By Aarian Frye, Buffalo Exchange HQ

Can you believe we’re already so far into 2018? It happened so fast, it feels like summer just started! If you’re hesitant to pack away your bright warm weather gear in favor of drab sweaters, don’t sweat it. We’ve compiled a list of the hottest trends you’ll see everywhere this fall! Color and patterns are here to stay, so read ahead for the fall trends you’ll want to shop for ASAP.

Fall Trends 101: Don’t Skip The Color!

As the leaves begin to turn from green to brown, you might think it’s time for your closet to do the same. While we have nothing against a great neutral, remember all the shades that come between! Vibrant yellows, oranges and even reds will give you your chloro-FILL of color this fall.

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By Aarian, Buffalo Exchange HQ

What’s up, winter Buffaloes! During the last few weeks of December, it’s likely that you’ll receive a slew of invitations to holiday parties, kickbacks and soirees alike.  It’s also likely that, after years of attending such engagements, you’re at a loss for something to wear that doesn’t make you feel like you’re living your own personal Groundhog Day – and all without breaking the bank.  To combat this closet conundrum, I set out to Buffalo Exchange Tucson with one of my holiday wardrobe staples in hand (a navy blazer!)  to style three holiday party looks. Keep reading for style secrets and plenty of sequins!

Sequins for a Soiree: A Casually Glam Holiday Party Look

For my first look, I wanted to create a holiday party outfit that looks put-together without feeling overthought. I found exactly what I was searching for with this fully sequined midi dress. Featuring a front vent and fluted hem, this dress is one-of-a-kind and certain to grab the attention of your fellow party-goers.  With the addition of my boucle blazer and dove gray velvet mules, I brought a lot of texture into the mix, making this fabulous dress more relaxed. Wear this look to a family dinner or office fete; in this copper number, the world is your oyster, my pretty penny!Full Story

By Savy Kroop, Buffalo Exchange HQ

Looking for the most festive sweater of all to rock this rock this holiday season? Stop into your local Buffalo Exchange for tons of cute and kitschy options. If you’re feeling a little crafty, though, try DIY-ing one of your own holiday sweaters. This snow globe sweater is unlike anything you can buy and will surely bring holiday cheer! For added fun, get a group of your friends together and make it into a craft night party.

What You’ll Need to DIY Your Snow Globe Holiday Sweaters

To start off, you’ll need to find the sweater you want to use as your base. Choose one from your closet that you’re no longer wearing or stop by Buffalo Exchange to pick one up – I found this cute gray sweater with pearl detailing at my local Buffalo and all of my crafting supplies at the dollar store. I spent under $20 on this project and only took about 30 minutes to complete! I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll be DIY-ing my own holiday sweaters from now on.

Supplies:

• Sweater
• Clear plastic bowl
• Plush snowman (or any other festive toy – i.e. reindeer or an elf)
• Tinsel
• Fake snow
• Snowflake stickers
• Glitter
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Marker

Crafting your DIY Snow Globe Sweater

Step One:

Take your plastic bowl and place it on the sweater where you would like your snow globe to be. Then, take your marker and trace the perimeter of the bowl. Once this is done, you can put the bowl aside and begin to decorate the inside of your snow globe.

Step Two:

For the inside of my snow globe, I chose a snowman stuffed animal and snowflakes, but you can get creative and use whatever fun and festive supplies you might have lying around.

First, I glued my cute plush in the center of the circle. Then, I placed the snowflake stickers around the snowman and secured them with hot glue.

Step Three:

Once you’re happy with the inside of your globe, glue down the bottom half of your plastic bowl with a hot glue gun, leaving the top half open.

Step Four:

Let it snow! Now, you’re going to add your fake snow and glitter to your snow globe.

Step Five:

For the final step, glue down the top portion of the bowl. I added tinsel around the perimeter of the globe for extra sparkle and to hide any visible marker from when I traced the bowl in the first step.

With DIY holiday sweaters like this, you’ll be sure to shake things up at your next holiday party! No time to DIY? No worries. Stop by your local Buffalo to pick up one of our pre-made options. Not to mention that you’ll have the chance take a peek at our selection of fun stocking stuffers or knock out your holiday shopping with a few Buffalo Exchange gift cards! Now through December 24, you’ll receive a tote bag with every $50 gift card purchase. Happy holidays!

By Savannah, Buffalo Exchange HQ

Hallmark channel holiday movies, peppermint bark and a jam-packed calendar full of parties with family, friends and coworkers can only mean one thing – it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Not sure what to wear? Try on sequins, glitter lurex or liquid metallics. After all, silver and gold are always in style this time of year.

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By Emma, Buffalo Exchange HQ

One of the things that makes Buffalo Exchange unique is our stores’ ongoing support of local charities through our Tokens for Bags® program. Instead of giving out plastic bags, we give out charity tokens with each purchase. These give our customers the chance to support a range of local non-profits that help out animals, individuals in the local community and the environment each time they shop. What can we say? Giving back is important to us! Since starting the program in 1994, we’ve kept over 15.4 million plastic bags out of the environment and raised more than $774,365 for thousands of local non-profits.

At Buffalo Exchange Costa Mesa, one of the many charities we’re supporting this year is the Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA). Since it was founded in 2000, ODA has worked hard to protect ocean wildlife and their habitats from abandoned fishing gear, pollution and more.

A Community Effort

Protecting our oceans takes a village and no one understands that better than the Ocean Defenders Alliance. Not only do they keep an eye on regular commercial fishing locations that tend to accumulate abandoned gear, but they also have a large network of divers and community supporters who notify them when they find cast-off gear and improperly sunken vessels. This allows them to devote more of their time to actually cleaning up debris!

Cleaning Up Our Seas

Using their custom-outfitted vessels, ODA regularly heads out into the ocean to take care of business. Their divers work to free sea life and collect debris. They recycle anything they can and properly dispose of everything else. While they’re out on the water, ODA also works with the California Department of Fish and Game, the Coast Guard and many other agencies to maximize their efforts.

Education and Outreach

ODA’s job isn’t over when they make it back to land, though. When the organization isn’t out actively cleaning up the ocean, they’re reaching out in any way possible to educate people on the repercussions that man-made pollution has on our oceans and the ways we can make a positive difference. They go to schools, clubs, conferences and anywhere they think they can make an impact.

Since they started, the Ocean Defenders Alliance has removed tens of thousands of pounds of man-made debris from the ocean, all while doing whatever they can to prevent it from winding up there in the first place. We are proud to support ODA in their efforts to take care of our oceans. When you shop at Buffalo Exchange Costa Mesa through the end of the year, you can help make a difference for the Ocean Defenders Alliance just by placing your token in their charity box. Stop in to shop for a cause!

By Aarian, Buffalo Exchange HQ

Hello, Buffaloes! If you read my blog about how much I love plaid, you know that one of my favorite holidays is fast approaching: Thanksgiving! As a verified overthinker and certified procrastinator, I understand that coming up with a look for Halloween may have sent you into a tizzy and now you’re stressin’ about what to wear over the week of family reunions and friendsgivings ahead – fret not, because I am here to help. Naturally, as any secondhand fashionista would, I shopped at my neighborhood Buffalo Exchange and came up with five different Thanksgiving outfits that will work for almost any occasion. Couch surfing at your family’s home? Covered. Friendsgiving chic? Got it. Meeting you significant other’s ‘rents? Nailed it! Read ahead for tips and tricks to copy this Thanksgiving – it’s easy as pie!

Game On! Thanksgiving Outfits Made for Comfort

There’s nothing quite like going home for the holidays. If you’re staying with the ‘rents during the long weekend, it’s definitely tempting to traipse down the hall in the sweatpants you slept in for Thanksgiving dinner (no judgement – we’ve all been there). To combat the alluring draw of comfort-over-all, pair a velvet T-shirt dress with your favorite pair of sneakers and a fuzzy cardigan, topping off the look with a matching beret. With this outfit, you’ll look put-together for your family photos with all the comfort of being wrapped up burrito-style in bed.

Let’s Leo-party!

If you’re like me, you’re the dramatic friend. You know, the one who visits once a year to regale everyone with tales of what it’s like to live in a moderately larger city with two large bags of luggage in tow (def more stuff than necessary for a four-day trip). For my fellow drama queens, this look is for you! After feasting with your family, fight the urge to take a nap and catch up with the hometown folks you didn’t see at dinner in an attention-grabbing leopard print romper and floral blazer! The pattern mixing works because of the neutral color palette and the leopard print totally hides the mashed potatoes you dribbled on yourself earlier. WIN-WIN!

Gather Around for Gathered Sleeves

Let’s be real: Thanksgiving dinner is really Thanksgiving lunch. If you’re one of the few people that can hold out until a proper dinner time, let’s say 6 o‘clock, then 1) I commend you and 2) This evening look is for you. Here, I layered a faux-corset that has contrast stitching over a hunter green T-shirt with gathered sleeves. I don’t know about you, but I’m still loving sleeve details with various ties, puffs and cuffs. A plaid accordion-pleat polishes off the look but leaves plenty of room for late-night seconds (or thirds). Definitely one of my favorite Thanksgiving outfits!

Hot Turkey Tamale

If you’re looking for one of those Thanksgiving outfits that’ll show your fellow dinner guests (many of whom you see just a few times a year) you’ve got it all figured out and WEREN’T totally thinking about sweatpants to dinner, a blazer and skirt combo is the way to go. Brown suede compliments the cheery holiday red top and the silver grommet fastening draws attention to your square-toed silver block heels. Who looks like they read the New York Times instead of just scrolling through Twitter? You do, girl!

Meet the Parents: Holiday Edition

Cuffing season is here! You made it through a summer of singledom, met someone special and now it’s time to meet their parents. As far as Thanksgiving outfits go, you’ll probably want to air on the side of caution and go with something classic (read: not a sequin jumpsuit). Make a great first impression in a vintage-inspired paisley dress with flutter sleeves and simple pumps. Compliment the high collar with your favorite good-luck charm necklace and top it off with a camel-colored beret. Whip up a side dish (or pick up a premade one – no judgement!) and you’ll be the best guest ever!

Feeling stuffed with inspiration for Thanksgiving outfits? If I can talk turkey with you, it’s time to run down to your local Buffalo Exchange and shop for your look! Whatever event you’ll be attending, I can guarantee that they’ve got just the thing you need. Thanks for reading and have a happy Thanksgiving!