If you aren’t familiar with SSENSE, let me introduce you. SSENSE is an online retailer that specializes in high end luxury goods and street wear items. This Canadian based company has made quite the name for themselves since 2020, and they have some of the best deals I have seen. I would consider myself a very light luxury consumer, as I am always considering what to purchase at the best price.
SSENSE often runs sales and private sales on huge designers such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Off-White and more, at discounts I can’t seem to find anywhere else. Right now, I have gone through and found my favorite picks from shoes to dresses, and what I recommend snagging before it sells out. During these sales, things go fast.
Shop each individual link here, or see more on my LTK.
In a world that is consumed by fast fashion, thrifting is climbing its way back into our consumer purchasing system. Over the past year I have really tried to watch my intake of fast fashion from popular retailers such as Zara, H&M, etc. as they cause extreme amounts of garment waste. It are these companies that that draw in such a large amount of customers because they are promoting items at a cheaper price. If I don’t shop there, how else I am supposed to afford the trendiest items everyone has? Well, you know the saying “what goes around comes around”? That has to do with fashion too. And the best way to stay in the consumer loop? Thrifting.
I am very new to buying lightly worn clothes, but I have found out some tips for when it comes to finding the best deals, where to look, and who to trust. Here is what I have found.
Know where to shop.
While I know there are many thrift stores near me in Chicago, between work and school, I have not had the time to go and explore what they have to offer. In the meantime I have been using online apps such as Depop, Curtsy, Poshmark, Ebay and TheRealReal to find some of the best steals.
Follow sellers on online that are your size.
Yes, there are so many options to buy used clothing and accessories, which can make shopping very overwhelming. Finding sellers on these apps, more specifically Depop, with your style preference and size is a game changer. I have purchased from sellers in the past who have bought from stores I like to primarily purchase from, and are my size. This makes online thrifting quick and easy, and you can follow them for post notifications.
Follow influencer’s on Poshmark.
I have found that influencers are some of the best people to buy from off Poshmark. Most influencers only wear clothes one time for a photo, and are constantly being sent new items, so the lifecycle of a piece of theirs is very short. But, some sell their clothes online for extremely inexpensive. I just purchased a Ganni dress that was worn once by an influencer for $40 (it was originally $250).
Use eBay if you’re looking for vintage designer.
While I have not purchased from eBay for designer bags, I have definitely looked and I know many people who have. Despite the claims that eBay cannot be trusted, it its almost difficult to dupe a vintage designer bag, which ensures many bags authenticity. A vintage bag has plenty of wear, while good dupes are newer and are noticeably clean. It is much cheaper to purchase off of eBay than designer second-hand stores like TheRealReal or Fashionphile, so this will be where I buy my next designer bag.
Start selling your clothes online
Whether you need a second source of income or are just looking for a closet cleanup, selling your clothes online is always a great option. In college I worked for Cursty, an app target towards college girls for easy buying and selling. When I sold I was able to see who bought my clothes. If they are my size and like my clothes it was almost certain that I would fit into the pieces they are selling and like their style too. It’s a great way to make money and find new places to shop. A win-win!
If you have any tips to share about thrifting, leave a comment for other readers below. Help each other shop sustainable!
With restaurants and bars starting to open back up you may be thinking… what do I wear out? It has been a long time since everyone has gone to a bar or out to nice dinner, and since early 2020 style has changed tremendously. Fashion evolves so quickly, and with that comes with the uncertainty of what to wear out.
I have styled outfits from some of my favorite retailers such as SSENSE, Shopbop, ASOS, and more. Each outfit made for a different occasion, but all supposed to make you feel confident for hitting the town this summer. Shop them all with the links below and via my LIKEtoKNOW.it .
Whether you are ready for it or not… swimsuit season is almost here. If you are up north, you are probably dreaming and maybe even planning for a trip to the beach. If you live in the south – swimsuit season is already here. Yes, I am sunburned in January.
While there is nothing more I love than a good swimsuit, WHY have they gotten so expensive over the past few years? It can be so difficult to find a swimsuit in your price range, especially one that will last you more than one season. While Zaful and Shein sound like a great idea because the swimsuits are so cheap, they don’t even survive one round through the wash. As I have gotten older and become more educated on the fashion industry, I try my best to avoid purchasing from fast-fashion empires like Zaful and Shein. Being more conscious about where are purchasing your clothing helps the environment yourself! Why? Because your clothes will probably last longer.
Let me save you the trouble of searching the internet for the best bikinis – they are right here. AND they are sorted by price range.
With a horrible shopping habit comes excessive (but sometimes necessary) spending. I have been constantly looking for back to school clothes, even though I know this is not the normal back to school we are all used to. In order to avoid over-stuffing my closet I thought about purchasing items to begin a capsule wardrobe – but college edition.
If you are unfamiliar with a capsule wardrobe, it is essentially a closet that consist of roughly 37 pieces. Eighty percent basics, twenty percent seasonal. Many people with a sustainable lifestyle follow this wardrobe and spending technique.
Yes, I have more than 37 pieces in my wardrobe; but I am trying to cut down and reduce by getting rid of things I don’t wear that often. A rule of thumb to use is get rid of something if you haven’t worn it in three months. If you really liked it, you’d wear it by now.
Have I considered excessive back to school shopping? Yes. Have I acted on it? Not quite. I have created the ultimate capsule wardrobe specifically for college students, because our closet looks different than someone working in the workforce or someone in high school. If you are looking to build your back to school wardrobe look no further.
As a college student I often look for the the cheaper alternative when it comes to purchasing clothes. I used to turn to brand that are know as part of the “fast-fashion” industry due to their convenient price and accessibility. These clothing items always seem to do the job but in a few months they are torn, worn or ready to be given away. This made me want to steer clear of these companies, as I knew there was a better alternative for the items I was purchasing. This is where researching and investing in sustainable pieces became part of my purchasing routine.
I have been conscious about what my clothes materials and ecological footprint they leave on the environment for about a year now. I have done so much research about sustainable materials, environmentally friendly brands, etc. and have found that most of my favorite places to get clothes from already have products that fit this sustainable mold. I have listed my favorite places/ items to shop down below, as well as brands I would like to try. If you would like to read more about sustainable fashion, you can click here.
ASOS
ASOS is a company that many people are familiar with, but falls under the category of people thinking it is another “fast fashion” website. I have many clothes, swimsuits and accessories from here that are all made from sustainable or recycled materials! ASOS actually has a feature where you can sort by responsibility, so you can only see items that are eco friendly. I have linked some of my favorite items in the list below:
I cannot say enough good things about this line. For starters, I love Morgan Stewart as a person. Her whole lounge and active wear line is chic and high quality. All cotton-based products such as sweatshirts, sweatpants, polos, etc. are 100% organic cotton, which is very biodegradable. While stretchy materials such as sports bras and leggings are made of nylons, the quality makes up for having to buy bras again and again. Along with majority eco-friendly materials, products are made in the USA. My all-time favorite products from here are:
Agolde, the sister company of Citizens of Humanity, is another high quality brand based out of LA. This brand of jeans has grown immensely in popularity in 2019 and 2020 but all for good reasons. They are dedicated to eco-friendly materials, as their denim is made from 100% non GMO organic cotton. While Agolde is priced decently high, it is for very valid reasons in materials and production.
When talking about sustainable fashion, it is almost impossible to forget to mention Curtsy . Curtsy is a stoppable resell app targeted towards girls who are in high school, college, the workforce; a go-getter individual. I have worked for Curtsy at Michigan State and have fallen in love with the app. I HIGHLY recommend buying/ selling clothes on Curtsy! (If you want $10 off your first purchase use the code GGUC ☺)
Sporty & Rich is a brand that I just purchased something from. I have heard so many great things about the brand and the founder Emily Oberg which is what drew me to the company. The name Sporty & Rich is not meant to be taken literally but that if you live an active lifestyle, you will get the most out of your life; which is something I heavily believe and live by. All products are environmentally friendly and made in the USA.
Kayce Wright 