I don’t really pay attention to trends, but I’d say Zoe Kravitz is a definite girl crush of mine. And Zendaya—her style in Euphoria is cool-girl casual which I really dig. My hair and makeup are usually very natural, so I lean on my clothes to look intentional and “put together.” I try to buy most garments secondhand or vintage and ones I feel confident can be resold and have another life when I'm done with them.
I’m outside as much as I can be, moving my body, walking, reading, going to the beach, so I like my outfits to be durable and non-fussy. I look for quality, durability, versatility, repairability, timeless and classic pieces that can all be mixed and worn together. All of which helps me toward my goal of creating minimal waste. Portland has really fun vintage shops, so I don’t feel I have to sacrifice style for sustainability, which I love! Finding a good pair of vintage Levi's® is one of my favorite things—they feel like a real treasure and you feel like you're part of something bigger than the here and now. A piece that’s already lived many lives has all the good energy and when it fits just right, it feels like a missing puzzle piece just clicked.
Shopping for clothes, like anything, should be a choice made from the heart and mind together.
In my day-to-day life, I’m usually in either Birkenstocks, Converse or my Blundstones. Vintage 501® Originals or Skinnies, or maybe some 505s. A vintage band tee or a classic white tee. A crewneck or flannel for color or pattern and a fun jacket like a Trucker Jacket, something in old-military style or a cool vintage outdoor find. I’m also known for wearing a lot of black-and-white stripes, warm earth tones and steel grays and blues. And I shop in all departments—I’m short and pretty petite, so I shop the boys’, men’s and women’s departments. Some of my favorite pieces are boys XLs—kids clothes are great for saving a lot of money while incorporating fun colors and graphics.
People are thinking about the impact of our purchases and that’s a big step in saving our planet.
Over the last few years, I've been engaging in conversations with friends and family about all of this goodness and it feels so good to me to see my immediate connections think differently about how they live as a result. I've already gotten Christmas cards saying, “I'm sorry I had to wrap your cookies in plastic, please forgive me” and “I realize you don't want any stuff, so here's a gift card to buy what you need,” and that makes me SO happy. Not only does it make me feel heard, but it means people are thinking about the impact of our purchases and that’s a big step in saving our planet.
I strongly believe in the power of voting with our wallets, and putting my money back into the system where it's needed most. At the end of the day, I want to have a positive impact on our planet and society, and how I spend my money and time are two big ways to make a difference.