#Goodwill is rent the runway for sweaters

[librarianpirate]

I own too many sweaters and I keep getting more from Goodwill (I see a chunky sweater with a half off tag and how can I resist?) so I'm making myself wear all my sweaters and if I don't want to wear one I can't keep it and have to give it away.

Today I'm wearing one of my favorites aesthetically but it's got a mock turtleneck and how can people ever stand having SOMETHING on their NECK? This is the worst and I hate it. But it's got these really great buttons on the wrists that made my car into a light show as I drove to work, and in the end isn't that worth it?

[dippedanddripped]

Remember when “secondhand” meant a trip to the Salvation Army for ugly sweater day? Or when “thrifting” (á la Macklemore) was picking up a wacky, sort-of-dirty fur thing from Goodwill that you’d probably never wear?

The advent of the luxury resale market—or “re-commerce” or consignment or whatever you want to call it—has changed what secondhand means. In today’s economy, pre-owned goods are a booming business, and they’re on the cusp of even more explosive growth.

The resale industry hit a milestone today as shares of the RealReal, a secondhand luxury retailer, started trading on Nasdaq after a blockbuster IPO. Priced at $20 a share, it jumped almost 50% in the first few minutes of trading after raising $300 million in the IPO.

The RealReal is known best for the resale of authenticated luxury goods from the Gucci, Chanel, and Hermès tier. While it doesn’t eschew lower range brands like J. Crew or Old Navy, the company credits luxury sales for most of its $207 million in revenue last year.

The RealReal is a leader in what appears to be a ballooning resale market. Indeed, its IPO follows the $1 billion valuation of StockX, an online marketplace that deals in sneaker resale. The company faces competition from London-based Depop, a Gen-Z-skewing venture that nabbed a $62 million investment in January. There’s also ThredUp, which has raised over $130 million since it was founded a decade ago.

According to a recent report from ThredUp itself, the $24 billion secondhand retail market is set to outpace fast fashion by 2028. And per CNBC, resale as a whole is projected to tick up to 45% of the entire retail market by 2023, more than doubling from its current 20%. It’s worth noting, however, that at present fast fashion retailers Zara and H&M are amongst the biggest fashion companies in the world. It would be surprising if they were dethroned at the pace projected.

Are we over new clothes?

Experts have speculated that today’s discerning shoppers, particularly the internet-savvy millennial and Gen-Z variety, are interested in premium goods. What they’re not interested in—and probably can’t afford given they haven’t reached their spending potential and are under substantially more financial pressure than previous generations—is breaking the bank to buy them.

There are also sustainability and ethical concerns when it comes to buying clothes from the $2.5 trillion fast fashion industry. In addition to exploitative practices, the environmental impact is staggering: Not only is the industry causing an environmental “emergency” thanks to it being one of the largest global users of water, but much of the low-cost clothing produced is quickly discarded and ends up in waterways and landfills, where its synthetic compounds can take hundreds or thousands of years to biodegrade.

All this considered, it seems that the stigma previously associated with secondhand goods is less relevant. Not only are shoppers more interested in buying things that already exist within the fashion ecosystem, they also want to save money, especially if it’s on something that could be a lasting investment, like a collectible sneaker or Hermès accessory.

Overall the idea of “ownership”—clothes, cars, art–is not what it used to be. Adding to the argument is the advent of clothing rental services, seminal amongst them Rent the Runway, which today announced a new drop-off partnership with Nordstrom. According to the company, its most active subscribers wear rented clothes more than 120 days (over 30%) of the year.

[soupoctave1-blog]

How To Dress Well If You are Curvy

Have you noticed that the models don’t look like you? I’m pretty sure I have never looked like a model because they tend to be very thin.

I get why fashion designers want a set type of person to design their clothes for. It is EASIER! If you have the same size woman every time you make a dress - you know how to make her look stunning.

Then there are the people that don’t fit those specs. How do you dress if you are not a perfect size 2?

First, I want to share that I know someone who is a size ZERO and she does not look good in everything she tries on.

I would think everything would look perfect on her but even she has trouble with waist size, pant length, and baggy sweaters. Finding clothes that make you look good is hard at any size.

I don’t actually have one set answer to this conundrum except for that you must accept is that you have the body you have. Spanx can only do so much and even then - I’m not sure they are a good thing.

When you look in the mirror look up! Stop staring at your butt, thighs, stomach, arm flab, etc. and look into your eyes. You are not perfect but you probably look a hell of a lot better than YOU think you do.

Here are a bunch of ideas that range from cheap to expensive on how to dress your curvy body.

GoodWill or the any thrift store near by will have all sorts of “interesting” clothes. I love GoodWill because I can always find something and I will take it home and discuss with family/friends whether I look good in it. If it looks horrible - I give it back! Reuse, recycle, and support a non-profit. How can you go wrong?

Target - I wrote an entire piece on the Target mannequins and their shape.

Somehow, Target got the message that we aren’t all the same type! I have not tried on these clothes but I am guessing they would fit. Go every season and see what works. It is funny, every once in a while I find myself complimenting a friend on her look and then I find out she bought it at Target. They have some cute stuff.

Stitch Fix - Stitch Fix is an online service where a stylist sends you clothes and you decide if you want to buy them. I have to admit that I have never tried it because I am the most boring dresser in the world but this is a really good review: Stitch Fix Review. The blogger is a curvy woman and she shoots photos of herself in all the outfits.

You pay a $20 styling fee and a stylist sends you a box of clothes. You can buy things that you like and the $20 goes toward the purchase of anything in the box.

This seems like a low cost way to get some help in looking good. You do have to work a bit to share your favorite types of clothes to help the stylist find good stuff for. Also, you don’t have to go shopping!! Someone else does it for you. How cool is that?

Rent The Runway is a service that has clothes for larger sizes and YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY THEM. You can rent all the outfits you want for about $170 per month and then send them back. No cleaning, no fixing the buttons, and if it is hideous - don’t wear it.

I rented a dress for $60 (including shipping) and it was a smash. Would I have worn it again? I’m not sure but it wouldn’t have cost $60.

What I really love is the photos of all the different people trying on the clothes. Even if you can’t afford RTR, go to the site Rent the Runway and check out how different body types look in different outfits. You may be able to figure out what would look best on you by looking at the photos!

This is all I’ve got right now other than “keep on shopping” and “don’t buy anything that you don’t love because it is on sale”.

How do you find clothes that work for you? Please share. I am sure we could all use your suggestions!

Source: https://snack-girl.com/snack/how-dress-well-if-you-are-curvy/

[lilylink9-blog]

How To Dress Well If You are Curvy

Have you noticed that the models don’t look like you? I’m pretty sure I have never looked like a model because they tend to be very thin.

I get why fashion designers want a set type of person to design their clothes for. It is EASIER! If you have the same size woman every time you make a dress - you know how to make her look stunning.

Then there are the people that don’t fit those specs. How do you dress if you are not a perfect size 2?

First, I want to share that I know someone who is a size ZERO and she does not look good in everything she tries on.

I would think everything would look perfect on her but even she has trouble with waist size, pant length, and baggy sweaters. Finding clothes that make you look good is hard at any size.

I don’t actually have one set answer to this conundrum except for that you must accept is that you have the body you have. Spanx can only do so much and even then - I’m not sure they are a good thing.

When you look in the mirror look up! Stop staring at your butt, thighs, stomach, arm flab, etc. and look into your eyes. You are not perfect but you probably look a hell of a lot better than YOU think you do.

Here are a bunch of ideas that range from cheap to expensive on how to dress your curvy body.

GoodWill or the any thrift store near by will have all sorts of “interesting” clothes. I love GoodWill because I can always find something and I will take it home and discuss with family/friends whether I look good in it. If it looks horrible - I give it back! Reuse, recycle, and support a non-profit. How can you go wrong?

Target - I wrote an entire piece on the Target mannequins and their shape.

Somehow, Target got the message that we aren’t all the same type! I have not tried on these clothes but I am guessing they would fit. Go every season and see what works. It is funny, every once in a while I find myself complimenting a friend on her look and then I find out she bought it at Target. They have some cute stuff.

Stitch Fix - Stitch Fix is an online service where a stylist sends you clothes and you decide if you want to buy them. I have to admit that I have never tried it because I am the most boring dresser in the world but this is a really good review: Stitch Fix Review. The blogger is a curvy woman and she shoots photos of herself in all the outfits.

You pay a $20 styling fee and a stylist sends you a box of clothes. You can buy things that you like and the $20 goes toward the purchase of anything in the box.

This seems like a low cost way to get some help in looking good. You do have to work a bit to share your favorite types of clothes to help the stylist find good stuff for. Also, you don’t have to go shopping!! Someone else does it for you. How cool is that?

Rent The Runway is a service that has clothes for larger sizes and YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY THEM. You can rent all the outfits you want for about $170 per month and then send them back. No cleaning, no fixing the buttons, and if it is hideous - don’t wear it.

I rented a dress for $60 (including shipping) and it was a smash. Would I have worn it again? I’m not sure but it wouldn’t have cost $60.

What I really love is the photos of all the different people trying on the clothes. Even if you can’t afford RTR, go to the site Rent the Runway and check out how different body types look in different outfits. You may be able to figure out what would look best on you by looking at the photos!

This is all I’ve got right now other than “keep on shopping” and “don’t buy anything that you don’t love because it is on sale”.

How do you find clothes that work for you? Please share. I am sure we could all use your suggestions!

Source: https://snack-girl.com/snack/how-dress-well-if-you-are-curvy/

[likesandlaunch]

You read Marie Kondo, now what to wear?

Congratulations, you’ve now unlocked the “Life Changing Habits of Tidying Up” according to Marie Kondo. You’ve folded sweaters nicely and created a huge pile of things that when held, do not spark joy. Your life is more zen and your items are thanked everyday, but you’re still trying to figure out what to wear. Owning a variety of clothes is the NYC way, but so is tiny closet space. 

Fear not, I too have read the book and found great ways to extend a smaller wardrobe and sell the items that will be left behind. Here are the services that can help you do the same: 

Rent instead of own: 

Rent the Runway - Rent the Runway unlimited is like a magic closet of 1,000s of designer pieces. For less than the cost of a designer dress, you get access to 4 items at a time for a whole month. If you live in NYC, you can even pick things out in person so you don’t have to wait for the UPS truck. I love the service, especially in the summer when there are so many great dresses. I switch the service on and off for periods of time, depending on my mood for trying out new styles, or saving money to invest in pieces to own. [Get $30 off your first order]

Le Tote - I tried the service years ago but didn’t find the quality as high as Rent the Runway, even though it’s at a similar price point. I dress more casual in the workplace so a lot of the business casual items were not part of my totes. Women looking for maternity wear may be in luck, as friends rave about the service as a way to extend a wardrobe during pregnancy and maternity without buying all new clothes. 

Give clothes a second life: 

Poshmark - My sister inspired me to check out Poshmark as a way to sell good condition clothes to a huge community of fellow fashion seekers. It doesn’t hurt that she made hundreds of dollars just getting rid of things she didn’t wear anymore. I’ve now used the site to sell my own clothes and find the extra work of snapping good photos can really pay off. I’ve been using the proceeds of sales to invest in higher quality staple pieces. Great for shopping or selling. [Use my link for $5 credit after your first purchase.] 

ThredUp - ThredUp is the lower effort, lower reward Poshmark. You can sell your clothes simply by putting them in a bag and sending them off. The ThredUp team will review your items and offer you around 20% of the profits, which means a blouse sold for $56, netted me $11 in consignment dollars. Not bad! But most items they’ve accepted sold for $10-20, resulting in $1-2 per piece. Not a place to make the big bucks, but an easy way to get items out of your closet and into a good home. [Use this link for $10 credit after your first order.]

Shop second hand items, price goes to charity:  

Goodwill & Salvation Army - These shops are not all created equal. Many have a slight smell or a whole wall of shirts in ever color of the rainbow, but somehow none in your size. It’s a treasure hunt for shoppers which is my favorite part. From old items to perfect designer labels, most things get priced by the type of item, not it’s value. If you’re open to digging, and don’t mind if they sometimes don’t have dressing rooms, then this is a great place to find one of a kind items that you’ll keep for years to come. Or if you aren’t into the hunt, you can always drop off your donations to support two great nonprofit causes. 

Housing Works Thrift Shop - If you’re in NYC, the housing works thrift shops are a must for higher end clothing and used furniture. The stores are highly curated and have an active set of buyers which means inventory changes daily. All of the proceeds benefit AIDs research and individuals living with AIDS. 

Live lighter, go greener, and look fabulous 

Pick one or all of the choices above, and you’re already smashing your 2019 goals: Clearing your closets Give back to charities Going green by reducing fabric waste Happy 2019 to you! 

It’s 2019, and you still haven’t read Marie Kondo’s “Life Changing Habits of Tidying Up” book? Use your library card and the Overdrive app to check out a free ebook or audiobook copy. You’ll already have a jumpstart on your clutter free mission! 

[fashiontrendin-blog]

How To Clean Out Your Closet: What To Ditch And What To Keep

http://fashion-trendin.com/how-to-clean-out-your-closet-what-to-ditch-and-what-to-keep/

How To Clean Out Your Closet: What To Ditch And What To Keep

Cleaning out your closet can seem like a daunting task. Getting rid of your clothes, even if you haven’t worn them in years (and years, and years) isn’t easy. If crop tops, chokers and full-on tracksuits can become trendy again, so can that bandage dress you bought in 2005, right? 

But sometimes you just need to let things go, and there’s nothing like a good closet purge to give you and your style a fresh start for the year ahead. 

Not sure where to start? We got some tips from Rent The Runway’s style director, Blaire Rabenhorst.

Keep The Basics

The things you want to keep in your closet are staples and basics, or “the everyday pieces you can incorporate with those trendy items that happen throughout each season,” Rabenhorst told HuffPost. 

When you’re looking at your closet and debating what to get rid of, Rabenhorst suggested taking a good look at what you’re working with to determine which pieces are “seasonless.” For instance, denim, collared button ups, plain sweaters, T-shirts, leggings and tank tops are all items that won’t really go out of style, Rabenhorst suggested.

Other items that are great to keep are layering pieces like thinner turtlenecks or long sleeve T-shirts that are can be worn under dresses or tank tops. Layering can add interest and texture to any outfit. 

A classic leather (or faux leather) jacket and at least one warm coat (if you live in an area that gets cold weather) are two other closet staples to keep. 

When it comes to shoes, they can have a pretty long shelf life, and much like items of clothing, can be defined as either classic or trendy. For example, a great pair of black pumps is a must-have, but those satin peep-toes with a 2-inch platform are probably safe to toss. Beyond that, shoes have the ability to transform even the simplest of outfits, so it’s easier to justify keeping them, in our humble opinion. (Unless, of course, they’re damaged beyond repair. Then you should toss them.) 

What To Ditch

Once you’ve decided on the things worth keeping, it’s time to start purging. 

“Things you purge, for me, are those crazy pieces I’ve only worn three times in my lifetime, and have been sitting in the back of my closet taking up space,” Rabenhorst said, admitting, “I’m definitely guilty of looking at those items and thinking, ‘Oh, that was a great memory, but I haven’t worn it in 5 years.’ I just need to bite the bullet and get rid of the pieces that have gone out of style, or [that I] haven’t worn in many years, and are just taking up space.” 

Rabenhorst also shared her personal rule for when it comes to cleaning out her closet: “If I haven’t worn it in a year, I need to get rid of it.” 

Other pieces you can ditch are things you have duplicates of (except the jeans, because like we said, you can never have too many pairs). For example, if you’ve got five white button-downs in your closet, why not try getting rid of (at least) one or two? Trust us, you won’t miss them. 

You also shouldn’t keep items that you hope will eventually be back in style. Some trends (ahem, bandage dresses) just need to die. Additionally, as Rent the Runway suggests, if there’s a piece in your closet you’ve worn to every big event for the past few years ― weddings, cocktail parties, work parties ― it might be time to replace it with something else. Treat yo self! 

Finally, if you’re holding on to clothes that don’t make you feel great when you wear them, it’s probably a good idea to let go of them ― that includes your workout gear. Wearing clothes that actually make you feel strong and confident can make a big difference when you’re heading to the gym. You should feel confident in your clothes! 

What To Do Next

Once you’ve determined which pieces to keep and which to ditch, there are a few things you can do with your “ditch” pile. 

First, you can donate your items to charitable organizations like Goodwill or The Salvation Army, as they’re always happy to accept gently used clothing. If some of the pieces you’re getting rid of are too worn out or damaged to donate, they can still be recycled and perhaps turned into new textiles or be used for insulation. 

You can also try setting up clothing swaps with your friends. If you’re looking to add some new pieces to your wardrobe after clearing some extra space, swaps are also a great way to find some gems.

Another thing you can do is sign up for a clothing rental service like Rent The Runway. This month, the company partnered with Give Back Box and is providing subscribers with prepaid shipping labels to donate clothing to charity. 

Lastly, there’s always the option to consign your clothes, especially if you’re getting rid of any designer items in good condition that you don’t just want to give away. 

Now that you’re equipped with the tips, go forth and clean that closet.