I Haven’t Shopped at Zara in 10 Years, Here’s Where I Shop Instead
Fast fashion was once the backbone of my personal style. It was one of the limited avenues to appearing like I had any sense of style as a teen into my early twenties as I started to make my way into the fashion world. I was always a savvy shopper, though. Along with my Forever 21, H&M, and Zara, I would mix in pieces I scored from the designer racks at TJ Maxx and Loehmann's (a discount store that closed in 2014, RIP). In high school, I collected a few Canal Street knock-off bags—my favorite was a teal Balenciaga city bag. Then I graduated to skimming countless pages on eBay for my designer finds. It takes some real effort to cobble together anything that could remotely resemble the trend pages of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, or Elle on a budget.
Back then, I never thought twice about the impact of my shopping habits. Now that I'm in a place where I can afford the clothes that I really want, I'm in a position to make better choices about where I shop. I recognize that's not the case for everyone, so I'm not here to villanize anyone. But the turning point for me was following the news around a string of garment factory tragedies in Bangladesh in 2012 and the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 where Zara and various international brands had their clothes made. After that I decided I would start weaning myself off cheap clothing. Also the story of the girl who found a dead mouse sewn into her Zara dress in 2016 lives rent free in my mind. I haven't stepped foot in the store since.
I receive a lot of messages from followers who say they want to stop shopping fast fashion and build a wardrobe of timeless pieces that they can feel good about—but they don't know where to start. Of course, it can feel really hard to stop shopping at fast fashion chains—it's like a drug. You get addicted to the thrill of being able to pop into the store after work on a Thursday to find something cute to wear for the weekend that's under $100. I think quitting fast fashion comes down to accepting 1) clothes are NOT meant to be that cheap if they're not secondhand, and 2) you don't need a new piece of clothing every weekend or every time you go on a trip, or get invited to a wedding. I also acknowledge that there's a massive lack of transparency in this industry, and often times it feels like the responsibility lies solely on us, the consumers, to make better decisions and investigate brands, when in reality the companies should be held to better standards and practices.
I'm sure some of you will roll your eyes, like, easy for you to say all this you get gifted free clothes all the time. Yes, that's absolutely true— it's part of my job—but I still try to be very mindful of my consumption and what I accept from brands, and I still give a lot of thought to what I spend my own money on. I take a lot of pride in my wardrobe and the pieces that I've had for years and still want to wear over and over and over. When you buy clothes you love (and not just because you love the cheap price tag), you appreciate them and want to wear them more than once.
So, I've compiled a list of brands that have replaced fast fashion addiction. Of course, I wear A LOT of different brands, but these are the ones that are usually first on my hit list when I'm looking for seasonal updates. I apologize in advance that none of these will be cheap, but hopefully they can serve as a jumping off point to a higher-quality and longer-lasting wardrobe.
Anine Bing is my go-to for elevated basics. I like pieces that I don't have to think too hard about how I will wear them— I just know that they will look good when I put them on. That's how I feel about her blazers and trousers, although I own and love pieces across every category she makes. I still own the first piece I ever received (a delicate lace bodysuit) when Anine launched her brand. I know that anything I get from here will serve me a long time. Most recently, I got the cashmere Quinn blazer—it's so luxe and I love wearing it with wide-leg jeans.
Karla Deras was one of my favorite bloggers in the mid-2010s before she launched THE LINE BY K in 2015. We usually don't expect much from influencer brands, but I'd say this one is a sleeper hit. I've been wearing her pieces since its launch, and the brand is my go-to for basic tops that don't feel so basic. There's always an interesting detail, whether it's a seam down the center, an asymmetrical neckline, a fluted sleeve, or a cut-out. Right now I'm a sucker for the Zane top and Vana skirt combo that I just bought in brown (it comes in a few colors) and wore while I was in Paris. It feels casual but sexy.
Yes, I'm a J.CREW girlie (and part of their J.Crew collective ambassador program), but let's be for real: they're having an incredible comeback. Their women's creative director, Olympia Gayot, is so stylish; I highly recommend following her Instagram for outfit inspiration. She is a master at layering and playing with color. Not only does J.Crew appeal to my preppy Westchester roots, but I like that they're trying to push the boundaries of what the J.Crew look is and how cool the brand is allowed to be. Lately, I find myself wearing their shoes a lot, I love the Winona loafers and their new Maisie patent heels. And you'll be seeing me carry this bucket bag every day.
In the last year, I've really fallen for DISSH. I love their long knit dresses, which feel really elegant but are easy to throw on with boots, a kitten heel, or loafers. They also make a killer matching set, and you know I love those, too. I had the pleasure of meeting the founder, Lucy Henry-Hicks, last year in New York (the brand is based in Australia), and learned that DISSH started as family-owned shop in Queensland in 2001. It might be the editor in me but I always love learning about a brand's backstory and their mission. I think they're only going to get bigger in the U.S.
PIXIE MARKET tends to fly under the radar but I've loved this brand since I moved to the Lower East Side in 2010 and lived down the block from their Staton Street shop, which is now The Frankie Shop (another great alternative to fast-fashion). I could always rely on them for pieces that felt off the beaten path. The brand has grown up a lot over the years, and I love their minimalist and season-less approach. I'm debating pre-ordering this faux leather bomber jacket.
TOTEME was founded by street-style star Elin Kling. She's faded into the background over the years as Toteme, which is informed by her personal style, broke through the noise. Maybe that's the secret to a successful influencer brand? I really fell in love with Toteme when I visited the Stockholm store in 2019; it's designed to look like the most stylish townhouse you've ever stepped foot in. Again, this brand is on the pricier side, but I think their knitwear is so worth it. I can't help picking up a new one each fall. I also live in their leggings, they don't stretch out, they're not see-through, they're a thick legging you can confidently wear as pants.
I like to think I discovered REFORMATION because I lived around the corner from the original Lower East Side store in 2010, and and no one really knew about it. Now, every girl from Silverlake to the Lower East Side to Notting Hill is wearing Reformation, and we can spot their floral, thigh-high slit dresses from miles away. But who makes a better flirty sundress? Reformation is reliable for good tees, a wedding look, and I think their denim is just as good as most of the designer jeans on the market.
Finally, I love vintage/secondhand shopping and the thrill of a good find. Some of the most cherished pieces in my wardrobe are things I've found secondhand. I prefer to do my vintage shopping anywhere outside of New York City because I find the prices in NYC to be outrageous unless it's a flea market. But also thanks to sites and apps like eBay, Depop, The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, and Grailed, it's easier than ever to find good deals from the comfort of your home.
I have a few tactics for shopping on these sites:
1. If I'm looking for a specific item that I could purchase brand new, I check to see if anyone is selling it second-hand first.
2. If I'm looking for a specific style of clothing, such as a vintage slip dress, I will set alerts so that I can review any new listings as they're added.
3. If I'm looking for any items from a specific brand, I set alerts for that brand so I can see any new listings.
4. If I just want to do an all-out browse, I make sure to filter by my size, and I may go one size up as well in case there's an option to tailor.
Jean Paul Gaultier suit / Celine skirt / Giorgio Armani jacket / Guy LaRoche dress / Balenciaga bag (someone buy my favorite bag!)