by Naabia Romain

Your closet is a statement. It is, and has always been a statement of wealth, identity, and culture. But, my closet is also a statement of my values.  As an aspect of my sustainability journey, I have learned to value expressing myself through fashion. My passion for second-hand and vintage fashion is almost a part of my identity at this point. Anyone who knows me, knows my “Thank you, I thrifted it!” expression. Those conversations always feel meaningful in a larger way. I hope to be part of other people’s journey to sustainable living, by presenting second-hand fashion contextualized. Normalizing second-hand fashion is such an important aspect in breaking the hold that fast fashion has on our closest and understanding of consumer clothing. 

At this point, a majority of my day-to-day pieces were bought second-hand, which I’m proud of. In the last year, I’ve reduced my plastic consumption, my meat consumption, and been able to make conscious consumerism more central in my life. As I met some of my other goals, my closet has proven complicated. Initially making my closet more sustainable sounded expensive, but I’ve found it certainly doesn’t have to be. Curating a more sustainable closet is equally as important to me as helping other people do the same thing. 

“Thrifting” is obviously a personal experience that is different for everyone, but this is my approach when it comes to brand name thrift shops (Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc). As the winter approaches, you want to start in a few specific spots and go from there, depending on your style.

First off, jackets and coats. In most shops, you’ll find men’s and women’s outerwear in separate places, but I usually give both a good look. I’ve personally had a lot of luck with denim jackets and windbreakers in the men’s section. You can often find high quality winter coats for a fraction of the cost. When it comes to less casual looks, the men’s and women’s sections can make a big difference in terms of the cut and style. I’d be a little more critical when trying on dress coats.

Since sweater weather is also upon us, both the men’s and women’s sections are likely to yield different results. If you”re looking for casual funky sweaters with more of a vintage “Dad” aesthetic, the men’s section tends to produce high quality finds. For me, I find the women's section to often be better for cardigans and solid basics.

Regardless of the season, I always scan what I can only describe as “tops”. Most shops are going to be organized very differently. Men’s shirts are usually separated into t-shirts, long sleeves, and button-downs. However, women’s shirts is often a different beast every time. During cold times, I look for basics, since my statement pieces tend to need cold weather updates. I often rely on button down shirts to wear over things and long sleeve shirts to wear under things in the winter. 

Now, if you’re not looking to go thrifting, which can be a matter of time and access, you’ve got options. You can still up your second-hand fashion game. I shop online vintage stores all the time. The community on Depop, where I shop and sell all the time. That community is increasingly migrating elsewhere. You can find people building very similar businesses on Instagram. This allows inspiration and shopping to blend in a neat way. It also means you can shop secondhand on platforms you’re likely already on. 

I know I’ve found something special when it speaks to me. If a color or print catches my eye, I always pull it. Over time, I began to develop a sense that enables me to scan racks much more effectively. I live in Detroit, so sometimes thrifting means heading into the suburbs. However, when I have stayed local I’ve always found some nice pieces. Late last year, while on the hunt for some new cold weather clothes I wandered over to the men’s section on the way to check out. As I flipped through, a beautifully done cable-knit caught my eye. It was a dark, forest  green sweater with navy blue and white band that stretches from shoulder to shoulder. It has a 90s vibe that I love and reminds me of something that Ross Geller from Friends would wear. At the time, I couldn’t just leave it behind and it’s still one of my favorites come Winter.

Photo Collages by Naabia Romain