News And Reviews: Savers of Willow Grove, PA

#RethinkResuse

At long last, a Savers has made its way to the Keystone State. And being the dedicated thrift shopper that I am, I simply had to visit this brand, spankin' new location. While I would've loved to attend the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the grand opening back in April, the day job made that impossible. But I was able to make it after the initial fanfare ended, and I was pleasantly surprised to find good reason to celebrate this new secondhand venue. 

A far cry from the dimly lit, and sometimes dingy interior of your every day thrift store, Savers features a bright, cheerful sales floor that is as creatively staged as it is organized. While some thrifters aren't opposed to digging in unsorted bins for buried treasures, we sometimes long for something more akin to the standard retail experience. And enter the Savers of Willow Grove, PA.

A display worthy of donations.

Right at the entrance, you can see the care in which the Savers company takes to provide their customers with a pleasant shopping experience. It's cute. It's quirky. And it definitely aims to cash in on the DIY/boho/Pinterest-obsessed trend that is opening thrift store doors to a whole new clientele. 

Photo courtesy of Savers. 

From the clean and organized fixtures, to the shabby chic signage all around the store, this Savers has a truly fun thrift shopping atmosphere. Oh did I mention organized? I mean ORGANIZED. If you're looking for affordable new-to-you fashion,  you'll find it arranged by garment size and by garment style---which makes for a convenient shopping trip if you're searching for something specific. 

And their plus size department? You won't find one. Because larger sizes are included within the women's and men's clothing department, respectively. No longer are we crammed into sad, small sections of the store. I could do a victory dance right down the aisles. And maybe I did. Don't judge me.

Photo courtesy of Savers.

Re-Style. Reuse. Rethink. Savers is all about the 'Re' And if you take the time to peruse their website, you will see why. 

According to their company mission, "Reuse is Savers' reason for being. With the average American throwing out 81 pounds of textiles each year, 95% of which could have been given a second life, Savers gives shoppers the power to build a wardrobe on a budget, while reducing the impact on the planet." Those are staggering numbers to consider. And while every thrift store's primary goal is to dually the fund the community and lessen the landfills, I'm not sure any thrift stores are speaking with such conviction. Their social media accounts are a visual testament to their cause---providing interested parties with both statistics on global waste and thrifty tips on how to make secondhand style work for anyone. 

Photo courtesy of Savers.

But enough about what's on the hangers. Because this Savers of Willow Grove, PA has even more to offer. Books (and just look at this display near their book section), housewares, electronics, toys, accessories, bric-a-brac, jewelry... it's all here. And it's all in near-mint condition with fair prices. And what's more? A second Pennsylvania location will be opening later this year!

Undoubtedly this thrift store will draw a consistent crowd of eager thrift shoppers looking for secondhand bargains. But if you're a conscientious thrift shopper, like myself, you might be wondering what your secondhand finds fund at the community level. 

Well, the Willow Grove Savers has a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters through the Clothes For Kids' Sake program, which funds community and school-based initiatives that provide children facing adversity with compassionate and caring adult mentors. When members of the community donate their goods to Clothes for Kids’ Sake at Savers’ on-site Community Donation Center, Savers pays Clothes for Kids’ Sake for those items, even if those items don't make it to the sales floor.Through this partnership, Clothes for Kids’ Sake receives a steady source of income that it distributes to local youth mentoring agencies like Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region.

And with an estimated 10,000 items stocked on the Savers sales floor every day, that's a whole lot of thrifting for a good cause. 

Photo courtesy of Savers. 

So if you're looking to lessen the landfill, if you're looking for an alternative to fast-fashion that only harms the environment, if you're looking for thrifting with a mission...visit the Willow Grove, PA Savers. 

Many thanks to Olivia Tinsley from Savers for providing photos and additional information for this review. 

Secondhand Style: How To Dress For Less At The Thrift Store

And I will shout my style secret from the mountaintop. 

I remember a time, way back in my early days of thrifting, when I would collect a compliment with hesitation. When being asked where I got a certain shirt or skirt, and I answered "I got it at the thrift store." The conversation would screech to a halt right then and there---with the inquiring party unsure how to continue the conversation knowing that I (gasp) got it at Goodwill. 

Fast forward some fifteen years later and the conversation has changed entirely. Now people want to know which thrift stores I frequent, what the inventory is like, how often I go...and...

How, oh how, do I find such fabulous things at the thrift store? 

And since the focus of this particular blog post is secondhand style, I've decided to share a photo spread and a few thrifty tips on how to make the thrift store your go-to place for fashion.

I shall call this look 'The Sassy Librarian.'

Don't be afraid of color and texture.

I think this outfit works for a few reasons. The powder blue shirt and fuchsia shirt compliment each other. The charcoal gray blazer is a neutral, and the skinny salmon colored belt just ties it all together. Now I obviously am in love with the color combo of this entirely thrifted outfit. But there's even more to love once you see the details. 

It's a cropped blazer with ruched sleeves, which makes it workplace appropriate but with a few fun little touches. The ruched sleeve plays up the tuxedo style ruffles of the vintage top. Don't ya think? 

But here's the catch. I wasn't lucky enough to thrift these three pieces in one single trip to the thrift store. If only. 

But by keeping mindful of what I have in my closet from previous thrifting expeditions, I can mentally piece together an outfit that works. 

And don't forget to accessorize!


Blazer: Impact Thrift Stores, $4
Top: Salvation Army, $2.99
Pencil Skirt:Impact Thrift Stores, $4.99
Belt: Torrid, purchased with gift card

This ruffled floral print blouse was $4.50 from Impact Thrift.

Try it on. Seriously, just try it on. 

Okay, ladies. Let's recite a mantra together. Come on. Say it with me: Size is just a number. I cannot stress this enough when it comes to thrift shopping for clothes. The measurements that determine size are subjective to the country of origin, the manufacturer, the type of garment, even the time it was made. And being a plus size woman myself, I know that it's a frustrating concept. But it's the truth. Looking at my almost entirely secondhand wardrobe, the sizes vary from a large to a 3X.  And who knows what cute things I would've dismissed as too small /too big/too frumpy/too form-fitting if I had't tried them on. 

Take this floral print ruffle top, for example. On the hanger it looked a little lifeless, a little old. Add to the fact that somebody had ripped the tag off of it, so I had no idea what size it was...or at least what size it claimed to be. But I thought hmm... well let me just put it in the pile to try on. And you know what? I love it. I wear it with a wide belt, to cinch it in for a more youthful vibe. Also, I'm really digging ruffles lately. 

Keeping it casual with a $3.50 printed short-sleeve sweatshirt from Goodwill.

Experiment with trends, but be true to you.

Using  fashion magazines for a dose of thriftspiration, I keep a journal of clippings nearby whenever I go thrifting. Trendy and thrifty---that's my goal. But fashion is pliable. It can and should be molded by your own perception of what you believe to be beautiful, comfortable, creative, and cool. For me...well. I'm all too aware of my body type, of what I'm comfortable wearing. 

And a full confession...in being true to me, I have to say that setting up these photo shoots for this post was difficult for me to do. I struggle both physically and mentally with my body. And since being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, that struggle has become increasingly difficult. Maintaining my 40 pound weight loss is tough with a chronic pain condition. But I'm not ready to call it quits yet. 

A lovely fringe kimono. Just $5!

And it should also be said that I'm easing myself into including full body shots for future fashion posts here on Let's Go Thrifting. I know my weight, while something that I've struggled with my entire life, does not dictate my worth. I'm starting to embrace more of a personal style to celebrate both my physical achievements towards bettering my health and the mental shift towards a more positive attitude. 
Also, it helps to go thrifting for clothes when everything I had was too big for me to wear.


But no matter what, I'm going to try to remember that size won't put a stranglehold on my style. And neither will Fibromyalgia. And neither will exorbitant prices. Because I'm a thrifter, damn it. 



And if you're a fashion-forward thrift shopper like me, share your trendy finds in the link-up below.

Creative Cosplay and Costume Thrift Tips From Angie S.

Angie as Gender-Swapped Ash from Evil Dead.

October is finally upon us! And with it comes apple picking, horror movie marathons, candy, and costumes. Of course if you're Angie S, costuming isn't just reserved for October 31st. 

Angie is a longtime cosplay aficionado, friend, and fellow thrift shopper. And she's here to share her wisdom on costumes, cosplay, and how thrifting can help bring it all together.

Q: So Angie, how did you become interested in cosplay? 

"I've been really into Halloween forever, and at 14 I started making my own costumes. After I got too old to trick-or-treat. (True story, I was 22... I'm 5 feet tall, so really, it's not like I can't pass for a  kid if I need to). But I still had that need to prance around in a costume. I knew people cosplayed for Otakon, but I somehow didn't realize that people cosplayed for practically EVERY kind of nerd con until I started dating my current boyfriend. He had done a few cosplays in the past. I thought about it for a couple of YEARS before one day, I suddenly felt like I really needed to dress up like Ash Williams. Now we go to every con we can feasibly attend!"

Gender-Swapped Joker & Harley Quinn from Batman. 

Q: Can you explain the creative process behind this couples' costume?

"These costumes are gender-swapped 1930s Public Enemies Harley Quinn and the Joker from Batman, which started when my boyfriend, Rick, wanted to be a gender-swapped Harley Quinn, and asked me to be the Joker. Since I had already started on the vest for his costume (two thrift store shirts sewn together), I kind of thought about the entire theme of his costume and realized that we could pull off an almost Bonnie and Clyde style Joker and Harley. My skirt, blazer, and blouse are all from a thrift store, mostly altered. (I still wear the skirt because it’s awesome!) His hat, vest, and tie are also from the thrift store."    

Q: What's your average cost per costume and the average time spent looking for thrifted supplies? 

"For the thrifted items, I typically spend between $15 and $35. The rest of it is either purchased online or compiled of stuff I already have. It never really amounts to more than $100, which is a bargain in a niche where people sometimes spend in the thousands on one costume alone. And it really depends! Sometimes I find mostly everything in one amazing trip, and sometimes I spread it out over the course of a few weeks so I can keep searching for just what I want."

Angie as Tiny Tina from Borderlands 2 

Q: Do you have any tips for secondhand Halloween costumes or cosplayers looking to make the thrift store their primary resource for supplies? 

"If you can, definitely give yourself a few weeks' time for finding stuff, because new things will show up often. If you don't find it the first time, you could potentially find it the following week! Also, if you can't find the right color and style combination for an article of clothing, try finding it in white, or a lighter version of the color you need.  Dye can make all the difference! Another thing I've found, particularly if it's not something you're going to be wearing a ton, faux leather can be painted with a flexible fabric paint. I've painted a belt and a pair of boots with it---and it's a real lifesaver. If you have mad sewing skills, the world is really your oyster in a thrift store; you can alter clothes to your heart's content! You can even go through the home furnishing section for fabrics. The main thing I took away from the movie Gone With the Wind is that you can make a fabulous dress out of curtains if you have some imagination." 

Q: Do you go thrifting recreationally for other things besides costume supplies, and if so do you have a favorite thrift store? 

"Definitely! My dresser is thrifted, as well as my favorite combat boots... I found them brand new in the box! There are also some cosplay items that I wear in real life just because I like them so much.  I also made myself a clutch for a wedding out of a pink sequined tank top. I didn't really know what I was doing, but it actually turned out pretty cute.  My favorite thrift store is the Feasterville Impact Thrift. It's massive, and it's right near Michael's Craft Warehouse and Five Below. (And it's also across the street from Starbucks. Close enough for when you need it, far enough to avoid temptation when you don't)."

Angie as Alabama Worley from True Romance. 

Q: And who might this be? 
"This is Alabama Worley---a southern girl who meets her husband while working briefly as a call-girl. She is sweet and a lot smarter than she seems. And a total badass! The thrifted items are the belt, which I painted, the fabulous leggings, and the bag. I had all of the characters in mind when I went to the thrift store… however, this Alabama costume is a SECOND costume. I had a costume based on the first thing we see her wearing in True Romance, and was out looking for shirts for my boyfriend’s costume, when I came across the hot pink leopard leggings. What are the odds?! When I found those, I HAD to make a whole second costume based on one of her later looks in the film. That was quite the happy accident. I'm also currently using Alabama's hot pink purse most of the time!"


Q: So what's next for you? Any future costume plans? 

"I'm working on a few Halloween costumes at the moment. A friend and I are being Blanche and Baby Jane from Whatever Happened to Baby Jane... I'm trying to track down the perfect dress or top and skirt combo. It should be a blast!" 

_______________________________________

To see more of Angie's creative endeavors visit her online art portfolio where you can purchase her work. Also check out her super fun Tumblr here.

Many thanks for sharing your secondhand cosplay creations, Angie! 

The Impact Thrift Stores Fashion Outlet Grand Opening

The day prior to the grand opening extravaganza. 

Impact Thrift Stores has set up shop for the fifth time here in Pennsylvania. Its newest location officially opened for business today at 208 Commerce Circle in Bristol, PA. And while this is the fifth time around for ribbon cutting ceremonies for the ever-expanding Impact, this is the company's first foray into secondhand fashion specifically. 

Cute and colorful wares, carefully organized.

And by the looks of things, the transition was seamless. With this location formerly housing a Fashion Bug store, Impact seized the opportunity to use the lighting, fixtures, and space of the previous occupant to their full advantage.The 10,000 square foot sales  floor  is organized by garment type, size, and color, with fashion choices for men, women, children, juniors, maternity, and plus sizes.  And of course... it's not fashion without the shoes, accessories, and jewelry. 

Bright costume jewelry? Yes, please. 

Come to think of it, I could use a new handbag...or two.

In the upcoming days to the official ribbon cutting, the Fashion Outlet quietly held a soft opening to give the retail operations a test run. And a good thing for me, too, since I'd be physically unable to snap these photos of the merchandise in the swell of the crowds snatching it all up. Don't believe me?

After the celebratory cutting of the ribbon...

...The crowd came a'piling in. 

And while every volunteer, member of the store staff, corporate employee and CEO aided customers in getting shopping carts, finding fitting rooms, and getting rung up...no amount of workforce could prepare them for that turnout. While I'm awaiting word on the sales totals, I'm sure it was an impressive figure. And this is an especially worthwhile effort, considering that 10% of the day's totals went to Advocates For Homeless & Those In Need (AHTN).

Your dollars at work! 

But all the fanfare aside, The Impact Fashion Outlet is a bright, organized location...and a great starting place to bring that one friend who is always impressed by your secondhand style...but seems skeptical at the process. And don't forget to keep a lookout for those daily colored tag sales.

Bargains...on top of bargains. Well color me frugal! 

With the powers of thrift... I scored a drapey black blouse, a sleek black bubble dress, an autumn inspired striped sweater, and a floral print kimono jacket with fringe...all for about $20. And all which will be styled and photographed in due time. But for now... get yourself to the Bristol Commerce Park Shopping Center and find yourself some new-to-you style at the Impact Thrift Fashion Outlet. 
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Ribbon cutting photo, courtesy of Jill Tarabar. 

Thriftspiration: From Haute Couture To The Thrift Store

Since the hectic holidays have come and gone, I've had some time to organize my surroundings and prioritize my thoughts. And what's more, I've had the time to recover from whatever demonic respiratory illness that plagued both my Christmas, New Years and better part of January. 

On to bigger, better, brighter things. With the return to my old self, and my love of all things old and quirky, I've been hitting the thrifts hard. But I've been very selective of what to bring home. After the annual post-holiday closet cleanse, I've decided that it was time to narrow my secondhand gaze upon mostly clothing and accessories. 

And in doing so I've developed a few tips I'd like to share: 

• Clothing is more than a size, more than a label. And this is especially true for previously loved garments.  Quality and fit are important factors. And sometimes the manufacturer, and indeed the size, are not universal in the end result of the product. Try it on and give it a few moments on your skin, and a few poses in front of the mirror to see if it's for you. 
• Take sartorial risks. Thrift stores are the perfect place to step out of your aesthetic comfort zone without financial ruin. I mean...who knew that my thick-in-the-middle proportions could rock a pencil skirt? 
• Keep your closet organized...all the time. Seriously. Pants with pants, shirts with shirts, sorted by color or style. Maybe you have a formal side and a casual side to your closet? That's okay too. But set up a system and stick with it. This way you'll know what you already have and what you'd like to have. 

And lastly, I won't hide it any longer. My indulgence (okay, one of many) is magazines. I love, love, love a well-written interview with a designer, an expertly photographed fashion spread, an editor's picks of the season's hottest trends... And this does not mean I can't be thrifty!  

That photo of my closet? I estimate that its entire contents are as follows:

- 80% thrifted

- 15% purchased on sale or clearance 

- 5% purchased at regular price

And when I see these gorgeous spreads in the pages of InStyle, Nylon, or Marie Claire magazine, I'm only more driven to find suitably on-trend alternates at local thrift stores. I even keep a clippings notebook on hand, full of colors and styles that inspire me while I am thrifting for fashion. And I encourage you to do the same. Carry a source of thriftspiration. I like the tangibility of a notebook. But you're welcome to make a file on your iPad or a Pinterest board accessible on your smartphone. 

Use what inspires you as a springboard for ideas, or make a challenge of mimicking your favorite look.  And in the end, when you start racking up he compliments, you can brag all about your fashionably savvy secondhand know-how to envious friends and family. 

In the coming weeks, when I'm feeling a little bolder and a little braver, I'm going to show you some head-to-toe looks that were assembled with design in mind and more money in  my wallet. 

Can you think couture and spend thrift store?

Let's Go Thrifting: Live From The Runway

Lights. Camera. Thrifting!

Fashion doesn’t have to mean excessive spending. As avid thrift shoppers, we know the  the power of the almighty dollar and just how far we can stretch that dollar when it comes to what we’re wearing. 

Impact Thrift Stores recognize the need for fun, fresh and trendy fashion pieces at affordable prices. And what better way to show off their selection of secondhand clothing, but with a thrifted runway show? 

To conclude the grand opening celebrations of the new Impact Thrift in Feasterville, PA on Saturday April 21st, the staff, family, friends and special guests presented the crowd with a showcase of ensembles for every occasion. The show featured sharp and classy menswear, trendy looks for women and cute-as-a-button kids'  collections. And the looks were only outdone by the low cost on the price tags. 

Hosting the special event was honored guest and longtime Impact Thrift supporter, Sheila Fortson-Williams, who is otherwise known as “The Glam Thrifter” for her expertise in finding lux looks for less. 

The runway show was a runaway success, with some thrift shoppers interested in buying some of the clothing and accessories right off the models’ backs. 

And once you see these ensembles, you won’t wonder why the catwalk meant a catrun right to the register for these fashion-frenzied thrifters. 

So without further delay, I present to you...

The Impact Thrift Store Runway Fashion Show

Model/Assistant Manager Ben is looking suave in a Jack Victor suit,  Eddie Bauer shirt and a Nubio tie.
Total cost: $25. 

The Glam Thrifter presents her glam sister, Whitney, who is wearing a floral wrap dress and mules from Talbots.

Total cost: $11.  

Erinn is looking trendy in a black and beige dress by Eliza J, accessories and sandals. 

Total cost: $11.

Kate is sporting a fresh teen look. Entro floral top, skinny jeans and espadrille wedges

Total cost: $11.50 

Eric is looking good in a charcoal suit by Nautica, lavender shirt by Paul Frederick,  Geoffrey Beane purple tie and black shoes by Allen Edmonds. 

Total cost: $25

Whitney is on the go in her charcoal suit from United Colors of Benetton and  Forenza lilac blouse. 

Total cost: $15.

Suzy is looking lovely in an exotic cocktail dress by Cache, sandals by Nine West and  layered necklace .

Total cost: $42.

Charlotte in her floral print dress and Dan in his khaki pants and plaid green shirt make a too-cute pair.

Total cost per outfit: $6

Fiona is wearing a print dress from The Children's Place while James is in a Lands End tie-dye tee and shorts. 

Fiona's Total Cost: $7. James' Total Cost: $5.50

Sheila is the Mother-of-the-Bride in an Ann Taylor dress. Escorting her is Ben in a groom's tux by Sporting Life.

Total cost for Sheila: $15. Total cost for Ben: $45.

Francie is wearing a flower girl dress by US Angels. Charlotte is wearing a flower girl dress by Sophia Rose.

Total cost for Francie: $9. Total cost for Charlotte: $7

Kate is the beautiful bride on the catwalk in a never worn dress by David's Bridal.

Total cost: $200. 

Have you ever seen a thrifted runway show?