A wise fashionista once said: One woman’s “last season” is another woman’s “must-have.” If you look hard enough, fashion can be found anywhere, from the bottom of a Goodwill bargain bin to the top shelf at Barneys.
Michelle Merica, a sophomore studying Literature in the College of Arts and Science, utilizes secondhand vintage pieces to make her personal style pop.
“I make sure I wear at least one vintage piece a day,” Merica said. “I like the fact that [when I’m wearing secondhand] I’m carrying on someone else’s story. I think it’s a really beautiful way to connect us all to one another.”
In the spring semester of her freshman year, Merica worked for Annie Creamcheese, a secondhand vintage store in Georgetown. This experience gave Merica the opportunity to develop a particular love for vintage clothes.
“It was stressful working in a vintage clothing store because a lot of people complain about the smell and the condition of the clothes,” Merica said. “I think in order to look good in vintage and to love selling vintage clothes, you have to appreciate it for its oldness.”
Citing Patti Smith, Keith Richards and her grandfather as her biggest style inspirations, it is no wonder Merica is drawn to style from different eras.
“My favorite vintage piece is a black cocktail dress my grandma wore on her first date with my grandpa,” Merica said. “I only wear it on very important occasions.”
Merica incorporates the classic pieces in her wardrobe with current trends to create a unique style all her own.
“I really like putting together baggy, boyfriend fit jeans and vintage silk blouses for fall,” Merica said.
For students looking for fabulous secondhand finds, Merica suggests starting at the local Goodwill in D.C. or Maryland.
“You really just have to have an open mind if you’re shopping at a thrift store for the first time,” Merica said. “Be willing to explore, be willing to expand what you consider fashionable — that’s really when you’re going to find pieces that look good on you.”
While Merica enjoys shopping in D.C., she gives a word of retail advice to any students traveling abroad.
“I always recommend vintage shopping when you travel,” Merica said. “I think that’s where you find unique pieces that mimic the geography of the place you’re in.”
No matter where you choose to buy your first vintage item, you should never be afraid to express your own personal style.
“When I wear a specific vintage piece, I think it’s a really great way to stand out and meet new people,” Merica said. “[People] will usually ask me ‘What are you wearing? That’s really weird’ — the uniqueness is my main attraction to it.”
