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Goodwill Goes Upmarket In the Village

By Serena Solomon | April 26, 2011 6:34pm

By Serena Solomon

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

GREENWICH VILLAGE — The Goodwill is shifting from its image of worthy yet pedestrian secondhand clothes, and will soon offer customers a treasure trove of brand name and vintage items.

The store, found on West 8th Street, between Sixth Avenue and Macdougal Street, will have its grand opening at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

And the Goodwill’s first boutique store has a manager with a highly appropriate name — Coco Chanel Ogilvie.

"I love to style so I will definitely be helping clients when they come in," said Ogilvie, who has two fashion degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology. "Hopefully they will leave with more than they intended."

She has already eyed the in-store fashions she will be suggesting to customers.

A fashion-forward display at the Goodwill's first ever boutique store.
A fashion-forward display at the Goodwill's first ever boutique store.
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Serena Solomon/DNAinfo

"We have a lot of the mod, square-fit dresses that are common and tons of sequins," said Ogilvie. "You can definitely dress down sequins with jeans and go anywhere."

The products are carefully sourced and sorted from donations given to the Goodwill, so only the most stylish pieces will end up at the Greenwich Village store.

Alfred Vanderbilt, a spokesman for the legendary non-profit, said shoppers can expect traditional Goodwill value.

"The pricing will be as competitive as any Goodwill store. It is hard to beat the Goodwill’s prices on anything," he said. 

A cowl-neck Ann Taylor silk dress with bead and feather detailing on the sleeves, for example, is a steal at $49.99.  

Vanderbilt said the new store will provide employment for two to four people with disabilities, and income generated will support training and employment services as well as youth programs.

And the Goodwill is giving every product a new purpose and each customer an individual piece of fashion.

"Here we carry just one piece, so you won’t see it at another store, so you will look unique," Ogilvie said.