A Glitter Sale Thank You!

Thanks to you, the 25th Anniversary Glitter Sale was a stunning success! This year we raised an unprecedented $140,000, all of which supports free job training and education in our community.

We are grateful to our generous donors, for their contributions throughout the year. We are overwhelmed by the support of the media, from the largest organizations to the smallest blogs, for their role in alerting the community to our sale. And we are indebted to our new and returning shoppers, who braved the lines to buy fabulous fashions - all for a worthy cause. Thank you!


The line began at the front doors...

and kept going...

and going...all the way out to Dearborn Street! Some early birds arrived at 4:30 am.

Once the doors opened at 9 am, the shopping began.

The jewelry counter was packed

throughout the day. Shoppers received one-on-one customer service.

There were racks

and racks of Glitter goodies.

Shoes galore.

And purses.

The Vintage Boutique was filled with racks of clothing

and lots of shoppers too!

Glitter Sale Video with Darnell Sue

We were thrilled to read Darnell Sue's Glitter Sale story and wanted to share it with you:

The Goodwill Glitter Sale was everything I thought it would be, and then some.

By “everything I thought it would be” I mean lots of great stuff and long lines. The “then some” includes much longer lines than last year and my inabilities to plan accordingly.

Sure, I knew shoppers would be arriving at 7am and/or earlier, but there was no way I was going to make it any earlier than 8:30am.

The sale opened at 9am.

I was up late the night before DJ’ing at Fall Forward at the Kingcat Theatre. (Great place for a party. Not such great planning on my part)….Thankfully my curls and glitter-clad makeup from said late night held up quite well and even received a compliment or two.

I was equally lucky to have my trusty GPH partner Samantha Lawton waiting in line while equally trusty camera man, Cedric Ross, and I canvassed the scene and talked to willing and excited would-be Glitter Sale goers.

I wore heels that I picked up at the sale last year and even double fisted lattes at one point during the morning, although I probably didn’t need to do so (ok, maybe that isn’t entirely true), as the energy from the enormous crowd was enough to get the most tired of gals into a competitive “Ready. Set. Go!” state of mind.

The line moved surprisingly quickly, but once I entered I failed to follow the “pink line” to the special Glitter and Vintage Areas where only a certain number of shoppers were allowed. No, instead, like a fish drawn to a shiny lure, I got sidetracked by long gowns and random items. Oddly enough I found 9 garments and 9 pairs of earrings that suited me just fine. Everyone else stood in line to get into the Glitter Section for up to an hour.

I settled my score at the register for a mere $112 and moved on….although I did have a thought today….”I wonder if there’s any Glitter left this week after the sale?”

Might not be a bad time to check out the Goodwill on Dearborn just in case.






Don’t forget to check out the official Goodwill Glitter Blog for shopping tips, tricks and Goodwill insight.


Darnell Sue is a founding member of Girl Power Hour. This piece is posted from her blog, Glirl About Town, with her permission.

Glitter Sale Photos with Stephanie Perry

First-time Glitter Sale shopper Stephanie Perry shared her thoughts and photos with us. Whether you're a first-timer or an old hat at shopping the Glitter Sale, tell us your story!

"We were a little afraid of the long line, but it turned out to be totally worth it (and the free Krispy Kreme helped, too!). Everyone seemed to be having a great time trying on stuff in the aisles, and although two of us had items nabbed from us when we turned our backs for a moment, we still got plenty of good stuff in the end. "

Stephanie Perry rockin the sequins at the Goodwill Glitter Sale 2008.

Hipsters flock to the Glitter Sale.

They handed out free Krispy Kreme!

Once you got inside, it was another 1-hr wait.

OMG Shoes!

No fitting rooms, only swimsuits and leotards.

Megan displays her amazing velvety find.

Amazingly, Jake managed to resist this.

"Past, Present & Future": The Glitter Gala Fashion Show

If you missed out on our Glitter Gala last Thursday evening, there's no need for you to miss out on the amazing fashions that walked down the runway for our fashion show, "Past, Present and Future". View a sampling of photos from the Glitter Gala fashion show below or see the entire show here.


The Fabulous '50s.


Camelot and the '60s


The Swinging '70s.


It's the '80s!


The '90s bride, wearing a beautiful Nordstrom gown, closed the "Present" portion of the show.


The skirt for this "Fashion for the Future" look was made from a lamp shade.


The winning design from the Seattle Art Institute's "Fashion for the Future" design competition.


The finale.

Tell Us Your Glitter Sale Story

The Glitter Sale begins tomorrow, and we hope to see you there! We've already heard from some of our longtime Glitter Sale shoppers, and they're ready to rock!

Shelley Deese flew in from her home in North Carolina Wednesday night to meet long-time friend, Seattleite Kim Tingley, and plan their annual shopping expedition at the Glitter Sale. Here they are at last night's West Seattle ArtWalk. Deese and Tingley have made shopping at the Glitter Sale a pre-holiday tradition - one that has endured for more than ten years.

Whether you travel from near or far, if the Glitter Sale is part of your tradition, please share it with us. Is this your first time at the sale or are you a longtime shopper? Tell us about your experience and your favorite purchases. Send us a photo. Next week we'll showcase scenes and stories from this year's 25th Anniversary Glitter Sale.

Doors open at 9am. For shoppers who arrive early, the WALLY 1 event truck, sponsored by PEMCO Insurance, will be in the Goodwill parking lot from 6 to 9 am with free refreshments, their prize wheel and giveaways. Have a great time! Bring some frineds. Make some new ones. And remember, all proceeds from the Glitter Sale support Seattle Goodwill's free job training and education programs in the community.

Glitter Sale Shopping Tips

Savvy Glitter Sale Shoppers come armed with a strategy for navigating our huge sale. Here are our top tips:

• Looking for the clothing, shoes, hats, and bags you've read about on our blog? These items can be found in our Vintage Boutique. You'll also find vintage clothing, higher-priced designer clothing such as St John, Escada and Tahari; items from the Glitter Gala; and vintage and designer shoes. These items must be purchased in the Vintage Boutique.



• All jewelry, including vintage pieces, will be in the jewelry cases in the main room. Take a number for assistance at the jewelry counter.



• All items - clothing, accessories and jewelry - will be restocked throughout the weekend.



• Glitter Sale returns follow our return policy. Refunds are gladly offered within 7 days of purchase. Original tags must be attached, and receipt must accompany all items to be returned. Check purchases will be refunded with a gift card if the return amount is 50% or more of the original purchase, and the return happens within 5 days of the purchase.



• Wear a leotard or swimsuit to try on clothes; there are no dressing rooms.



• Pick up a blue bin when you arrive; shopping carts are not allowed.



• Ask a friend to join you for fun and advice.



• Bring an open mind. Your never know what you might find.

In fact, here are some of the wonderfully surprising items I've come across:

Another pair of Jessica Simpson heels!


This Chanel-esque camellia brooch. It reminds me of the camellia line of jewelry they're showing at Chanel this season - only their jewelry is inlaid with diamonds rather than rhinestones!


Enid Collins purses - they're highly collectible.


These bauble earrings. They're similar to the pearl cluster earrings in Kate Spade's brand new jewelry collection.


Incredible embroidery. Take a look at this black dress.


Here it is up close.


This vintage mesh evening bag. It's the perfect holiday accessory.

Prom Dresses and Party Frocks

If you or your daughter, granddaughter or niece is looking for a one-of-a-kind prom dress, the Glitter Sale is the place to find it. No two girls ever want to arrive at their prom wearing the same dress, and if they do their shopping at the Glitter Sale they never will. For vintage styles or contemporary looks, why not make it a mother-daughter day and shop the Glitter Sale together?

I am particularly fond of our vintage selection of prom dresses, all in wonderful pale hues


like this sweet yellow gown


or this one in pink and silver.

And of course we have lots of contemporary options as well.

This lovely sky blue satin dress has a jeweled bodice.


This flirty and fun beaded dress sports bands of increasingly darker shades of red.


The black floral pattern on this white dress is overlaid with white tulle for a dreamlike effect.

And this Quinceaneara dress is made for a princess.


For the younger set, we have festive dresses such as this red holiday dress


or this one in red satin and black velvet.


And what little girl wouldn't be thrilled to wear these Lelli Kelly beaded sneakers


or these sparkly gold shoes from Nordstrom with faux diamonds at the toe?

If These Dresses Could Talk: Vintage Fashions with Mary Lewis

In addition to the 25th Anniversary of the Glitter Sale, Seattle Goodwill is also celebrating its 85th Anniversary! Thanks to the donations of area residents these past 85 years, we have received some truly remarkable items of clothing and have gathered these into a permanent vintage collection that is curated by Mary Lewis, our Vintage Fashion Coordinator. Mary takes this collection to interested groups and organizations in the area, offering fashion shows such as "The Fashions of America's First Ladies". It's one small way to thank the community that has given so much. If you or an organization you belong to would be interested in a vintage fashion show, you can contact Mary for more information or to schedule an event.

In preparation for the 25th Anniversary Glitter Sale, Mary shared with me some fashion history and showed off some vintage pieces that will actually be available at the sale. "Fashion," she began, "is a mirror on history, and it repeats itself."

The Roaring '20s
In fashion, the 1920's are remembered as the Flapper Era where "anything goes". The First World War was over and women were freer than ever before. The look was androgynous, not at all fitted. Lines were long and straight and the skirt allowed for movement. You'll note that dresses were often sheer and so the slip was meant to show.


This georgette Flapper dress is embellished with velvet trim and beading. Note the asymmetrical hem. Given the dance craze at the time - Charleston, anyone? - the hem allows for free and exuberant movement.

The Great Depression of the 1930s
After the stock market crash, hemlines went down and there was a return to a more feminine and a more romantic silhouette.

This early '30s chiffon dress, perhaps for afternoon tea dancing, is still sheer and does not yet have a natural waistline. But the hemline has gotten longer and with the detail of the bow, it's a move toward more feminine styling.

The War Years of the 1940s
During the war years women's fashions showed their patriotism by adding shoulder pads and focusing on dark colors, especially brown, black and navy. Fabrics were rationed and designers and manufacturers could no longer look to other countries to supply them with cloth, embellishments and trim. But sequins and beads were still available and used to soften the look.

This blue crepe evening dress has a boxy military look with shoulder pads, a fitted waist and peplum.


The Fabulous '50s
After the war, having worked in the factories and worn uniform-like clothing, women wanted to look pretty. The new look was again feminine, with a fitted waistline and flared skirt. Now that rationing was over, dresses were often cut on the bias, a style that required a great deal of fabric. The 1950s were the era of the "living doll," so you'll see fabulous ensembles with coordinating hats, gloves and shoes that match the dresses of the day.



This flirty pink and yellow stripe dress has a fitted waistline and bias-cut skirt.

In the late '50s and early '60s the Cocktail Dress became a wardrobe necessity. This piece, with its draped neckline, organza skirt and luscious raspberry color, would have been a great "after five" dress.

Camelot and the '60s
When Jackie Kennedy became First Lady she also became the country's fashion muse. Everyone wanted to dress as she did, so the sleeveless A-line dress became de rigueur.


This white damask A-line shift has beautiful beading at the neck.


This melon-colored party dress is both stunning and a stunning example of 1960s eveningwear. Of all the decades in the 20th century, vintage enthusiasts these days seem to be drawn to the 1960s. The pieces are so pretty in and of themselves, there's no need for a lot of embellishments or accessories.

The Psychedelic '70s
The 1970s marked a sea change in fashion. Pants became acceptable for day and evening and polyester ruled. The look was easy to wear and easy to maintain. You could throw most clothes into the wash, no ironing necessary.

This sky blue polyester pantsuit

and this short flowing psychedelic dress are the epitome of '70s fashions.