Reinvent Your Look at the [RE]FRESH Grand Opening

If you’re anything like me, you devour issues of InStyle and ELLE, circling the looks you love in red pen and figuring how many pints of plasma you’d have to sell to buy that cute Nanette Lepore lace dress. 

Throw a fashion-forward teen or two in the mix, and your investment in red ink multiplies. 

Break free of those budget constraints and head down to [RE]FRESH, A Fashion Coalition – a unique approach to resale. Inside, you’ll find hot teen and twenty-something fashion trends for the fall – polka dots, python accessories, designer denim – but more important, you’ll help provide hope for 10,000 foster children and their families right here in St. Louis. 

On Saturday, August 20, [RE]FRESH, which supports the work of the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, will roll out the red carpet for its huge grand opening event. This is your chance to take your teens on a back-to-school shopping spree that won’t break your bank account and to find a few great pieces to liven up your own fall wardrobe! 

Support through shopping

According to Dawn Belizaire, the Coalition’s director of major gifts, [RE]FRESH is “shopping with a purpose.” From Friday through Sunday, the general public can find fabulous deals on their favorite back-to-school attire, and all profits help fund the Coalition’s numerous programs. 

In addition, foster youth and foster/adoptive families receive 30-90% off [RE]FRESH prices – a critical savings since children in foster care receive only $340 a year for clothing. These teens and their families also enjoy an exclusive shopping day every Thursday and receive one-on-one attention from a personal shopper volunteer. 

Said Jessica Duco, fashion intern with [RE]FRESH, “The foster families have been so excited with the store. We had one mom with four foster kids who said this was the best shopping experience her family has ever had. Seeing the kids get a total makeover from the personal shoppers has been so fun to watch.” 

In addition, [RE]FRESH is an outlet for one of the Coalition’s latest endeavors, Fostering Financial Success, a skills training, financial education and job placement program for foster youth, which is supported in part by Citigroup. 

“Studies show if you connect foster youth to the workforce before age 18, their opportunities for success multiply by the time they’re adults,” explained Belizaire. “Through Fostering Financial Success, teens get on-the-job training at [RE]FRESH , learn to model professional behavior, and build customer service skills. In addition, adult volunteers serve as mentors for the program, and eventually help them find jobs elsewhere in the community. In fact, last fall, six participants found employment opportunities in the community, including one who was accepted to the Paul Mitchell School.” 

Incredible what can be achieved when you buy a pair of jeans, right? 

Suit up for the grand opening

On August 20, you can discover why [RE]FRESH is not just a resale shop, but also a gathering spot for fashion-obsessed teens. During the store’s grand opening, you and your teen can snack on treats from the Miss M’s Candy Boutique candy bar, catch a fashion show, and get your most pressing fashion questions answered during an “Ask the Stylist” Q&A session – all set to the sounds of Bill Beggs, PhD.J.spinning in the [RE]FRESH DJ booth. 

In addition, the first 25 people through the door receive $60 in [RE]FRESH rewards , and one lucky shopper with receive a surprise fashion makeover. 

The fun doesn’t half to end on the 20^th– [RE]FRESH offers plenty of unique events such as personalized parties where the hostess and her guests receive star treatment, complete with shopping bags and gift certificates, and fashion workshops on Sundays when shoppers can learn about the latest trends in clothing, makeup and hairstyles. 

While [RE]FRESH appeals to teens and twenty-something’s, this old lady found a few pieces she loved on her stop as well, including a geometric-patterned wrap dress perfect for work as well as a nautical halter dress I would have snapped up if I was two sizes smaller. But best of all, I could shop in a chic, yet snooty-free, environment, knowing anything I picked up could make the world brighter for a child in need. 

To learn more about the [RE]FRESH grand opening or to donate new and gently-used clothing to the organization, visit www.refreshstl.org. 

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting