Ebony and Ivory

Besides being the topic of a classic song, and part of a hilarious karaoke scene in the movie Undercover Brother, ebony and ivory are a fantastic summertime color combination. Not quite as stark as black and white, the two hues compliment each other in a way that says, "I'm sophisticated and effortlessly put together. Don't you wish you could dress this way?"

Well now you can, with this week's Goodwill Good Buy of the Week. The DCGF has pulled together two looks, both of which include pieces that still have the tags on them!

The first ensemble, at right, is comprised of a new-with-tags lightweight sweater by Isda & Co. It's very sheer and requires a camisole to be worn underneath, but the fabric is wonderfully soft. The front placket fastens with covered snaps. The sweater is in a size medium and will fit anywhere from a size 6 to a 10.

The sweater's been paired with a black skirt from Banana Republic. It has a straight style with side zipper, and a fun flounce at the bottom. The ramie/cotton/silk blend is fully lined in acetate and quite resistant to wrinkling from what I can tell. It's also environmentally friendly! The skirt is a size 8 and shows no signs of wear. It's hard to see the detail in this picture of the bottom hem, so look for better pics on the DC Goodwill eBay store later today.

The second outfit is a little dressier, and incredibly flattering to a tall gal, especially (not that I'm biased!). The top is from Tahari and still has the original tag from Neiman Marcus showing that the original price was $198. I know - almost $200! Suffice to say you can acquire it for much less. The top is polyester and has a loose tunic style with a drawstring neckline and belled sleeves. Very boho chic.

In keeping with this loose vibe, I've paired the blouse with 100% silk ivory palazzo pants from Flores & Flores. Fairly new to the world of women's clothing (they were founded in 1999), Flores & Flores features classic design and luxurious fabrics. Similar pants are currently retailing for $250. And these are brand new, too.

Although they're wide at the bottom of the leg, the pants are narrower near the thigh and feature no-waistband styling, creating a fluid line all the way down the body. The key to wearing to loose-fitting pieces like this is that they are well tailored. In the case of the blouse, the waist is defined and the sleeves narrow before they end in the flounce at the wrists. The pants also have pleated inserts of woven silk that flow out from the mid-thigh section, creating a long line down the leg. That way you'll look taller and leaner, not like you're drowning in fabric. Or like you're a mime. Because mimes are scary.


Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on eBay funds Goodwill's mission of training and employment programs for people with disadvantages or disabilities.

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