Loved this!! Shopping as a collector also forces more conscious spending and doesn't contribute to the overconsumption that trends perpetuate. With trend cycles happening faster than ever and people being worried something they bought 2 months ago will be "out in 2025", they often opt for cheap, poorly made items that can be tossed out at the end of the trend cycle which is the opposite of building a personal style profile. Love to see how your style has evolved over the years, yet stayed consistent at its core! Trends come and go, invest in buying things that will make you happy for years to come!
Love this - very aligned with Haley’s Newsletter from last week as well, which is fun. I love when something that’s on my mind is brought up and discussed by multiple people around the same time. :)
As someone who loves vintage and has shopped like a collector since I was in my early 20s (early 30s now), I find the difficulty lies in figuring out who (or which version of yourself) you’re collecting for. It can be hard to differentiate between an incredible piece and an incredible piece for your own style specifically - something that will be
worn and re-worn as the years pass. That being said, you know you love something (and should invest in a great version) when you’ve continued to wear and love it despite various trend cycles. I’ve loved Mary Janes since a pair I got from AA when I worked there at 18 and I will wear them until I die, when I am cremated in Mary Janes, lol.
Ohhhhh shit, this is good! The whole concepts of hyper-carefully developing a personal style sometimes gives me ulcers because it feels so daunting, and that anxiety can manifest in cycles of buying nothing and then panic buying everything—not great for my wardrobe or for mother earth long term! But taking this slow, seasonally agnostic approach feels much better. Thanks for sharing.
Love all this 💕 I often feel a little too basic to be a collector... I think I subject myself to the fashion retailer mindset because I think I need help from the mainstream. But this is inspiring me to push myself toward a collector mindset!
i totally understand that! I'm so glad you found this approach helpful. and for the record -- i think it's completely fine to be inspired by mainstream trends. Just ask yourself if you're inspired simply because it's a trend, or because it suits you and your style in a more specific sense.
Loved this article! It motivates me to embrace my personal style and not fall into the power of marketing and trends which are extremely hard to ignore!!! And 100% agree with the fact that opting not to buy something can be super satisfying, more so if it's a piece that you've been eyeing for a while, liberating!!
This was really helpful! I want to make my closet a timeless capsule wardrobe, and this is the perfect way to think about what to keep and what to buy.
I really liked this! I've thought similarly about how makeup artists shop for makeup vs. the consumer (and even estheticians vs. consumer) and I feel like there are similar themes, i.e. the various ways products can be used and how they fit in with a whole ~ ecosystem ~ of a collection. Very "in this essay I will..." of me, but anyway I loved reading this!
Loved this!! Shopping as a collector also forces more conscious spending and doesn't contribute to the overconsumption that trends perpetuate. With trend cycles happening faster than ever and people being worried something they bought 2 months ago will be "out in 2025", they often opt for cheap, poorly made items that can be tossed out at the end of the trend cycle which is the opposite of building a personal style profile. Love to see how your style has evolved over the years, yet stayed consistent at its core! Trends come and go, invest in buying things that will make you happy for years to come!
Love this - very aligned with Haley’s Newsletter from last week as well, which is fun. I love when something that’s on my mind is brought up and discussed by multiple people around the same time. :)
As someone who loves vintage and has shopped like a collector since I was in my early 20s (early 30s now), I find the difficulty lies in figuring out who (or which version of yourself) you’re collecting for. It can be hard to differentiate between an incredible piece and an incredible piece for your own style specifically - something that will be
worn and re-worn as the years pass. That being said, you know you love something (and should invest in a great version) when you’ve continued to wear and love it despite various trend cycles. I’ve loved Mary Janes since a pair I got from AA when I worked there at 18 and I will wear them until I die, when I am cremated in Mary Janes, lol.
Ohhhhh shit, this is good! The whole concepts of hyper-carefully developing a personal style sometimes gives me ulcers because it feels so daunting, and that anxiety can manifest in cycles of buying nothing and then panic buying everything—not great for my wardrobe or for mother earth long term! But taking this slow, seasonally agnostic approach feels much better. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my GOODNESS that bedding is so chic
Love all this 💕 I often feel a little too basic to be a collector... I think I subject myself to the fashion retailer mindset because I think I need help from the mainstream. But this is inspiring me to push myself toward a collector mindset!
i totally understand that! I'm so glad you found this approach helpful. and for the record -- i think it's completely fine to be inspired by mainstream trends. Just ask yourself if you're inspired simply because it's a trend, or because it suits you and your style in a more specific sense.
One of my favorite pieces of yours yet
thank you so much!
Such a great piece! Turns out I am a collector, makes me happy!!!
I loved seeing the extension of these principles into your interior design purchases and choices!
I’m definitely a collector. Thank you for the confirmation. Great piece!
Loved this article! It motivates me to embrace my personal style and not fall into the power of marketing and trends which are extremely hard to ignore!!! And 100% agree with the fact that opting not to buy something can be super satisfying, more so if it's a piece that you've been eyeing for a while, liberating!!
so glad to hear this!!
This was really helpful! I want to make my closet a timeless capsule wardrobe, and this is the perfect way to think about what to keep and what to buy.
so happy it resonated :)
Brilliant thank you
Such a great story!
Brilliant Harling, loved reading this. Such a great frame or filter to use when shopping.
Love this! V inspired
I really liked this! I've thought similarly about how makeup artists shop for makeup vs. the consumer (and even estheticians vs. consumer) and I feel like there are similar themes, i.e. the various ways products can be used and how they fit in with a whole ~ ecosystem ~ of a collection. Very "in this essay I will..." of me, but anyway I loved reading this!
yes such a good point!