Style Icon Interview: Style Writer Stacey Kay Thomas

Style-writer/Goodwill-lover Stacey Kay Thomas impressed us with her ever-on-trend always-under-budget fashion sense, showcased time and again on her fantastic blog Goodwill Huntingg. While she’s currently Ohio-based, this thrift lover was raised in Binghamton, NY and she’s as fluent in global trends and New York style as anyone we know. With experiences that span Hong Kong, Florence, Milan, Paris, London and NYC (at a Club Monaco internship, no less) we have no doubt this world-wise fashion writer is 100% a GoodwillNyNj Style Icon.

Stacey Thomas, author of http://goodwillhuntingg.com - catch this trend-savvy jetsetter while you can - rumor has it, she's heading to Tokyo soon!

We got the chance to chat with Stacey about her style, her thrifting, and her blog Goodwill Huntingg over the weekend. We hope you enjoy her creative insight and sense of adventure as much as we did!

How did you first get interested in thrifting? Were you raised to reimagine fashion as a youngin’ or did this passion come later in life?

I actually did not start thrifting really heavily until about a year ago! I spent all of my junior year of college abroad, studying fashion in Italy and Hong Kong. I traveled all over Europe and that really opened my eyes to the ways that people of other cultures put outfits together. I have to say that I was especially intrigued by the way that my Hong Kong friends would put outfits together, and I became obsessed with Asian fashion blogs as a result of that.

I’ve always been interested in fashion, and always had a knack for coordinating outfits, but it wasn’t until after I spent so much time abroad that I was really inspired to dress “outside the box” of what my small town, middle America, college friends were wearing. Following my adventures overseas, I completed my first professional internship in the fashion industry. Working in the corporate office of Club Monaco in New York City, I got to see first hand that a lot of the actual garments that the designers were using as inspiration for their new lines were merely updated replicas of thrift items from local vintage stores.

Upon returning to Ohio for my senior year, I was flat broke from all my excursions. Shopping at a mall wasn’t even an option on my budget, and so this is when I started thrifting and discovered my niche!

Your site introduces itself with the statement “vintage is the new fast fashion” – what is it about right now that makes vintage so, well, au courant?

Fashion has a lot to do with what is going on around us, our culture, our music, the economy, etc. Right now you can feel there is definite need for nostalgia, a remnant of a bygone era, and a memory of the “good old days.” I think as Americans we’ve been pushed and pulled in so many directions over the past ten years because of The War on Terrorism, the Recession, Hurricane Katrina, The Oil Spill and other catastrophic events, that people just want to be reminded of what life used to be like – a simpler time. That is what is resonating with us right now, and vintage fashion is a way for people to express that.

How would you describe your own personal style?Trendy with a twist. I like to try out all different trends and styles, but I think my signature is simply taking a trend to the next level. I can literally stand in the mirror and just know that there is something else in my wardrobe that I can add to an outfit to make it spectacular. It’s like a gnawing in my stomach that tells me I’m not quite done yet. I can’t leave the house until its perfect. Needless to say, being on time is not one of my strengths.

What role does your budget play in shaping your own personal style? The lower my budget got, the more creative I had to become! I’ve self-altered tons of my clothing, if I’m not happy with how it looks off the rack, I get out my scissors! When something costs 5 bucks, its a lot easier to take a chance and make it your own than if it costs $100.00. I think that stores nowadays make it too easy to shop and put outfits together; I’m sick of seeing everybody wear the same thing!

What does “style” mean to you?

Style means expressing yourself through your clothing. Its the first impression that people get of you, so in my opinion you should always try to look your best! Nobody ever says,”Wow, thats a great personality walking down the street!”

How did fashion school affect your personal style?

I think it definitely made me more open to try new things. Kent State University has some of the best and most talented student fashion designers in the country, and working with them and seeing what they create was an inspiration to me each and every day!

Where do you find your fashion inspiration today?

I’m inspired by a lot of things in my everyday life. When I see something I like, a picture of it gets stored in my mind until the next time I go shopping, then I try to find something similar. Sometimes its a particular silhouette, and sometimes its just a vague mood that I’ve been in.

I’m also a huge photography fan. I love looking at editorial fashion spreads and things that my photography major friends have put together. There is so many creative people out there, and I try to surround myself with them, and that inspires me in turn. It can really be just about anything from a sunset, to a song, and I’ve even been inspired while putting my laundry away. Sometimes I’ll hang a top near a dress and never noticed before how well they go together, and then that spirals into outfit ideas.

Style.com and The Sartorialist are my biggest web addictions, and I’ve just recently discovered The Vintage Virgin and I think she’s probably one of the most innovative fashion bloggers out there.

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As for us, we’re certainly adding Stacey to our all-star list of style muses. Don’t forget to check in next week for Part Two of our interview with the fantastic Ms. Thomas. In the meantime, keep sharing your great finds and style tips with us on Twitter and Facebook – we love hearing from you!