May for My Mental
If you’re part of the ThrifTheorem community on Instagram, then you most likely saw my update last month when shared how I was furiously planning away on content for the month of May. Then a couple of weeks later, you saw the update that May’s newsletter would be a few days late. Man - life can come at us so fast.
After a few new follows and a couple of cool finds in April, I had a whole blog post drafted, ready for editing, and then - tbh - life started life-ing. I’ve had some time to reflect and the reality of it is, I spent so much time planning for the future that I didn’t take enough to time to assess what was happening in the present. And then everything started seemingly going left at the same time; I quickly realized that my mental and emotional state was unbalanced for a number of reasons and that meant everything else needed to go on the back burner while I (literally) got my life together.
I considered trying to push through to pull something together even though I knew it wouldn’t be as good as it could be, but that just didn’t feel right. This community brings me so much joy and the thought of half-assing anything to share with y’all is just not it. So I decided I’d just be honest and transparent about why I haven’t been my most consistent this month. So many of you responded with love, understanding, and a reminder that I am human and it will happen - and it made me fall in love with this community all over again. I know this is a style community first, but I’ve also wanted it to be a space where people can feel like they can be their true and whole selves. This month y’all have shown me that our ThrifTheorem community is exactly that.
You always hear the saying, “showing up is half the battle” - and I try to keep that in mind when I feel like I’m slacking or not doing enough to stay engaged with our community. I can’t promise perfection, but what I can promise is I will continue to keep showing up for you all in the best way I can, every time. I appreciate all of you and can’t say “thanks for rockin’ with me” enough!
I’ll see y’all back here the first week of June (on time!) with some really exciting updates!
Conscious Closets
Sustainability. Buying Green. Buying Clean. We hear the buzz words, see the campaigns, swipe through the IG posts giving us tips on how we can be conscious consumers. But what do these ideals really look like in everyday life with our wardrobes?
Over the years, the definition of sustainability has shifted based on subject. As it relates to fashion, we’ve seen a rise in brands that have committed to equitable supply chain and ethically sourced materials. In theory, shopping at one of these brands is generally a leap in the right direction, and at the same time, it is just one of the many ways sustainability can make its way to our closets. Especially for those of us who don’t necessarily have $48 to spend on a basic tee (spoiler alert: a majority of the US population).
My personal belief is that most of us have the ability to take a more thoughtful approach to building our wardrobes no matter what price point we’re working with. I’ll also take this opportunity to note that I firmly do not believe in shaming folks for buying “new” or shopping from fast fashion brands. IMO, it is completely unrealistic (and unfair) to expect a population - where over 30 million people are living in poverty - to all of a sudden commit to spending essential income on clothes in the name of sustainability. That said, I do believe those of us who have the privilege of prioritizing parameters around our closets can and should; in ways that are practical and applicable for our lifestyles.
For example, when I think of building a sustainable wardrobe, I think of a timeless, versatile collection of items that can be used year after year, event after event. A few things I consider while buying items, whether secondhand or new:
Multi-functionality: Can I transition this piece from season to season? Ex: Can this button-up be a regular shirt in the Fall? A second layer in the Winter over a tee? Knotted in the front as a crop top in the Summer?
Fabric & Condition: -What’s the quality & condition of the fabric? Does this seem like it can withstand normal wear and tear? I’m not a textile expert and feel it’s generally a crapshoot when it comes to fabric longevity… I have some vintage poly blends that have been through it and still going strong,
Versatility: Can I style this top for work, brunch, and special occasions? Or any combination of the 3?
Before I take anything to the register - secondhand or new, in person or virtual - it has to hit those 3 points and it’s taken years of consistent effort to fine tune this habit. I say that less to boast, but more to highlight how “sustainability” is so much more than a $48 ethically sourced tee or a trip to the Goodwill (although both of those things are great!).
We all have learning and unlearning to do when it comes to sustainable wardrobes. At the end of the day, to me, it’s all about doing our best to lessen the impulse of buying something new (or used!) for every occasion. And like any other habit or mind shift, it’s a work in progress that takes time.
So the question is - what are the small steps we can take today to begin building our conscious closets?
Women’s History Month Spotlight: Aurora James
Though I’ve been rummaging through thrift bins and estate sales for over a decade now, I didn’t really start thinking about what “ethical” and “sustainable” fashion meant to me as an individual until the past couple of years. When I heard Aurora James share her journey as Founder of Brother Vellies, it was the first time I’d heard anyone talk about ethical fashion in a way that made sense to me.
I first heard Aurora James’ story via Hillary Kerr’s Second Life Podcast; I was familiar with Brother Vellies but never knew the story behind the brand. Right off the bat the conversation around her non-linear career path drew me in; I was holding on to every single twist and turn listening as a person with a non-traditional career path myself. I just remember being enamored by this successful Black woman in fashion sharing her incredible story, and feeling so affirmed in my own journey. You hear this term thrown around so much, but I’m here to confirm - representation matters.
Past that, it was just the intentionality of it all for me - Brother Vellies was founded in 2013 “with the goal of keeping traditional African design practices, and techniques alive while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs”. A luxury brand supporting POC Artisans across the globe? Yes please. Though my budget at the time wasn’t ready to make a purchase just yet (lol), I was fan and found myself drawn back to the brand in one way or another.
Fast forward to 2020 when the opportunity to be a Brother Vellies consumer popped up through the “Something Special” initiative - a monthly subscription for made to order, one of a kind items “made with love to bring a little comfort and beauty into your lives during this difficult time in our world”. I’m not exaggerating when I say this: my Something Special subscription was one of the best decisions I made in 2020. It’s not just because of the items themselves - it’s the way I get background on the people, the process…I know their names, their stories. She’s just done such an admirable job of keeping the people behind the items top of mind and humanizing our consumerism.
My biggest takeaway from that Second Life interview was the reminder that actual people are a part of everything we buy and consume - the fact that an item is never just ‘something on a rack’ stuck with me. There are individuals who have been part of the process of products making their way to us. I firmly believe if we keep that humanizing lens on for our purchases it’ll help shift our mindsets as a whole.
This Women’s History Month, I celebrate the incredible women like Aurora blazing trails and re-setting the standard for fashion. The world of sustainable and ethical fashion is not just a place that can be accessible to us all, it’s a place we all belong!
Your New Fave Follows
Though I technically began this ThrifTheorem journey a couple of years ago, it wasn’t until Summer 2020 that I started investing the real, quality time necessary to build a solid community. One of my favorite parts of this process has been crossing virtual paths with so many dope Black creatives doing the damn thing. There’s something special about being able to take a genre or specialty and finding a way to make it uniquely your own - and these folks listed do just that. This is by no means an exhaustive list (not even close!), but a few that have caught and kept my eye over the past few months. Be sure to follow and support!
The Thriftapist- The artistic shots and super cool reels from this Sustainable Stylist always keeps me double tapping.
Napturally Meg - You can feel this Thrift Blogger’s genuine love for thrifting through the screen. She also offers curated thrift boxes for clients which is so bomb.
Bar Babe of Brooklyn - The #BKBarBabe is everybody’s happy hour bff in their heads. Her updates are a legit resource for my to-go drink needs.
True Lo Style - This stylist, shop owner, (and middle school teacher!) is a go-to for bright colors, unique prints, and a variety of secondhand styling inspo.
Being Simone Iman - From style & fitness inspo, to the latest reality show reviews (like, thee best reviews), and everything in between - if you’re looking for your new favorite lifestyle Vlogger, look no further.
Noellerx - Black art from a Black artist. I recently bought a couple of these prints and I’m obsessed. Customer service is top notch, too!
Good Girls Thrift - Four words: “Bougie on a Budget”… and the Thrifty Baddie energy we all need in our lives.
@WashingtonAve - This shop offers incredibly unique vintage and re-worked vintage pieces. It’s really just the fashion of it all for me.
@TheCocktailSnob_ - Cocktail recipes, mocktail recipes, and more - ready to elevate your #happyhourathome? Go ‘head and hit that follow button immediately.
@DomintheCity - We love a solid food recommendation, and when I tell you every single dish on this page looks way too good (I’ve tasted a couple of them myself and can tell you, it’s good!). Even if you don’t live in the City, worth a follow for her aesthetic alone.
Back Where We Started
So it’s December and my last entry was in February. Let’s just get that out of the way.
I remember just like it was yesterday: I’d spent a couple of months learning how to create and launch a website. I was nervous, but feeling accomplished, and super excited to share my secondhand world outside of IG. Then March came along, and you know what happens next. And when it came between managing a brand site and managing my general wellbeing - well - something had to give and it wasn’t going to be the latter.
Those first few months were like a treacherous journey to find my way back to my inner voice that’d somehow gotten lost in the endless headlines, nonstop crazy, nonstop voices telling me how to feel in the middle of a global pandemic; compounded on a social justice movement momentum that most of us haven’t seen in our lifetimes. How could I possibly expect myself to keep up with my 9-5, build a personal brand, be a partner, daughter, sister, friend, dog mom, podcast co-host, etc. etc.? There wasn’t and still isn’t a straightforward answer to that question, but I was forced to dig deep and uncover what it truly meant to find joy in the midst of the storm.
I avoided anything styling or thrift related, well, because I thought, what’s the point? Nobody cares about outfits in the middle of a global crisis. But therein lied the problem - I was too focused on everybody and nobody instead of what my body was telling me. I was depriving myself of my creative therapy, my self expression, a source of joy and contentment that was desperately needed. As gruesome of an exercise as this realization seemed to be in the moment, in retrospect it felt like a much needed internal reset, and strong reminder of my “why” for ThrifTheorem.
Now, I have to say that I fully acknowledge the privilege that comes with being able to have the space to “find joy” this year. It’s been a challenging few months for so many reasons for so many people and that fact is not lost on me - and given the nature of my 9-5 life, will never be. In fact, I’m still very much exploring how these ‘lives’ of mine can co-exist, but that’s another entry for another day. The point is I’m grateful for the opportunity to reaffirm just how much building this community really means to me.
As we near the 1 year mark of ThrifTheorem becoming more than just an IG handle, I am thankful for the journey that’s taken me all the way around and back again. My hope going into this new year is that ThrifTheorem can be a source of inspiration not only for unique finds or styling ideas, but a constant reminder for us to hold on to our inner voices, and stay the course to find our “why”.
Happy New Year, ThrifTheorem fam! I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else but here alongside you all and can’t wait to keep building with you.
Much Love,
Lauren