RACHAEL WANG FOR LEVI'S® SECONDHAND: FINDING WHAT MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE

New York based stylist Rachael Wang examines the idea of comfort and what goes into creating a sense of safety. She believes that garments worn well, in times of hardship and in times of joy, contribute to a feeling of comfort and consistency.

Looking through the lens of six different individuals, we see just how comfortable people can be in their vintage.

“I think that the people, places and things that surround us contribute to our overall sense of well-being or dis-ease. On a macro level, clothing is meant to shield us from the elements, so inherently they contribute to our feeling of being protected. To take it one step farther, I believe that garments worn well, in times of hardship and in times of joy contribute also to a feeling of comfort and consistency, similar to the feeling of coming home to a familiar place steeped in memories.”

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF COMFORT FOR THIS SERIES?

 

RACHAEL: I wanted to examine the idea of comfort and what goes into

creating a sense of safety, care and ease at a time of collective suffering and loss.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT VINTAGE LEVI’S IN PARTICULAR THAT MAKES THEM SO COMFORTABLE, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY BUT EMOTIONALLY?

RACHAEL: Clothes that are made to be worn for a long time, gather stories and memories along the way and there’s no way for us not to feel emotionally connected to the things that have been a daily part of our living experience.

WERE THERE ANY OF THE SHOOTS THAT YOU STYLED IN A WAY THAT SURPRISED YOU? MAYBE THAT LED YOU IN A DIRECTION YOU WEREN’T EXPECTING?

RACHAEL: This project was about honoring individual experiences so I tried to really let each person’s personal aesthetic dictate the style direction for the films.

WHAT WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IF THEY’RE LOOKING FOR THEIR OWN PERFECT PAIR OF VINTAGE LEVI’S ON SECONDHAND?

RACHAEL: I think the best part about shopping secondhand is letting our instincts guide us. Just try the pair that catches your eye, and don’t be afraid to tailor them for the perfect fit.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PAIR OF VINTAGE LEVI’S? IF SO, WHERE DID YOU GET THEM AND HOW DO YOU LIKE TO WEAR THEM?

RACHAEL: I have a pair of orange label 517 flares that I scored at a thrift store in Texas years ago. What I love most about them is that they have changed with my personal style over the years. I bought them oversized initially and used to roll the waistband over. Then I went through a skin tight jeans phase so I had the waist and hips taken in for a really snug fit. The flares felt dated to me at one point so I had them hemmed to become a cropped “kick flare”. But then long inseams came back into style so I let back out the hem. I wear these jeans every way imaginable - with oversized blazers and mules to work, with tees and sneakers on weekends and barefoot with a swimsuit all summer long.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT A PLATFORM LIKE SECONDHAND, BOTH IN TERMS OF PRODUCT AND STORYTELLING?

RACHAEL: I love that SecondHand is about extending the life cycle of garments and reducing fashion waste plus the platform makes finding great used jeans really easy.