Thrifting for 60s style
The hit show “Mad Men” has brought the fashion of the late 1960s back into view and sent fans racing to thrift ships in search of vintage items. Here are tips for recreating this glamorous look at Goodwill without blowing your budget.
Major fashion trends in the late 1960s were the youthful and stylish hippie and mod looks. The hippie look was loose-fitting and free-spirited, while the mod look was sexy, slim and sleek. Both looks are easy to imitate with a few key pieces.
For the hippie look, look for hip-hugger or bell bottom jeans, voluminous blouses in floral prints and sandals. Other staples that communicate the “peace, love and freedom” movement include tie-dyed shirts, headbands, ponchos, polka dot-printed fabrics and long, puffed “bubble” sleeves. Colorful, psychedelic prints also came about during this era. Women’s hair was usually loose, flowing and long.
The mod look was characterized by sleek, form-fitting clothing. Mod dresses and skirts are A-line and either mid-thigh length or just below the knee. The iconic mod look was a boldly-colored and printed shift dress paired with go-go boots. Search for blouses or sweaters with ¾ length sleeves in typical mod colors (primarily white and black, but bright yellow, orange and pink can be incorporated as well). Go for crazy patterns or stripes with lines that pop. Chunky knee- or ankle-high boots complete the look. Pants for men were classic, slim-fitting black trousers or Levi’s jeans. The perfect example of the mod look in men can be seen in the early images of The Beatles.
For a classic 1960s look, a sleeveless or short-sleeve sheath dress is the easiest purchase for a period-appropriate feel. Tie a scarf around your neck, add a cocktail ring and a pair of kitten heels, and you’re set.
Elizabeth Isenhour
What’s your favorite fashion era?
Earth Day Every Day
All around the world, people and families are celebrating Earth Day today. Here at Goodwill, we invite you to join us and other green-minded organizations in practicing environmentally-conscious efforts all year. Here are three ways you can help:
Host a Donation Drive
Goodwill donation drives are an easy opportunity to give back to the community while protecting our planet. By collecting gently-used donations, you are reducing the amount of garbage that ends up in our landfills. Shoppers complete the cycle by purchasing these used items and extending their useful life. What if a donated item isn’t sold? Goodwill is able to sell some items for salvage, and those items are then recycled into new items or sent to other countries for processing or purchase.
Become More Energy Efficient
Adding energy-efficient features to your home can save you hundreds of dollars per month and reduce electricity use. Goodwill Construction Services recently partnered with Habitat Charlotte to restore a foreclosed home into a model of energy efficiency for affordable housing. This general contractor service of Goodwill also offers its energy efficient/weatherization services to residential and business clients in the community. Affordable upgrades on the menu include special roofing and siding, low-flow water fixtures, compact fluorescent lighting and drought-resistant landscaping.
Recycle Electronics
Did you know that one of Goodwill’s most successful social enterprises is its electronic recycling program? Last year in our community alone, 3.8 million pounds of computers and related items were recycled, generating $1.2 million in revenue and providing valuable paid work opportunities for people with barriers to employment.
Our Dell Reconnect partnership makes it easy for you to recycle your used computer or electronics equipment. Simply drop off your donation, working or not, at any of our donation sites and we’ll make sure they are recycled responsibly. Goodwill refurbishes and resells some systems in working condition, creating green jobs to further support our mission of helping people find jobs by providing education, training and career services. In addition, this program allows Goodwill customers to purchase modern technology at an affordable cost at our ComputerWorks store.
Elizabeth Isenhour
How did you celebrate Earth Day 2013?
Guest Post: Spring Clean Your Clutter Away
The time has come! No more telling yourself that you’ll clean the house tomorrow only to find that “tomorrow” never comes. Relax. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be done all at once. By focusing on time management, cleaning in intervals and a positive attitude, you can get the job done. Follow these four simple steps to organizing your living space:
- Set a realistic goal of when you would like to finish your spring cleaning. Whether your goal is a week or a month away, you’ll feel less pressured if you clean in stages.
- Go around your house and gather all the items you haven’t used or worn in more than a year.
- Make a checklist of specific tasks to complete during your spring cleaning. Grab your cleaning products and tools, turn on some music, start cleaning and have fun!
- Donate to Goodwill those items you’re no longer using. Donating will not only declutter your house, but it will also help the community by supporting Goodwill’s mission of Changing Lives Through the Power of Work. Happy Spring Cleaning!
Jessica Humphrey is a volunteer in the Marketing & Communications department at Goodwill.
Second Helping Coffee Stand Now Open at Goodwill
Goodwill hosted a grand opening celebration on March 4 of Second Helping’s newest location of its mission-focused coffee stands at our Career Development Center (2122 Freedom Drive). The coffee stand is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and features freshly roasted coffee and light fare such as pastries, sandwiches and salads.
Second Helping of Charlotte gives formerly incarcerated women a fresh start by putting them to work at their local coffee stands. In an economy where finding employment is already challenging, women with criminal backgrounds face even more obstacles to finding stable and secure jobs, despite being rehabilitated. Second Helping cafes are run by Changed Choices, a nonprofit organization that provides counseling and support services to help train, empower and employ these women.
“The community support for our charitable mission has been nothing short of outstanding,” said Tim Mollenkopf, Second Helping’s owner. “Many of the women we employ work a tremendous amount of hours while incarcerated and they are eager to put the experience they acquired to good use. Supporting our coffee stands offers women additional skills that will help them achieve financial self-sufficiency through family-sustaining employment.”
Elizabeth Isenhour
Come check out Second Helping next time you’re in the building!
Tax Assistance is Here!
Tax season is here and like a Facebook relationship, “it’s complicated.” Here’s how you can get answers to your questions and free tax preparation services from Goodwill right now.
Qualified Mecklenburg County residents can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help them file their tax returns. Under this volunteer-run service, IRS-certified tax preparers will file returns for individuals or families with an adjusted gross income of $51,000 or less. Goodwill is now operating a VITA site at its Career Development Center (2122 Freedom Drive, Charlotte) through Saturday, April 13. The site is open by appointment only each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for walk-ins. Review our checklist to make sure you bring the appropriate documents with you.
Goodwill has also partnered with MyFreeTaxes to provide free state and federal tax preparation and filing assistance for qualified individuals or families with an adjusted gross income of $57,000 or less. The MyFreeTaxes online software has helped 4.5 million families claim nearly $6 billion in tax credits and refunds since 2009. All you need to get started is a valid email address and these documents.
Elizabeth Isenhour
The 2013 tax deadline is April 15. Don’t pay someone to do your taxes if you qualify for one of these free services. Help us by spreading the word about our tax assistance programs with your friends and family, neighbors and co-workers.
FreeMoreWest 5K on the Greenway to Benefit Goodwill
Runners, do you love twilight races and great food? Register today for the first annual FreeMoreWest 5K on the Greenway to benefit Goodwill and our mission of Changing Lives Through the Power of Work. The 5K will take place on Friday, April 12 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Registration and a family-friendly festival after the race will take place at 1410 W. Morehead Street in the Yoga for Life and Uptown Cycles parking lots.
The 5K kicks off at 6:00 p.m. at the corner of Woodruff Place and Freedom Drive and will run along the Irwin Creek Greenway between Ray’s Splash Planet and Wesley Heights. A Fun Run for kids will follow at 6:30 p.m. at the entrance to the greenway.
The post-race festivities will feature music and food and craft brews, including a diverse sampling from Charlotte’s best food trucks and local breweries such as The Roaming Fork (voted Charlotte’s Best Food Truck 2012 by QC Exclusive), Roots Farm Food and Triple C Brewing, South End’s newest brewery.
Elizabeth Isenhour
More information about FreeMoreWest 5K on the Greenway is available on Facebook and Twitter. Tweet us at #fmw5K!
Hidden Treasures: Sports Memorabilia
It’s almost like a scavenger hunt. Finding hidden treasures in a thrift store is fun, especially when you have someone to share the find with! Check out this unique set of sports memorabilia that was donated to our Ballantyne store.
Included in the picture are all Dan Marino (Hall of Fame Miami Dolphins Quarterback #13) items:
• Signed pro helmet ($129.99) and pro football ($79.99)
• Signed stats football ($59.99)
• Signed and authenticated Pro Football Magazine Cover ($99.99)
• Starting Lineup rookie edition figurine ($9.99)
• Danbury Mint figurine ($24.99)
• Upper Deck 23kt gold card ($9.99)
• Sports Illustrated Collectible figurine ($29.99)
• Bobblehead Doll ($49.99)
• Pro Jersey ($39.99)
Don’t forget to check out your local Goodwill store for other amazing hidden treasures!
