I find myself dropping significant money for faddish items, wearing them once or twice and being over them in a matter of moments. To make space in my closet, I have one of three options: sell them to a secondhand store for a mere fraction of what I paid, donate them to Goodwill or give them on a similar sized friend. Sure, a few extra dollars or that warm “good-deed” feeling are kinda nice, but the empty spaces in my closet aren’t any fun! 

Thanks to the brilliant website, Thread Up, you can exchange clothes you don’t wear for something “new to you” through peer-to-peer, online trading. Without the hassle of bartering or auctioning, you can exchange a large sweater for a small dress-shirt and know you’re getting good condition items that aren’t out of style. It’s as easy as signing up, purchasing Thread Up packaging, sending items and receiving them in return! Talk about closet cleaning and shopping, all without leaving your computer! 

Thread Up doesn’t launch until August 1st, so start excavating your closets and get ready for some fashion trades! 

READ MORE ABOUT: Goodwill, Thread Up

Steven Meisel’s editorial for Vogue Italia April 2009 is basically the greatest game of dress-up you could ever imagine. Poking fun at our current economic crisis, “Fashion Bailout” portrays some intense mixing, matching and accessorizing at what appears to be a second hand store. While the clothes on Darya, Portia & Eliza are a mish-mosh of Moschino, Maison Martin Margiela, Roberto Cavalli and others, this spread suggests that you can look just as couture wearing Goodwill finds. But to be honest, I would have pegged this spread the brainchild of Carine Roitfeld over Franca Sozzani.

GALLERY: SPREAD UM: “Fashion Bailout” Vogue Italia April 2009

Thanks Fashion Copious! 

READ MORE ABOUT: Carine Roitfeld, Franca Sozzani, Goodwill, maison martin margiela, moschino, roberto cavalli, Steven Meisel, vogue italia

Though many designers cower in fear over the negative impact the economic recession could have over their designs, Cynthia Rowley made the best of it for her Fall 2009 collection. Focusing on accessories that could be worn with an existing wardrobe, Rowley crafted jewel covered leggings, wishbone necklaces and slouched leather boots with a keen eye. The clothes themselves, exuding a careless artist vibe, were less than appealing. Speckled silk frocks and and silk dresses with floral patchwork were chaotically busy, looking more like ancient Goodwill sweaters than runway ready pieces. Whoever attacked Rowley with the paint brush has some serious explaining to do. 

GALLERY: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Cynthia Rowley Fall 2009

LINKAGE: Style 

READ MORE ABOUT: Cynthia Rowley, Goodwill

Nike has asked Nancy Wu to design a remix project for the brand. I have to say, the results disappoint me. Her illustrations and such are so adorable, but I can’t figure out how she came up with these. Gladiator sneakers… really? I don’t see how these serve a purpose, whether fashion or function wise. It looks like the pair of Goodwill sneakers I tried to make cutouts in a few years ago. FAIL.

Thanks Highsnobette!

READ MORE ABOUT: BASH, gladiator, Goodwill, nancy wu, nike

Last Thursday Goodwill of Greater Washington hosted the Fashion of Goodwill runway show and silent auction at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C.  

Drawing on the influences of Parisian and modern styles, Alexandria-based designer Tu-Anh Nguyen styled the models with 70 outfits of clothing from Goodwill.  Some vintage designer pieces even popped up in the mix of used clothing.

The third annual event, “Under Paris Skies,” not only showed the area’s women how to get a good deal, but also encouraged supporting Goodwill’s mission of educating and employing the disabled.  

A nice gallery of the runway show is available at The Washington Post.

An ebay store for the DC Goodwill clothing is also up.

READ MORE ABOUT: Fashion of Goodwill, Goodwill, Tu-Anh Nguyen, Washington D.C.