I am what I Wear!

Fashion, like all parts of culture, is victim to cyclical patterns and stagnant periods. The rise and fall of trends, like the wide-flare pants of the ‘70s or the bejeweled, patterned long sleeve tops of the early 2000’s, are all back in style, awaiting a pair of fresh new eyes to revamp them. Over the last few decades, there has been a newfound interest in the trends of the past. Fashion influencers have traded in their neon bodycon dresses and zebra pants for knee-length shorts, white tees and cowboy boots. These looks, now worn by Bella Hadid, are inspired by Jennifer Aniston in the ‘90s. Those tired of buying from fast fashion companies look elsewhere for unique and innovative styles, and many have found that what they look for lies within.

Many of us, bored and forcibly indoors, found new ways to entertain ourselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, thrifting became a modern and trendy way to buy clothes. Thrifting clothes allows buyers options. Buyers can keep the pieces they find, resell or flip them. Social media became obsessed with buying so-called “ugly” pieces and layering them to perfection or taking the clothes apart to make something entirely new. In search of places to shop that dare to break away from the micro-trends of Shein and Zara, “thrift flipping” became an avenue of selfexpression.

The rise of TikTok gave those with a talent for thrifting a perfect platform to broadcast their work. The internet quickly realized there was a way to take a relatively affordable alternative and design something on par with what is seen on the runway. Generation Z, in the fashion world, has made moves to solidify the idea that beauty is relative and in the eye of the beholder. No idea is a bad one, in fact, a style currently viewed as out of date may be on the runway tomorrow.

Thrift flipping returns the power to the consumer by offering a way to shop without giving into the materialist consumer culture. It affords shoppers the opportunity to do whatever they like with what they buy and encourages quality over quantity. The satisfaction of creation and a personalized wardrobe outweighs the need to fit in with a specific look. It’s your look.

Because thrifting is a cost-effective opportunity to get creative, it is an enticing hobby. However, the act of thrifting can easily become an unethical one. Making thrift stores our primary source of shopping for the sole purpose of thrift flipping or reselling pieces takes away from communities that need these affordable options. Low income communities rely on thrift stores to provide clothing options within their price range. To thrift flip ethically, it’s important to be mindful of how much we are purchasing with the purpose of making a profit, especially when others may not have the luxury to do so.

With carefulness in mind, there is no reason not to participate. Thrift flipping fosters a culture of individuality and encourages people to wear whatever they want to. It allows us a way to get out of our comfort zone and add a touch of ourselves into what we wear. The clothes we wear, especially if they are redesigned by us, are a reflection of our personal taste and all that makes up who we are. Clothes can speak for us. So, why not make the conscious decision to present ourselves exactly as we are: our most authentic selves.

WRITTEN BY LILI CALJONE ILLUSTRATED