Ain’t No Junk In This Trunk!

Ah, trunk shows! What better opportunity to get a comprehensive view of a collection than through a trunk show? It was a great extended weekend for them, starting off with the Goodwill Travelin’ Trunk Show last Thursday at the Marimekko Concept Store.

Was is a success? Um, let’s just say that at one point there were no fewer than FIVE fashion bloggers there to partake of the vintage goodness. Hats and dresses were flying off the racks and tables. Handbags and coats were being examined with a scientific-level of precision. Oh, and we made lots of money to support Goodwill’s mission!

A huge thank you to the Marimekko staff for a) shopping (love those vests!); b) being so incredibly customer-service oriented; and c) providing all of us with tasty treats from Whole Foods. And what a setting! That store is so gorgeous, so even if you weren’t able to make it out last Thursday, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to stop by and check out all of the Finnish fabulousness that is Marimekko sometime in the near future. Don’t you love how all of the colors play off each other in the photo at right? Good times…

You can see more photos, by Mark Silva, on Flickr. Please note: I had been eaten alive by mosquitoes last week and my neck is swollen to Jabba the Hut-ian proportions. It’s not that I’m vain, it’s just that, well…okay. Yes. I’m vain.

On Friday it was time for the MINT by Jodi Arnold trunk show at Hysteria. Truth be told, I didn’t actually make it there until Sunday, but that was actually better because I didn’t have to fight off the crowds to get a good look at the entire collection.

A few thoughts: most of their dresses for fall and winter are short. We’re talking micro-mini status, here. Think about wearing them as a tunic with leggings or slim pants. The coats, though, are to die for, including a scarf-neck coat in vibrant yellow or charcoal gray. Even better are the floor-length dresses in eggplant or turquoise. Their Grecian styling and flattering silhouettes offer a fresh look for fall.

None of these looks, however, are available online, yet. The DCGF, however, is bringing you two exclusive previews of MINT’s Holiday Collection, at left. I like the detail on the halter blouse and I’m glad that the hemline on the embroidered dress is back down to reasonable lengths. Whew! Do you like MINT? Hate it? Love the look but not the price tag? Well there are several pieces on sale for 50% off at Hysteria and all remaining sale merchandise is getting marked down to 60% in one week! But you can’t have my bargain of a DvF wrap dress. That’s all mine, baby! Oh, actually there are still three left. I guess you can have it, then.

The third trunk show took me to Urban Chic in Georgetown for Rebecca Taylor‘s fall/winter collection. Let me say this about Rebecca Taylor…I’ve always liked a couple of her pieces every season, but they always seem to have this – how do I put it? – homemade quality about them. And I don’t mean that in a good way, necessarily. Sometimes I feel like the pull of a single thread could send the entire dress unraveling.

Luckily, this group was much more polished, with the same touch of femininity. The piece that caught my eye was the tunic sweater with bow in charcoal. Note the sassy bow draped over the right shoulder, the front pockets (you know how I love pockets!) and – get this – the whole thing buttons up the back. Smashing. I loved it so much, I ordered it in my size! Everywhere else has the silver color, but I think the charcoal’s more versatile. PLUS there was a discount and a free gift on Saturday, the latter of which is going to be a prize for an upcoming contest, so stay tuned…

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