Welcome back to our Costume of the Day series! From now until Halloween, we’ll be posting new unique costume ideas daily, all created out of items found at Buffalo Exchange. We’re brewing up some scary good ideas for you guys, so be sure to check back regularly! Now that you mention it…we actually really enjoy coming up with costumes. So need a hand? Stop by your local Buffalo Exchange! We have designated Costume Stylists on hand daily to help you make your Halloween dreams a reality. Just look for an employee wearing a Costume Stylist name badge.

Backstreet Boys “Millenium” Album Cover

Backstreet’s back, alright! This idea from Buffalo Exchange Sherman Oaks makes for the ultimate group costume…if you grew up in the 90s and kind of have a thing for boy bands, that is. For this look, all you need is white on white on white, a few stick-on mustaches/goatees and a pair of shades. Major bonus points if you memorize a verse, complete with choreography, to bust out at every Halloween party you walk into.

The Breakfast Club

Who doesn’t love brunch? If you feel like the best part of waking up is a mimosa in your cup, then show your appreciation by getting a group of your besties together to go as a literal Breakfast Club this year. Eggs, bacon, avocado toast, bloody mary’s…the possibilities are endless! These breakfast basics courtesy of Buffalo Exchange Hawthorne. Just a side note: Space Egg is definitely one of the most hilarious and unique costume ideas we’ve seen so far.

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By Buffalo Exchange Portland (Downtown)

Now that summer is officially over, we’re more than ready for some crisp, cool weather. We’re so excited, in fact, that we put together some menswear outfit inspiration that makes us want to jump right into fall fashion (and maybe a big pile of leaves, while we’re at it). As always, we’re all about layering new trends with quality staples to put together fall outfits that feel fresh and exciting.

Laid-back Layering

When it comes to fall outfits, you need to be able to keep comfortable in a wide variety of temperatures. To do this, layering is key! Throw a vintage denim jacket over a simple black and white graphic tee to keep you warm during chilly mornings. Personalize your jacket with pins or patches and, if the weather is especially cool, add a flannel button-up or a hoodie. Next, pair with slim khaki chinos and brown leather work boots for a laid-back but rugged look.

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By Jessica Pruitt, Buffalo Exchange HQ

There are hundreds of reasons to love autumn – leaves turning to bright hues of red, orange and yellow, crisp fall air, cozy fires, pumpkin spice lattes and the start of the holiday season. TBH, though, the main reason is the return of comfy clothes and all of the new fall fashion trends. From plaid to retro athletic gear to the perfect accessories, we’re already clocking our favorite looks of the season.

Plaid About It

This fall, we’re loving the return to plaid – in particular, plaid trousers for both guys and gals. This must-have print makes for looks that feel retro but also totally new. Check and mate!

Are You Over It?

Ok, so we just can’t get over the overall trend – and we’re guessing you can’t, either! They’re great for layering as you move into fall. Wear yours with booties and a cashmere turtleneck for a chic look or pair with sneakers and a sweatshirt for a more athletic take.

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Fashion week may have ended, but we always need your fashions at our Buffalo Exchange New York locations! We are looking for cute, trendy and classic pieces, from top to bottom.  We especially need sizes 12 and up and some of our customers’ favorite brands include Torrid, ASOS Curve and Fashion to Figure. Don’t forget that we take all brands and sizes depending on style and condition, so bring down any clothing and accessories you’re cleaning out. See you soon!

Fashion week may have ended, but we always need your fashions at Buffalo Exchange Chelsea! We are looking for cute, trendy and classic pieces, from top to bottom.  We especially need sizes 12 and up and some of our customers’ favorite brands include Torrid, ASOS Curve and Fashion to Figure. Don’t forget that we take all brands and sizes depending on style and condition, so bring down any clothing and accessories you’re cleaning out. See you soon!

By Mary McMahon, Buffalo Exchange HQ

Marisa Russell remembers growing up and shopping at Buffalo Exchange Albuquerque with her aunt in the ‘90s, back when it was just a corner store. It wasn’t the type of clothes that she saw in malls and on TV, but she always wanted to come back. As she got older and moved into the dorms at University of New Mexico, she would stop by the store weekly to shop. She was tired of working mall jobs, so she turned in her application. “I don’t even know if they were hiring, I just knew I wanted to work there,” Marisa says. She saw Buffalo Exchange as an opportunity where she would never stop learning.

Never Stop Learning, Never Stop Teaching

Flash forward to today, 15 years later, and Marisa is a Buyer Trainer at Buffalo Exchange Albuquerque. She worked her way up, becoming a Buyer Expert in 2006 and a Buyer Trainer in 2009. She has a love of training and seeing how employees grow their buy knowledge, their own style and even how they grow as people throughout the years. She loves seeing new employees find what styles they love and learning from them, too.

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By Jessica Pruitt, Buffalo Exchange HQ

Tired of recycling your same old witch or zombie outfits and need a few ideas for creative Halloween costumes this year? Look no further! Whether you prefer whipping your costume up the night before or you like to go for something a little more elaborate, we’ve got tons of inspiration to help you put together your spookiest costume yet.

The 90s Come Back to Life

Anyone who lived through the 90s knows how many fantastically hilarious 90s characters, bands and celebrities there are to replicate via costume: Spice Girls, Coneheads, ET and cartoons like Rugrats, Aaahh!! Real Monsters or The Magic School Bus come to mind. To get in the Halloween spirit, find your favorite throwback show on Netflix, then get costuming.

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By Jessica Pruitt, Buffalo Exchange HQ

Whether you’re a packrat or a minimalist, cleaning out your closet is a job and a half. All those decisions, all those pants you have to try to squeeze yourself into, the new 6-inch layer of clothing carpeting your bedroom floor…yeah, on second thought, think I’ll go for an episode of GoT and a glass of wine instead. Fortunately, with a few organizational hacks and little help from your friends, you can get your closet sorted with enough time to make it down to Buffalo Exchange, where you can sell your past favorites for cash or trade. Win, win and win!

How to Get Started Cleaning Out Your Closet

Ever since Marie Kondo published her take on all things organization, closet cleaning experts have been recommending that you start by removing ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING from your closet. If you haven’t cleaned out in years, this is a solid approach. It forces you to evaluate every item, rather than just skimming off the top, and gives you the chance to make your closet shiny and new (i.e. no more dust bunnies, shriveled apple cores and T-shirts from middle school hiding out behind your winter coats).

If you’ve moved on to the “maintenance” stage of closet organization, instead remove any items you don’t feel 100% sure about keeping and pile them on your bed. Need a little extra motivation to get started? Go shopping! It’s always easier to say goodbye to pieces you’re no longer wearing when you have new favorites to replace them with.

Try Wearing Your “Maybes” One More Time

This is my personal favorite method for cleaning out your closet. Start by pulling out any items you’re on the fence about – whether they’re in the never-worn-it, bored-of-it or forgot-I-had-this category. Over the next week, challenge yourself to wear each one of these items. Try mixing it up by adding a belt or a layering piece or even just a different pair of shoes. Best case scenario, you come up with a bunch of interesting new outfit combinations and discover some new go-tos. Worst case scenario, you kind of dislike your outfit for the day. But hey, even this is a win because you’ll be able to toss the offending item in the sell pile without hesitation.

Roast Your Closet

It’s no secret that we all get by with a little help from our friends, so when it comes to cleaning out your closet, don’t go it alone! Invite a group of your besties over for a closet “roast”. Have each person pick out their least favorite item in your wardrobe and style it into an outfit. Then, do a runway show of these looks, first setting your friends up with sharpies and paper so they can vote Olympic ice skating-style.

Ultimately, it’s your opinion about the item that counts, but this can definitely help you let go of items you’re holding onto for sentimental reasons or that you’re just on the fence about. Repay your friends by plying them with cocktails and takeout. Then, conclude the evening with 90s fashion film favorite Clueless.

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Now through the end of November, support the All Souls Procession by purchasing limited edition, specially designed tees, pins and stickers exclusively through Buffalo Exchange. All proceeds go towards Many Mouths, One Stomach (MMOS), the organization behind this important public ceremony. Stop into your local Buffalo Exchange or get a head start by ordering your tees, buttons and stickers online from our Etsy shop.

The Procession, which gives participants a chance to celebrate lost loved ones with music, artistic floats, creative costumes, performances and a ceremonial burning of prayers, wishes, offerings and hopes, is an important tradition at Buffalo Exchange.

“The All Souls Procession is a special event that is Tucson-grown and operated, just like we are, and we’re honored to support this important piece of local culture,” says Buffalo Exchange Vice President Rebecca Block. “The event means a lot to the Tucson community and a lot to us personally.”

At 150,000 participants and growing, the All Souls Procession wouldn’t be possible without a massive outpouring of community support. Since 2013, Buffalo Exchange has raised over $21,000 for MMOS. The official All Souls Merchandise for 2017 was specially created by Tucson artist Racheal Rios, who received the Buffalo Exchange Arts Award last year.

Buffalo Exchange is also hosting a $1 sale at its 2001 E Speedway location on Saturday, October 14 to benefit the Procession. The sale will run from 9am to 12pm, or whenever the clothes run out, and will be cash only.

By Joe Carrel, Buffalo Exchange HQ

You don’t have to be a sports fan to know that, come fall, the biggest American sport is football. And right up there with the gridiron pastimes of tailgating and face-painting is the growing activity of fantasy football. Even if you know zilch about it, chances are you know someone who does. Over 40 million people across the US will unleash their pigskin nerd this season, and I’ll show you why these seemingly kooky folks may just be onto something.

For those unfamiliar with fantasy football, here’s the painless fifteen second breakdown: like kids picking teams on the playground, participants in a fantasy league (usually 10 or 12 people) pick real life pro football players for their team. Then, as the actual games are played, they accumulate points for the running, catching, and passing feats of their players. The more points they get, the better their chances of winning.

Some friends talked me into joining their fantasy league, and I figured it would be a harmless diversion, one of those arbitrary activities that give adults a reason to  hang out for a bit, like bowling or karaoke. What I absolutely did not figure was that this meaningless little game would crystalize and reinforce some of life’s most important lessons for me in a way that few other experiences have. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but just hear me out.

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