Good news, dear gentlemen readers: we’ll be featuring a weekly column by GoodwillNyNj Style Icon David Morgan all about secondhand fashion and DIY style. This week: pairing a stand-out signature item with Goodwill classics… Enjoy!
My military-inspired, "Coming to America" outfit!
One of the greatest perks about living in New York and Northern New Jersey is that you can always discover something new or unfamiliar – which translates into Heaven for fashion-lovers, like me.
I most recently discovered NY and NJ’s Army surplus stores – stores full of military gear from around the world. I have been on the hunt for a cool Garrison Cap, and was so excited to discover a vintage, West German one here for a very decent price. But now that I found my one stand-out signature item, what could I possibly pair it with?
My bargain Garrison cap. Isn't it cool?!
Of course, I paired a bargain with a bargain with my thrifted chartreuse pants and black shoes, then with a store-bought (though on sale) purple shirt. I look as if I stepped out of a scene from “Coming to America,” a regular reference to describe my current fashion hankerings.
I love pairing two bold, solid colors together. It’s an incredibly easy and quick way to make a big fashion statement. I happen to think that all colors go well with one another (purple and pink? yes! yellow and grey? yes!), but I encourage you to develop your own color combination. During your next Goodwill visit, try to find simple well-fitted pieces with rich, singular colors. Instead of finding a bunch of different items to buy, try to cultivate a single outfit. It’s a great, challenging exercise, as it forces you to be very selective with your finds.
To break up the color block, I often pair single colors with an unexpectedly muted accessory, like the belt or hat in the outfit above. Visually, I think this softens the strong, primary statement, but of course there are exceptions to my self-imposed “rule” (there really aren’t any rules in fashion, anyway).
What Goodwill basics would you pair with my Garrison cap? And how do you handle color choice in your fashion picks? I’d love to hear your opinion here or over on A Good Look’s Facebook page!
