Dear Fashionistas,

I must confess that I’d somehow forgotten that there is an International Women’s DAY, as I always thought the entire month of March was a celebration of women!  I was also reading one of my go-to fashion blogs, Clueless Fashionista, and she has an excellent article not only about some fab shoe candy, but also about how to show support for the Red Pump Project, which raises awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls.  Please visit Clueless Fashionista today to learn more!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

 OMG Fashionistas, look what was in my inbox today!  Huge thanks to my friends at GW Boutique for the heads up- this is an event you won’t want to miss!!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik 

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GOODWILL FORT WORTH PRESENTS THE GOOD EXCHANGE

Support a Good Cause And Refresh Your Wardrobe Through A Clothing Swap

WHO: Event emcee Miss Texas, Kendall Morris (TCU Alumna); Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth executive management including David Cox, senior vice president retail sales & marketing, Kristen Bostick, marketing communications coordinator

WHAT: Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth will provide the community an opportunity to support a good cause and refresh their wardrobe through a clothing swap. For every article of clothing (limit five) donated to the Goodwill donation station at 5970 Park Vista Circle #154 (Hwy 377 at Kroger Drive) between October 7-13, participants will receive a voucher for a new article of clothing, to be picked out at the Good Exchange, to be held at the GW Boutique in Keller October 14. Individuals that do not donate in advance of the event can donate at the door, along with a $5 entrance fee to participate. Participants will enjoy refreshments and free hair and makeup styling’s courtesy of Goodwill during the event.

WHEN: Friday, October 14, 2011;  5:00 – 8:00 p.m. 

WHERE: GW Boutique; 750 S. Main Street Keller, Texas

WHY: Goodwill is a non-profit leader in providing education, training and career services for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities, lack of education or work experience and homelessness. Last year, Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth helped place thousands of people in jobs.

For more information on Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, please visit www.goodwillfortworth.org.

1. The City-Wide Garage Sale:  July 16-17, Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road

$5 gets you in the door and exhibits include estate jewelry, vintage clothing and of course, antiques.  CWGS, you had me at estate jewelry.  The website also boasts that it’s “Austin’s largest antique, collectible & vintage marketplace.”  We shall see, come July 16th.

 2. The GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up: July 25-31.

This dining experience is a great way to support local restauranteurs, farmers and food banks!  Many restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to a local food bank when you dine with them during July 25-31.  You can also sign up for Texas-sized prizes here.

(Photo Credits: theinside.travel.aol.com and agr.state.tx.us, respectively.)

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Fashionista reports that Cynthia Rowley and Birchbox have teamed up to offer beauty enthusiasts a great deal.  You remember Birchbox, right?  Cynthia Rowley has designed a fun and sophisticated limited edition gift box, and it could be yours if you sign up for a Birchbox membership (only $10 per MONTH) before June 30th.

Chicology reports that Rent the Runway has partnered with beauty giant Lancome to offer makeup for purchase in addition to wardrobe rentals.

QVC joins forces with Kim Kardashian and Kelly Ripa to fight ovarian cancer.  QVC Presents Super Saturday Live, on July 31 from 2 PM – 4 PM (EST).  All proceeds will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF).

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Dear Fashionistas,

What impresses me most about Two La La Women’s Boutique is not its unbelievably priced luxury clothes- it’s the owners, Amy Dunker and Mikell Sullivan Rowley’s, unwavering commitment to their community.  This month, Two La La is joining forces with Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle Auxiliary to throw one fashionable fundraiser, the Spring Style Show & Luncheon.  See details below!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Please join us……

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle Auxiliary

Presents

A Spring Style Show & Luncheon

 Saturday, April 9, 2011

 Vance Godbeys

8601 Jacksboro Highway 

Fort Worth, TX

 10:30 Champagne Reception & Silent Auction

 11:30 Luncheon & Style Show

  Proceeds benefit the Auxiliary and will be used to fund

The Ladders in Nursing Careers Program

Tickets $30

For additional information call  Debra Jenkins 817-832-3663

Philanthropy (The Cake):

While I often write about fabulous items you can acquire, please remember it’s just as fabulous to give to others.  Goodwill Industries International, Inc. is an institution of giving that funds community programs, including job placement and job training, by selling donated clothing.  Donations do more than supplement a fellow fashionista’s wardrobe:

“Every 45 seconds of every business day, a person served by Goodwill earns a good job.”

And you thought you were just buying a blouse…

Recycling (The Icing):

Besides helping folks find jobs, donating or buying at GW Boutique means you’re practicing green living.  Yes, fashion and recycling go hand in hand- and it’s a beautiful collaboration.  Ever heard of vintage?

New Arrivals (The Cherry on Top):

I spoke with Kristen in Goodwill’s PR department, and she had some wonderful things to share.

You’ll remember from my original post there was only one dressing room, making for one long waiting line.  Thankfully, GW Boutique has added another dressing room.  I visited a couple of months ago and there was no line and thus, no waiting. 

Interestingly, GW Boutique has diversified its offerings and works with buyers to bring in brand new items in addition to donated ones.  On my visit I found an entire wall covered with new fashion-forward accessories.  

Occasionally, the store plans to have sales on certain merchandise, such as items from White House Black Market and Banana Republic. 

You’re invited to sign up for email updates here or while shopping in the store and you can find GW Boutique coupons on its Facebook and Twitter pages.  Also feel free to share with the store any feedback you have. 

Exclusive to Keller residents:  Look for the occasional 25%-30% Off Coupon in the Keller Citizen Newspaper. (Lucky you!) 

Please excuse the cake references…I gave up desserts for Lent and I’m going through withdrawals. 

Fashionably Yours,

 Nik

Here’s the line up so far: Nordstrom Rack Opening Mar. 17, Fashion Cited Charity Event Mar. 24, The Dallas Flea Mar. 26, Glam Shop Girls Mar. 30 and the Dallas International Film Festival Mar. 31-Apr. 10. 

1. Nordstrom Rack opens this Thursday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) at the Parks at Arlington Mall.  I did a preview walk-through of the store recently and I can tell you that this store is bursting at the seams with designer goodies with your name on it.  The Rack has unbelievable discounts so you only pay a fraction of the retail price!

Men: Ben Sherman, Bugatchi, Burberry (galore!), Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, 7 For All Mankind (great selection of jean brands too),  and more.

Women: Juicy Couture, Burberry, Fendi, Michael Kors, Leifs Dottir, Kate Spade and much, much more.

Now, listen to Nik, I’m your friend and I want the very best shopping experience for you.  Are you ready for this?  GET THERE EARLY!  As in Thursday.   Before 8:30am.  Do not wait until the weekend.  There will be a Race Through the Rack Sweepstakes drawing on opening day that you won’t want to miss!  Click here for details.

Good luck!  (Not that you’ll need it on St. Patrick’s Day.)

2. Fashion Cited Charity Event Benefiting Legal Hospice.

3. The Dallas Flea is upon us once again, this time on Mar. 26th, 9am-4pm at 1409 S. Lamar Street.

Same formula, same fun: Only $5 bucks to get in and shop a huge selection of vendors with handmade, high-end, one-of-a-kind clothing, home decor and jewelry like these gorgeous finds from The Silver Importer:

The Silver Importer- Statement Pearl Necklace

The Silver Importer

4. Glam Shop Girls- I have never attended this but I think it’s similar to Shecky’s Girls Night Out, which I love.  Glam Shop Girls features chic shopping events in Dallas, Houston and San Francisco.  This event is held in the same building as The Dallas Flea.

GLAM SHOP GIRLS DALLAS 
March 30, 2011 | 5:30pm-8:30pm
Absinthe Lounge & Cigar Bar
(inside S. Side of Lamar Building)
1409 S. Lamar #008
Dallas, TX 75215
RSVP HERE OR PAY $10 @ THE DOOR

5. The Dallas International Film Festival ramps up on March 31st, so if you missed SXSW, here’s another chance to get your film fix.  I missed SXSW too, as I left Austin on the Friday the festival began…oh well, there’s always next year!  Tickets for the Dallas film festival go on sale on March 17th.

In sum, March gives fahionistas plenty of opportunities to sip, shop, save and do a good deed or two.  As always, if you attend these events please share your experiences here, in the comments or by emailing me at nik@threadconscious.com.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Join the DVF boutique in Highland Park Village on Tuesday, March 8th for a special event in celebration of International Women’s Day.  To learn more about the Vital Voices Charity, click here.

If Highland Park isn’t your speed, then Macy’s is having their awesome One Day Sale.

Stay tuned for more on GW Boutique and other great stores this month!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Hello darlings, I saw this on Kimberly Schlegel Whitman’s RSVP Calendar and wanted to pass on the info.  The Elisa Project is a non-profit organization created in 1999 to raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.  On February 26th, during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the organization is hosting a fashion show at Saks Fifth Avenue at the Dallas Galleria to raise awareness.  “Local celebrities will join girls and women, boys and men, of all ages and sizes, to embrace healthy, balanced lifestyles and self acceptance.”  If you would like to attend this event, please click here for more information.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Lucky Magazine

This month’s Lucky Magazine did an excellent city-by-city guide to cowboy boots.  Guess who made several appearances on the list?  This great state Texas, of course!  But I have one bone to pick with Lucky…why isn’t Fort Worth on the list?!  Hello? Plano made it for goodness sake!

Cowboy Cool vs. Maverick

Ok, so I have one more bone to pick.  Because the overall tone of this blog is positive, and purposefully so, I’ll make my rant brief.  I was attending a charity event (more on that later) for which I needed cowboy boots.  So I wandered on over to Cowboy Cool in the West Village in north Dallas.  Though there was one other customer when I arrived, no one greeted me.  As they continued to ignore me I walked around looking for something suitable to purchase.  Once I approached the shelves near the checkout counter, the girl behind the counter finally looked up from whatever she was reading and said to let her know if I had any questions.  She was polite enough, but obviously inattentive and disengaged.  For a while, I had been the only customer in the store.  I suppose I was most annoyed at the fact that I saw a second employee helping a previous customer when I first arrived, but that employee was nowhere in sight. 

On to the good.  On recommendation from a friend, I went to Maverick in the Fort Worth Stockyards.  It was a 180° experience.  I was greeted upon arrival.  Though there were several customers shopping, employees (plural) personally assisted me with finding the perfect pair of boots and even offered me a beverage.  In sum, Maverick gives you exceptional customer service.  The staff was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable.  I walked away with my first pair of cowboy boots since childhood.

So when it comes to Cowboy Cool vs. Maverick, there is no contest.  Hands down, Maverick is the best!  The selection of boots is impressive and the vast inventory of apparel puts Cowboy Cool to shame.  When you get to Maverick, just ask for Katy or Sam, and tell ‘em Nik from Thread Conscious sent you.

Careity Foundation’s Celebrity Cutting Horse Competition

First, a little bit about the Foundation: “Careity Foundation is a Texas 501(c)3 with two initiatives. Careity is dedicated to providing on site support services in an oncology setting for economically challenged cancer patients and through early detection in North Texas. The pediatric palliative care program is directed at providing relief to children with devastating diseases and life threatening illnesses at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth.”

I attended the Celebrity Cutting Horse Competition and Concert in December.  I was unfamiliar with the sport until then, and I must say, I found it to be very interesting.  Equally interesting were the very fashionable women strutting around.  I never thought I’d be one to like the cowgirl look, but I’ll admit I was feeling it.  I spotted some gorgeous boots and an amazing leather jacket.  The jacket was purchased at Maverick.

Celebrity guests included Joey and Rory, with whom I was not familiar, but are kinda a big deal y’all!  I only know them from their sweet Overstock.com commercial and it was great to see them perform live.  The gorgeous Joe Nichols sang some song about “tequila making her clothes fall off”, and Randy Travis and Tanya Tucker closed the show.  Now I know who Randy Travis and Tanya Tucker are- I grew up listening to their music, along with other country greats like the Judds, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire.  I loved Tanya’s signature song, Texas When I Die:

When I die I may not go to heaven
I don’t know if they let cowboys in
If they don’t just let me go to Texas, Boy!
Texas is as close as I’ve been.

Right on, Tanya!

Joey and Rory

Randy Travis (L) and Joe Nichols

Tanya Tucker

TCU Cowboy Boots

If you’re a TCU fan, you can have your very own, custom-designed pair of Horned Frog cowboy boots.  I guess it’s all the craze; alumni are even getting married in them!

Cowboys & Cowboys Sky Ranch Gala

About the organization: “Since 1955, Sky Ranch has been a Christian organization that has provided nationally recognized summer camps, retreats, and conferences in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado; Champions Rodeo camps; as well as mission camps in Africa, France and Russia.  These programs have enabled youth and families to enjoy a positive and exciting camping experience combined with the truths of God’s Word, making a lasting impact on future generations.”

If you plan to attend the Cowboys & Cowboys Sky Ranch Gala on Saturday, February 26th and are in need of designer western gear, I highly recommend checking out stores in the Fort Worth Stockyards first.  Interestingly, this event is in Plano, so if you live or work over there, FYI, Lucky Magazine did recommend Cavender’s on I-75.

 Fashionably Yours,

Nik