer use and find items that I needed without breaking the bank. I began by cleaning out my closets, donating to Goodwill and taking other items to clothing swaps.

 

My Goodwill store in Rockville, MD is where I find some of my most impressive items. They have a small space but they get in really great merchandise and display it well. Shopping on Tuesday’s when it’s Customer Appreciation Day gets you 25% off. How fantastic is that? Recently I have been taking my friends to Goodwill and local thrift stores teaching them how to develop a keen eye for spotting great deals using time, patience and determination.

 

Here are products of my Goodwill determination:

 

 

Fully lined pants by Banana Republic, 100% wool ($3.49) and Ann Taylor Jacket ($2.49) 

 

This H&M skirt was $2.49 during the Sweetheart Sale at Goodwill in Annandale, VA. The blouse came from the Goodwill Trunk Show for $5.98 

 

 

I picked up this BCBG Blouse at the Goodwill Trunk show in Arlington, VA for $5.98. It pairs perfectly with an Anne Klein two piece suit for a mere $7.80. A great outfit for under $20. 

 

Vintage black TAHARI Coat for $23 falls in my top ten “Fabulous GW Finds”. The fabric is synthetic boucle and I spruced it up with a belt and a bit of bling. 

 

Italian made leather ankle straps shoes for $7.98. 

 

“Sew Frugal and Fashionable Jen” teaches Sewing Classes twice a month in Silver Spring, MDhttp://www.meetup.com/Silver-Spring-Sewing-Sisters and features her “Fabulous Finds” and self imposed fashion challenges on her blog: www.SewFrugalandFashionable.wordpress.com and on Twitter @SewFrugal.

 

All photos courtesy of Lily Valle at www.lilydc.tmblr.com