How One Vogue Editor Mixes Vintage, Secondhand, and Sustainable Clothing

As we continue to navigate these ever-changing times, in season two of What I Wore This Week, one Vogue editor shares their outfits—both on Zoom and IRL—from the previous week.

Much ink has been spilled about the benefits of wearing “real clothes” to work from home. I’m probably guilty of writing a line or two about the mood-lifting, productivity-boosting experience of getting dressed—that whole “look good, feel good” thing. In reality, I don’t always take my advice; there are days I don’t change out of sweats. Usually this happens when I’m just too swamped to think about an outfit before it’s too late to bother. Despite working from home for nine (sometimes agonizing) months, I’ve yet to successfully limit my screen time or figure out “work hours”: From the minute I’m awake, I’m on my phone or laptop, checking emails, starting on my next deadline, and losing track of time.

Do I feel great on those days? Not exactly. It isn’t just that I don’t feel professional or stylish when I’m in the same old leggings and sweatshirt, but I don’t feel like myself, either. Yes, I’m someone who cares deeply about personal style, and I really do feel better when I’ve pulled myself together. But I also care about supporting designers, particularly independent and sustainability-focused ones. Even when I’m not explicitly thinking about it, wearing their clothes makes me happy and fills me with the confidence that I’m expressing my truest self to the world—my taste, my personality, and my values.

A call with Bel Jacobs, an Extinction Rebellion activist and former fashion editor, further motivated me to get it together. We were talking about “ethical consumption” and “voting with your wallet,” and whether it’s a distraction from the bigger, systemic changes the world really needs. Was it a waste of time to pat ourselves on the back for making conscious purchases and buying from nice people? Some would say yes, but Jacobs put it this way: “I always tell people, you have to live in alignment with your values. If you don’t want people to suffer, don’t buy products from brands that make people suffer. If you don’t want animals to suffer, don’t buy from brands who make them suffer. There’s a great peace in living your life that way.” Her words stuck with me, because as insignificant as my own choices may seem in the grand scheme of climate change and exploited garment workers, every action does have an impact. If we all became hyper-conscious of what we bought, the domino effect would be huge.

Which brings me, somewhat abruptly, to what I wore this week: a combination of my go-to items and some of my all-time favorites, most of which are vintage, secondhand, or designed by sustainability-focused women.

Monday

I’d like to think it’s good that my personal style is pretty diverse. Some days I’m in the mood for a cleaner look, like a sweater and wide-leg pants; others I’m in a flowery silk dress; and sometimes I feel like wearing five prints at once. But the items that most represent my style are relatively simple and casual with one special detail. This cotton blouse by Mille is among my favorites for precisely that reason: In theory, it’s just a black top, but the shoulders are huge, so it’s hardly basic. I love that the designer, Michelle LeBlanc (who also owns a store in Minneapolis called Mille), really went for it. There are so many wimpy “statement sleeves” out there.

I had a much-needed haircut scheduled this morning (go to Jordi Martinez at Frédéric Fekkai in Soho and thank me later!) and the weather was a beautiful 65 degrees and sunny, so I was excited for a reason to start my day with a long walk. I wore my top with a pair of Rachel Comey earrings my sister gave me for Christmas, plus the same jewelry I wear every single day: a Cartier trinity ring I “borrowed” from my mom a few years ago, which she bought secondhand on eBay; my Foundrae karma necklace; a pinky ring by Los Angeles designer Jess Hannah; and a gold cigar band my mom bought in the ’80s. No matter what I’m wearing, my jewelry always makes me feel like myself, and I can’t leave home without it. I love when I realize my entire outfit is by women designers: My mask is Lizzie Fortunato (note the pearl charms on the loops!), jeans are by Khaite, and flats are Loeffler Randall.

Tuesday

Every time I wear this Alix of Bohemia jacket in Zoom meetings, I get multiple Slacks from colleagues asking about it. It’s one of my most treasured pieces, mostly because it was hand-printed and hand-stitched in Jaipur, India, but also because it makes above-the-waist dressing  so easy! I threw it on over a T-shirt and yoga pants (and my fluffy Allbirds slippers) for a quick Zoom, but was so consumed by work that I ended up staying in this half-finished “outfit” all day until I finally left my apartment for an afternoon walk.

Inevitably, I made my way over to Leisir, one of my favorite natural wine shops, and picked up a bottle for the rooftop drinks I’d planned with my boyfriend and our neighbor. We felt like it may be our last opportunity to hang out on the roof and watch the sunset before winter really sets in—a reality I’m not quite ready to face.

Wednesday

Pre-2020, I often claimed I wasn’t a “sneaker person,” which on paper makes me sound like a girl who runs around in stilettos. Not at all. I just tend to gravitate toward loafers, sandals, and ballet flats. That changed in a big way this year. I walked and biked everywhere this summer, and even for quick errands, flimsy shoes just didn’t feel right. I needed to feel grounded and agile, so my sneaker collection grew from a couple beat-up pairs of Vans and Converse to much bolder styles, like these Nike waffle racers. They’re crazy light, and I love the exaggerated speckled soles, which were made from Nike Grind recycled rubber. For a coffee run down the street, I threw them on with a checked blazer by Maggie Marilyn, whose dedication to sustainability impresses me more each year. (She recently took her entire business direct-to-consumer and is investing heavily in regenerative agriculture.)

ICYMI: The mural behind me is a graffiti’d White House with the words EVICTION NOTICE in red. Bye, Don!

Thursday

I don’t want to tell you how many blazers I own, but let’s just say it’s… a lot. (Truthful estimate: 12?) Nothing makes me feel more put-together or capable, whether I’m in an IRL meeting or back-to-back Zooms. Regardless of the fit or style, I tend to wear them the same way: with jeans and a T-shirt. I found this tweed Acne jacket a few years ago at the consignment store INA for $90, and wore it with a new pair of AGOLDE jeans with a cross-over waistband. They’re an outlier in my (overstuffed) denim drawer of simple, classic jeans, but I’m oddly obsessed with them. I wore them with my go-to suede ballet flats, but in hindsight, I think I would have liked this better with Aera’s vegan leather ankle boots.

Most days, I’ll play records in between Zoom calls, either to fill the silence or drown out the Lower East Side nose outside my window. Today was Swimmer by Tennis.

Friday

I’ve worn this Dôen dress about six times since I got it, both with sneakers and suede lace-up flats. I have tons of Dôen in my closet and mostly wear it in the summer. You won’t find a better vintage-y, breezy dress. More importantly, I always feel good about supporting Dôen as a women-run business that employs artisans in India and Peru on a safe, traceable supply chain. For winter, I have my eye on their new “shearling” coats, which are made with tufted wool rather than polyester, which is typical in most faux shearlings.

I had a virtual tequila tasting with the Mother Denim team on Friday night, so maybe that’s why I reached for this dress. The florals and smocking feel vaguely on-theme. I’m admittedly more of a wine girl, but after a long and stressful week, something a little spicier felt appropriate. Cheers!