Some fashion students at Meredith College are getting a taste of the real world, courtesy of the local Goodwill stores.
Goodwill has asked students in Meredith's visual merchandising class to help dress up the place a bit by creating window displays in the stores.
Each week, a pair of students from the class put together two outfits using clothes available at a Goodwill store in Raleigh. Each look the students create typically costs less than $20 and is designed to appeal to women in the professional world.
The partnership gives students the chance to put to use what they've been taught in class and practice their merchandising skills.
"They [the students] are having fun and are getting great affirmation from the folks at Goodwill," said Diane Ellis, who oversees the fashion program at Meredith.
The project is scheduled to run through December and could continue beyond the semester.
The outfits are showcased each week on the Goodwill Industries Web site. To see the looks, go to www.goodwillenc.org/outfitofweek.html.
Pick up vintage looks
On Saturday, Raleigh salon Blo is hosting a trunk show of Revamp, the vintage clothing line created by Jamie Powell. Powell's line, made in her Durham studio, is about turning vintage rejects into wearable fashion. She buys old clothes by the pound, refashions them and sells them all over the world through her company American Vintage Clothing & Classics.
The trunk show will include an assortment of organic cowl-neck tops for women, as well as hoodies, and 1950s-inspired, classic silhouette dresses. Johanna Ely's Good Girls Studio will provide eco-conscious, deconstructed vintage jewelry.
There will be wine and light hors d'oeuvres, and 5 percent of sales will benefit Locks of Love, the nonprofit group that helps disadvantaged children with medical hair loss.
Blo is in Brier Creek Commons at 8451 Brier Creek Parkway. The trunk show starts at 7 p.m.
McEvoy in Durham
Cosmetics queen Trish McEvoy will be back in the Triangle on Thursday to teach her disciples about skin care, makeup techniques and the fresh looks of the season. She'll teach three classes, at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Nordstrom in Durham. Call 806-3700 for more information and to book a space in one of the classes.
Shop and help pets
The Boutique Collective at North Hills is hosting its third Girls' Night Out on Thursday, this time holding a pet food drive to benefit the pet food pantry of the SPCA of Wake County. Customers who make a donation of pet food get a 10 percent discount on their purchase that day (with some exceptions). Monetary donations also will be accepted. The Boutique Collective, made of 12 shops in North Hills, holds Girls' Night Out every third Thursday.
And, as it turns out, Thursday is also North Hills' annual open house, so many of the stores will have trunk shows or holiday specials. Cravings, the maternity shop, will have shows by Notice Maternity and Lolly Bronson Jewelry. Notice will feature holiday tops and dresses at a discount. Lolly Bronson will offer new pieces in her collection.
Elaine Miller Collection at North Hills will have a trunk show of jewelry by Elizabeth Locke on Tuesday. Each of Locke's pieces, which are made of coins, Venetian glass, antique seals or South Sea pearls, are individually designed and handmade in 19 karat gold.
Tyler House in Raleigh will feature local jewelry designer Christine Jones. Her trunk show will run from Thursday to Saturday, and Jones herself will be at the store on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Her jewelry is described as "one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces that are versatile and easy to wear"; her earrings and necklaces include freshwater pearls, jade, turquoise, coral and pink quartz. She also has a few cuffs.
Cat Banjo helps dog
Help Bruno get all the medical attention he needs by buying the "Bruno" bracelet at Cat Banjo in Cameron Village. The accessories boutique is selling the black and white bracelet for $10 to help raise money to pay for the medical bills of rescued dog Bruno. All of the proceeds go to his fund, says store owner Debbi Cockran.
Hertzberg Furs will have a "New York Comes to Raleigh" fur event Nov. 23-29 with more than 200 furs, including one-of-a-kind pieces, boutique furs and accessories, from New York at the Glenwood Avenue store.
