It’s not everyday that you receive an email from the fashion desk at The Guardian asking if you would be prepared to style their Fashion Editor, Jess Carter-Morley in secondhand clothes for a special feature. Needless to say that although feeling very anxious about the prospect, I of course, said yes!
The brief was I received was: “Partywear (for a 40+ woman) Sequins, OTT or just a simple little black dress (nothing short please) and heels - but made to feel very current. Add jewellery and a party bag”.
So off to work I went. This was slightly different to my usual way of working as I ordinarily work face-to-face with my clients, whereas this was entirely remote. I didn’t have had the opportunity to meet my model in person or to try items on her in advance of the photoshoot, so it felt quite high risk. I decided that the best way to find something that Jess really loved was to send a number of options for her and her team to select from.
My carefully chosen selection all packaged up and ready to be sent to London
The dilemma is…..how to do you interpret the brief of party wear when it’s so broad? I decided to cover all bases and send off a few looks ranging from a classic little navy dress and a sparkly silver jumpsuit through to a floor length sequinned gown and a version of the timeless little black dress. The brief also said to include heels, a bag and jewellery so each outfit was carefully created to ensure all the elements were covered. I sourced the vast majority of the pieces from my local charity shops from shopping trips over a number of days and I used Vinted for a couple of pair of shoes which I just couldn’t find in person! Honestly, I was in my element!
When I had sourced everything on my list and was happy with my haul, I asked Rosie Somerset Lettering to create some luxe looking tags for me to add. I really wanted Jess and the team to feel that by shopping and styling secondhand, it really didn’t mean second best. Instead, I wanted them to feel excited by the prospect and unwrapping each item felt like unearthing treasure! Everything, including my styling notes to the team was packaged up and couriered to London.
Then there was an anxious wait….the photoshoot happened and I had no idea which outfit had been chosen or if Jess had even liked what I sent. Then there was the question of fit…again, would everything be right for her as sizing can be so difficult to master! Eventually a telephone interview was set up between Jess and I and we had the best time chatting about my work, why I choose to shop preloved with my clients and the reasons why it works well on so many levels. Then another long wait. Would the article even make it to print? I was turning into an anxious wreck!
Part of the published article raising awareness of second-hand shopping and styling
Publication day came around and I nervously made my way to my local newsagents to see if the article had made it. I simply couldn’t believe my eyes when my outfit was the main picture and I must have looked a basket case as I stood in the aisle sobbing silently! I can’t really describe the emotions felt to see your work in a national newspaper but it was quite overwhelming. I felt a mix of huge relief that it all worked out, a sense of pride that I had been given such an opportunity and excitement that secondhand styling was in the mainstream media. Jess was so generous in the piece and really advocated for shopping and styling secondhand - plus she looked amazing! If you’re interested in what she wore the details are as follows:
Black Zara Dress from Cancer Research at £12
Magazine cover clutch bag from St Peters Hospice at £3.99
Shoes from Vinted at £8
Jewellery from car boots and local charity shops
This means the whole look was created for around £25. The article also featured two other outfits chosen by secondhand stylists and it was such a celebration of preloved fashion. If you’d like to read the whole piece in all its glory you can find it here. Needless to say, I’m so thankful to have been included and this has spurred me on to reach even more women around not only the country, but the world!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the piece.