Steve Clark

It doesn’t feel like holiday season without some glitter. Black and gold are my favorite colors, so I naturally stuck with this color palette. The highlight of this look is definitely the pleated metallic skirt. Since the skirt is high-waisted, I paired it with my Are You Am I crop top. Unlike the skirt, which was only $6.99, the top was a major splurge. It’s actually one of the most expensive items I own. Even with a discount, it cost about $116. You probably think I’m insane for spending this much on a top, let alone a cropped one, but I had been eying it months before I bought it. I really appreciate its cut, construction, and hand-feel. The knock-offs I saw were missing that crisp square neckline and low-cut back. This top was made from a soft and cozy fiber, called modal, and the long sleeves make it more winter-friendly. To reflect the sheen of my skirt, I kept my jewelry gold-toned. Ever since I followed Jenn Im on YouTube, she ingrained the idea in me that ...

Sophie McGuire is a 17-year-old blogger living her best life in Highland Park. You can find her shopping at Highland Park Village, taking pictures for her fashion blog, Much Love Sophie, or for her Instagram, which has close to 16,000 followers. We asked McGuire to meet in a thrift store at the back of a store complex next to a pet feed store, so she could put looks together for us ratty folks who don't know designer names from French menu items. Genesis Benefit Thrift Store is hidden in a back parking lot and doesn’t have much of a storefront. It has moving trucks with boxes scattered about, second-hand furniture placed at random in front of the doors, while every sign is faded. McGuire doesn’t quite know where to go, pulling up from her house in Highland Park a few minutes to the north. The fashionista shows up in a lacy white dress and bright pink shoes, with purple eye shadow placed expertly around her lash line. She’s bright and sunny, and as she makes...

If everyone in the U.S. recycled their clothing and textiles for one year instead of throwing them away, it would save 30.6 million metric tons of carbon emissions. That’s the same as taking all the cars in Los Angeles off the road for one year. So how can you keep clothes out of the landfill? Here are your best options: Sell Are your unwanted clothes still valuable? For-profit secondhand stores are a quick and easy way to cash in. In addition to selling locally, there are also national chains, including Buffalo Exchange, Plato’s Closet, Clothes Mentor and Once Upon a Child. Donate If you think your clothes may not be new enough to sell, donating locally is an easy way to give your wardrobe future use. Check whether an organization takes only gently used items or items in any condition — they can easily be a one stop shop for all your old clothes. You have two choices when it comes to donating garments: Non-profit o...

 Giving Your Clothes New Life With spring cleaning on everyone’s minds, we are more conscious than ever about the things we own. Many times, we are often left wondering what to do with clothes that no longer fit or have already seen their share of wear and tear. Luckily, there are more than enough ways to be mindful and sustainable when ridding ourselves of what we no longer need - here are 10 ways we can give our clothes a second life and make an impact. 1. Host a garage sale & donate the proceeds We’re feeling nostalgic thinking back to our neighborhood block parties and garage sales - and these small town events are a fun and easy way to give away your old clothes and turn a profit. If possible, we encourage you to donate the proceeds to organizations like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, or your local branch of the International Rescue Committee. 2. Directly support those in need locally If you’re looking to support refugees, newly immigrated families, or t...

If you’re following the Marie Kondo home organization method, you may be familiar with the term “spark joy.” According to a recent Good Housekeeping article , the proper steps of Marie Kondo’s Konmari method are: Commit yourself to tidying up. Imagine your ideal lifestyle. Finish discarding first. Before getting rid of items, sincerely thank each item for serving its purpose. Tidy by category, not location. Follow the right order. Ask yourself if it sparks joy. One of the unique aspects of this method is that Marie Kondo places emphasis on respecting the items you own, even if you plan to donate them. She encourages people to “thank” each item for the joy it has given them before placing it in a donation pile. Each person in your household should commit to cleaning out their own closet. Designate an area in the room for donations. Each item you place in the pile should be thanked before it’s tossed aside. Before you know it, you’ll have piles of trash bags rea...

Many homeowners are turning to DIY projects when it comes to upgrading the design of their home. Many times, doing something yourself can save you money versus hiring a professional. Cosmetic upgrades for your home are a great example.  Decorating a home on a budget is not always easy. Finding things you love, while not overspending can seem like an impossible task. With a little bit of DIY creativity, you can turn gently used items into beautiful home decor pieces. If you’re looking for affordable furniture finds, shopping at a thrift store is the best place to start.  You can achieve your favorite home design style for a lot less by shopping at a thrift shop in Destin, FL . A lot of times we receive items that are great quality, but simply need a little DIY love.  Dining Chairs The mismatched look for a kitchen dining table is a popular trend in home design. All you need is two to four quality chairs with a solid base. They don’t have to hav...

Whether your child is into hot pink hearts or a black and yellow bumblebee, these Valentine’s Day box ideas are bound to spark some creativity. Head to thrift shops in Panama City Beach, FL to go on the hunt for the perfect vintage box! What is a Valentine’s Day box? The Valentine’s Day box is a fun American tradition that entails children bringing an empty decorated box to school in order to collect Valentine’s Day cards from their classmates and teachers. Some adults even like to make a Valentine’s Day box for their boyfriend or girlfriend to wrap a gift in or use it in place of a card. How do I make a Valentine’s Day box? Creating a Valentine’s Day box is a fun activity for young kids to make at home with their parents and siblings. The trick is to get as crafty as you can, which usually means spending the least amount of money. Using knick-knacks and creative supplies you find around your house is the best way to decorate your box. As for the actual box, y...

Thrift Store  fashion is all about finding unique items for less and feeling accomplished when you discover a great fashion find. Fashionistas love to scour the racks for designer tags and unique vintage clothing. The great thing about shopping for fashion at a thrift store is the variety of styles and seasons available all in one place. Read on to learn the secrets to finding thrift store fashion at Goodwill. What are some fashion items that shoppers have scored at Goodwill? Ask anyone who shops at Goodwill and they could go on and on about all the great finds they’ve uncovered. We’ve heard of shoppers finding designer handbags with the tags still on, and even a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes. What should Goodwill shoppers look for? Keep an eye out for quality brands that are normally more expensive when you buy them brand new. When you find them at Goodwill you are paying a quarter of the price for something that’s still in great condition and still has man...

The benefits go beyond the joy of the hunt. My favorite piece of furniture in my home is a wide Montauk sofa with six enormous feather-filled cushions on a solid pine frame covered in white canvas. Sitting on it feels like sinking into a duvet. The best part of all? I found it on a local swap site for $100; the original sofa would have cost thousands. There's really something to be said for buying furniture second-hand. As Lindsay Miles writes on her zero-waste lifestyle blog, Treading My Own Path, the benefits go well beyond the joy of the hunt. Here's why you should consider go the thrifty route when you need something, rather than hitting up a new furniture store. 1. It can be high quality stuff. Because a piece of furniture is second-hand, it has already survived the test of time. Really good furniture should last for decades, even a century or more. If the frame is solid, it may only need some basic restoration to look amazing. And all of that comes (...

There is no household area that doesn’t suit the warmth, richness, comfort and finesse of wooden furniture. Tables, chairs, bed frames, shelves, chests of drawers, cupboards and even ornaments—the advantages of wooden furniture in the home cannot be overstated. Most of all, wood offers a unique combination of aesthetic appeal and peerless structural integrity that other materials can’t reflect. As part of nature-connected interior design, wood can transform the mood of a room or entire house, creating a homely, welcoming feel and a truly 'organic' sense. It’s also not a fad—this material and has been used for furniture construction for generations upon generations, and as such offers a timeless quality that cannot be replicated. All the reasons why using wood is the best choice for furniture would make a long and detailed list, but here are some of the principal ways any furniture scheme can benefit from incorporating a wooden touch. Strength and durabil...

For the longest time, I misunderstood the world of second-hand shops. I assumed that all shops gathered their inventory by buying goods from people directly, or from donations. I was completely oblivious to consignments . I also was completely unaware that online marketplaces like craigslist, Amazon, and eBay are also considered second-hand shops. It turns out there are four types of second-hand shops – consignment, pawn, classified and thrift. The difference between each one comes down to: When you relinquish ownership of the physical possessions When you are paid Whether someone helps you sell your items Consignment Consignment is when a shop sells goods for an owner. The owner keeps ownership of his item until it sells, if it sells. As the owner, you’d pay a small fee to the shop as compensation for them selling your item. For example, you consign a children’s bicycle for $20. Generally, when they sell your bicycle, they take their 50% or $10. You receive $...

Strategies such as extreme couponing, waiting for sales, and shopping at your local dollar store can save you money on products you need. But don’t overlook the humble second-hand store as a great way to save a lot of money on brand name items. Effective thrift store shopping takes time, but you can find beautiful, functional items for your home and wardrobe without breaking the bank. In addition, when you shop at charity thrift stores, you can support worthy organizations that help your less fortunate neighbors. Since I’m in the process of losing weight while living on a relatively modest income, I’ve recently learned to tap local thrift stores for cute clothes I can wear during my size transition without busting my budget. I’m not crazy about spending $50 on a skirt I can only wear a few times before having to pay for alterations. So I recently bought three very cute, almost-new skirts for less than $3 each from my local thrift shop. Even if I pay to alter the ite...

The case for thrift store shopping is a strong one: You can score great pieces on the cheap while doing your part to help your community and decrease your own environmental impact. But while thrift shopping might make you feel your best, secondhand clothes don’t always make you look your best. Clothes that are worn, faded, out-of-season, and just plain cheap can give your secondhand secret away. Therefore, it is important that you do your best to make the most of your thrift store finds. By ensuring that you select quality pieces and take proper care, you can fool anyone into thinking that you bought your outfit at the mall, just like everyone else. Dressing Up Thrift Store Finds I love the fact that thrift and secondhand shopping is becoming more en vogue. It means that shoppers are becoming a little more conscious of how and where they spend their money, while acknowledging that clothes don’t necessarily lose their value just because they were pre-loved. Use t...

I began thrift-store shopping about the same time I began buying my own clothes. The inexpensive, one-of-a-kind gems I discovered by scrounging through piles of dusty garments made the whole endeavor seem more like a real treasure hunt than any of the simulations computer games offered. I’ve been hooked ever since. Thrifting has become such a way of life for me that I sometimes forget there are people who have yet to succumb to its charms. But since I claimed thrifting as the most morally responsible mode of shopping in a recent post, it seems fitting to outline why I believe this is true. Why thrift? Environmental impact Re-wearing clothes reduces waste and pollution. Every garment purchased second-hand means one less new one produced, which is important because regardless of material, the production of clothing is costly to the environment. Producing synthetic fibers like polyester requires lots of energy, as well as crude oil like petroleum; byproducts inclu...