Inspiration Comes in Many Forms...

Happy almost Friday everyone!
  Tonight is not my usual post because I'm trying to expand my pages on Good[will]Girl so instead of rambling on about an outfit I have or have seen, I wanted to pull together an Inspiration Board so there will always be new looks and latest trends to check out!  It's up in the tabs, right up there...so click it!

Polyvore Outfit Dupe

Good evening my lovely readers,
  As promised, today I have a Polyvore outfit dupe to show you just how easy it is to stay in style even when you're broke.   I have been so excited to do this feature and I hope to do it again soon! Here I have the look I made on my Polyvore iPhone app

  This look screams fall (my favorite) and I'm a maxi skirt kind of girl so this look is right up my alley.  Here's the catch, this exact outfit would cost me $497...let me say that again, $497!  I don't know about you, but for this girl $497 is an exorbitant amount of money for any outfit short of a wedding dress.  Let me say this, the look featured above consists of high quality items, the jacket is Guess and the boots are Born Concept but I still cannot condone making such a frivolous purchase.
  But never fear! Goodwill is here! Introducing an extremely similar outfit:

   And it cost me less than $30 for the entire outfit.   Plus, this is the best part, the shoes are Born Concept just like in the Polyvore version!  They retail for about $75 and I bought mine for $7.  While the skirt and belt are not exactly the same, the pattern and style of the duo make for a very nice equivalent.  Plus, the skirt and belt cost me a grand total of $4, while the original Piamita Sarah Long Skirt and Pieces Alexa Waisted Belt cost a combined total of $305.  Thank goodness for the GW.
  Also, I just want to remind everyone that it is a mere 5 days until 50% off day at Goodwill.  I am planning a special trip and all of you should too!
Until next time,
Happy Bargaining!

A New Way to Shop

Salutations and Hello!
  As I'm sure you have noticed, my blog is under some renovation of late.  I am still trying to figure out how I would like Good[will]Girl to look so please bear with me as I do some experimentation.  Please and thank you!
  What if I told you that there was an app that allows you to shop a plethora of different stores from all over the world to build your dream wardrobe while never leaving  the comfort of your cozy bed?  Enter Polyvore, the incredible fashion app that allows you to create and share outfits and collections all on your computer or iPhone.

  This is a shopping app, however the vast majority of it's users are people who simply have a love of fashion and wish to share their style with the rest of the world.  For me, Polyvore is a way I can compile outfits and play with different (sometimes crazy) combinations without the hassle of trying on a ridiculous number of clothes and visiting an insane amount of stores. 

  These are two examples of the kind of outfits waiting to be made on Polyvore.  While the finished outfits can easily break the bank by exceeding $1,000, I find that it is the best way to find my personal style and keep me inspired.  A black and white, patterned button down blouse is the same no matter whose name is on the tag.  Therefore, a $250 outfit can be duplicated for a tenth of the price without sacrificing style.  I have done it myself and I know you can too!  (Hint: Tune in Wednesday evening for my Polyvore outfit dupe)  You can check out my outfits on Polyvore at cvj1995 but there are several other users I recommend you follow should you choose to join the community.  Such as...peacockchic, kswirsding, and rusinn.  These are three of my favorite outfit makers in the Polyvore community.
Until next time,
Happy Bargaining!

Print problem...

Ok so those fabulous coupons are not printing properly :( I'm trying to get to the bottom of it now. Check back soon!

Fancy or Casual: That is the Question

Hey everybody!

  I hope all of you had an awesome and restful Sunday! I know I did.  Naptime = Good Day.  However, I did not waste my day away sleeping, instead I brainstormed a useful post for all you lovely folks to read because I just know, deep in my heart, your day is not complete without checking Good[will]Girl for a new post...
  So here are two looks with the exact same pieces but one is a I'm-just-running-out-for-coffee look and the other is a I'm-going-to-the-most-important-meeting-of-my-life look. 

  Here's outfit numero uno:

If you all haven't already noticed, I'm a bit of a nut for the sweater + cami combo.  I paired my floral cardigan with a plain white cami and my favorite textured pencil skirt.  I left myself lipstickless, kept my hair loose and down, and I kept my jewelry to a minimum size.  Look number two...Let's dress it up.

  Alright, so to dress up any outfit remember 3 things: tuck the shirt, cover your toes, accessorize to the max.  Let me break it down, by tucking in my shirt, I made my skirt the main attraction with my super cute bow belt.  I also pulled the waistline up because a high waisted skirt elongates the line of the legs. (And mine are very short.)  The next way to dress up a casual outfit is to cover your toes.  Bright nails peeking out of  sandals screams casual while closed toed flats or pumps will add an heir of sophistication to your look.  Finally, I took my simple pieces to the next level by wearing  statement jewelry that complemented the hint of green in my sweater.  In my opinion, wearing your hair up will also dress up your look, but it depends on the way you put it up.  A messy bun won't help you when it comes to making your outfit fancier, but a  neatly tucked bun + a fabulous shade of lipstick will complete the look.
  If any of you have a dressed up/down look you're proud of, let me know! I'd love to see your outfit creations.
Until Next Time,
Happy Bargaining!

Holy Moly: Quick Tip

Hey everyone,
  I had a super busy day today working at the Florida Baptist Children's Home so I am EXHAUSTED.  Nevertheless, I still wanted to take a minute to give you a tip concerning your purchases at goodwill, specifically t-shirt and knit top purchases.

  Okay, so we all have had this happen to us, our favorite t-shirt or knit top that we wear every time it's clean develops a cluster of little bitty holes right where it rubs on the waistband of our jeans.  Aggravating?  I think yes.
   As you can see in the photo above, I found this lovely red tank at the GW a few days ago.  It wasn't pilled at all and it felt so soft and I loved the color and I loved the cut and then...I inspected the cluster-of-little-bitty-holes area and to my dismay, there were holes.  *sigh*
  I want to warn you lovely people: always check this area when buying knits! I have no clue how to fix these pesky punctures, but nothing is more maddening buying a GW piece and finding a defect when you go to wear your new outfit.  Save yourself the trouble and check the cluster-of-little-bitty-hole prone area before you even try on your find.
Until Next Time,
Happy Bargaining!

GWF Friday

Hey everyone!
  Just wanted to say thanks for all the views, remember! I'm on Twitter and Pintrest so check it out and follow me for daily (and quirky) fashion inspiration.  Today's post has been a much anticipated post for me because its Friday FAIL vs FIND time.  Allow me to explain, every Friday I will be featuring a Goodwill FAIL that will help shed some light on why the GW is oft dismissed as a fashion travesty in the making.  So without further adieu my GWF for this week is...

Don't I just look breathtaking?  If your answer was yes, you need serious fashion help.  This horrific dress may have been considered pretty 30 years ago, but even that is a stretch.  The pattern is repulsive and the fabric was extremely uncomfortable, but in the dress's defense, well...no, there is no defending this dress.

In other news, here is the other half my GWF Friday: my FIND, this chunky woven drawstring bag!!  Three things about it: 1). It's gorgeous 2). It's funtional 3). It's gorgeous, nuff said.  Seriously though, I am obsessing over this superbly versatile and sturdy purse.  It has two handbag style handles but it also has a shoulder strap on the back that allows it to act like a one shoulder backpack. It's a two for one! The colors are also perfect for this autumn (my favorite time of the year) and it evokes a tribal feel that I just adore.
Until Next Time,
Happy Bargaining!
P.S. I'm almost over 500 views for Good[will]Girl! Thank you :)