Vintage Store Day is on May 16. Let's Get Foot Traffic for Your Store!

Today we're chatting with Amy Leverton, an LA-based denim trend forecaster, and the author of Denim Dudes, and founder of the Denim Dudes consultancy that has become one of the most trusted voices in the global denim industry. Amy grew up in the West Country of England — but once a year, Glastonbury Festival arrived like a city descending on her doorstep, and that collision of music, personal style, and creative energy lit something in her early on. She made her way to London College of Fashion and then Kingston University, where a project on Levi's quietly revealed what she was actually built for . After working as a denim and casualwear designer, she landed at WGSN, the world's largest trend forecasting agency, in 2007. She spent years building out their denim department, traveling to Coachella and Tokyo to photograph street style, chasing cool kids through markets and down city blocks, and connecting the cultural dots that tell brands what's coming before it arrives. She eventually went independent, and Denim Dudes — which began as a street style book published in 2015 — has since grown into a full consultancy with all the major denim clients you can think of: Levi's, Wrangler, Gap, Guess, Old Navy – you name it. Denim Dudes publishes a seasonal forecast subscription sharing where denim — and the broader culture around it — is headed next. On today's episode, we get into all of it: how vintage styles inform her forecasting, why she thinks the entire fashion industry needs to be paying attention to what's happening in the vintage market, the state of silhouette in an anything-goes era, and the vintage pieces she can't stop thinking about!  Let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [3:57] Amy grew up in the West Country of England — but once a year, Glastonbury Festival arrived like a city descending on her doorstep [8:38] She made her way to London College of Fashion and then Kingston University,  working as a denim and casualwear designer. [11:11] How Amy developed a specialty in denim. [13:01] In 2007, she landed at WGSN, the world's largest trend forecasting agency, and spent years building out their denim department. [16:43] How a denim trend forecaster studies the trends and looks ahead at what's to come, while looking back at vintage. [22:00] Fashion is cyclical — Amy reflects on watching trends she lived through the first time come back around, and why a good trend forecaster can never be jaded about it.  [23:10] How vintage markets are a leading indicator for trend forecasters [28:08] Vintage is becoming the biggest driver of the mainstream fashion industry.  [32:01] On denim silhouettes and trend cycles, and the "anything goes" era of denim  [41:53] Amy's vintage denim collection. EPISODE MENTIONS:  Denim Dudes @denimdudes @denimdudes on TikTok WGSN Trend Forecasting Silver Lake Flea Levi's RED Please and Thank You Store Saleem Ghanchi The Bearded Beagle LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale  

This month on Pre-Loved, we're launching something new: the Resale Report, a monthly special podcast segment dedicated to the business of vintage and secondhand — made specifically for the small shop owners, solo sellers, and independent dealers. Joining me is Sloan Middleton-Mann, founder of Business of Vintage, the world's only marketing agency specialized for vintage sellers. Sloan brings a rare combination of industry experience and formal business school training — she went back to get her MBA specifically to translate retail and marketing best practices to the one-of-a-kind space of secondhand, and has been helping vintage sellers build smarter businesses ever since. In our first conversation, we dig into the momentum behind Vintage Store Day — this year on May 16! — the retail holiday founded by Lost Girls Vintage and Rare Form in Chicago, now in its second year with over 1,100 shops participating. We discuss marketing a special event like this one: how to think about social media in a way that actually makes sense for a small vintage business, and what to do after a great event to turn new foot traffic into loyal regulars. Whether you're planning something for May 16th or just trying to build a more sustainable business around the thing you love, this one's for you. Let's talk shop. DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: WEBINAR: Vintage Store Day: Social Media & Press Strategy That Works [6:10] The resale market is growing four times faster than traditional retail — what that means for independent sellers right now [7:35] How social media has made vintage shopping more exciting and more challenging at the same time [10:53] How to make Vintage Store Day a special day, beyond any other Saturday your open your store. [13:13] How to market a special event beyond the flyer [16:55] 46% of resale shoppers now start their secondhand shopping discovery on social media — and what it means for how you think about your content [23:29] Storytelling ideas for Vintage Store Day and other special events [27:15] What to do after the event, and how to turn one great day into lasting momentum [34:13] Why authenticity is what's actually working on social media right now [37:08] How shops can use Vintage Store Day to land local press Thanks for listening to Pre-Loved! You can find me across the internet on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn! 💛 - Emily

Today, we're chatting with Nica, the founder behind FashioNica — a live-streamed marketplace for curated pre-loved designer handbags, jewelry, and watches that has built one of the most devoted communities in the luxury resale space. Every Thursday at 7 p.m. Pacific, Nica drops a new collection, but the real magic happens in the thirty minutes before that, when she goes live on Instagram to show off what she found that week — it's basically a FaceTime call with a few thousand of your most handbag-obsessed girlfriends to see what Nica found this week. Each drop, her bags routinely sell out in under two minutes. Nica grew up thrifting, scanning the racks at Goodwill and Salvation Army for the trends she'd clock at Forever 21, where she worked after school. She developed a sharp eye early — and, as it turned out, an even sharper instinct for which pieces were worth holding onto. A Nordstrom employee discount and a Chloé backpack were her gateway into designer pieces. After that, there was no going back — though she's never really considered buying new when pre-loved exists. What started as a passion project filmed on an iPhone, with bags laid out all over her apartment, has grown into a full operation with a team, a warehouse, international sourcing trips, and a major pop-up event — FashioNica Fest — that drew hundreds of community members to a studio full of bags she'd personally sourced in Japan.  On today's episode, we get into all of it — how Nica sources the pieces that end up in your cart, the art of the Thursday night drop, and why she believes a bag with a little wear is always going to be more interesting than one that's never left the store.  Let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [6:04] Nica got into thrifting at the Goodwill and Salvation Army in high school. [9:45] How she got into designer handbags during her time working at Nordstrom. [12:40] How she landed styling work on celebrity cover shoots by sliding into DMs.  [17:10] Why she started creating fashion content on TikTok.  [22:31] Investing $15,000 into an early inventory buy. [27:08] Prepping for a weekly bag drop. [34:25] Growing the team behind FashioNica.  [34:25] Growing the team behind FashioNica. [37:21] Designer bag sourcing trips in Paris and Japan.  [39:15] Planning FashioNica Fest: the first major pop-up, born from a sourcing trip.  [44:24] Nica's personal bag collection.  [48:47] Watching Jane Birkin's original Birkin sell at auction for $10 million.  EPISODE MENTIONS:  FashioNica.com @xofashionica FashioNica on TikTok Nica's YouTube Jenn Im - Youtube Aya Kanai @fashionica.shop - "behind the bag drop" secret Instagram LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale  

Today, we're chatting with Maddy Brannon, a DC-based creator and stand-up comic who has become one of the most trusted and entertaining voices in the estate sale world. Maddy visits somewhere between three and five estate sales a week, and sometimes she even works with local estate sale companies to preview the sale before the doors open. Then she puts out a weekly roundup telling her followers exactly which sales are worth getting out of bed for. If you've ever walked past a house with a lawn full of strangers and wondered what on earth was happening inside, Maddy is the person who will not only explain it to you — she'll have you driving there by the weekend. She got into estate sales when she bought her first house and couldn't work out how anyone her age could afford to fill one with actual furniture— not with furniture from a dorm room clearance. A chance visit to an estate sale in Dupont Circle sorted that out for her – the house had five floors, original hardwood, and barely a thing touched. She was hooked, and estate sales turned into a full-blown obsession. She began sharing what she found on social media, and it turns out she wasn't alone in feeling like estate sales were something of a mystery. People started stopping her in the wild, asking how to find sales, how to navigate them, and how she always seemed to know which ones were worth the trip. So she started sharing! Maddy's not a vintage dealer— she's just someone who genuinely loves the experience of estate sales, walking into a stranger's home and discovering the life lived inside it. DC, it turns out, is an extraordinary place for this and Maddy has visited the estate sales of State Department employees who've furnished embassies around the world to Smithsonian staffers with artifact-adjacent bookshelves. On today's episode, we get into all of it – how to navigate estate sales without making a rookie mistake, the etiquette around negotiating, what's popular right now on the estate sale circuit — and why pricing in this space is, as Maddy puts it, an extremely "hot topic." Let's dive right in. DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [1:27] How Maddy Brannon — DC stand-up comic – became an estate sale obsessive. [6:08] Why D.C. has a particularly great estate sale scene. [8:12]  Maddy has visited the estate sales of State Department employees and Smithsonian staffers. [14:29] Why Maddy started making videos about the estate sale experience. [18:28] Why estate sale content is so compelling on social media  [22:15] How Maddy vets which sales are worth going to [25:42] Estate sales are not necessarily intuitive – here's how to avoid rookie mistakes!  [29:19] Why the last hour before closing is the best time to shop  [35:24] What's popular right now on the estate sale circuit  [38:17] The etiquette around negotiating [48:18] Debunking the two biggest misconceptions about estate sales EPISODE MENTIONS:  @maddytheb Estate Sale Show Estate Sales with Maddy Brannon - Substack Maddy' YouTube channel All Hallows Guild at the Flower Mart United National Methodist Church Book Sale Associates of the American Foreign Service Book Sale Junior League Tossed and Found LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale  

Today, we're chatting with Cathy Moscardini, Depop's Head of Sustainability. Listeners of this show, you of course know Depope – it's one of the most culturally influential resale platforms in the world. Founded in 2011 with a mission to make fashion circular, the community-powered marketplace has grown to 56 million registered users, with over 136 million items given a second life through its platform.  Part vintage marketplace, part social community, as well as being a launchpad for many young entrepreneurs, Depop has helped reshape what it means to shop, sell, and style yourself in the digital age. Cathy's path here was anything but linear. A languages graduate who spent time in Chinese factories and volunteering in Nicaragua, she saw firsthand the vast distance between where fashion is made and where its consequences are felt. That experience lit a fire that took her into sustainability strategy eventually at Depop, where she's been focused on one of the most important questions in the circular economy: is resale actually reducing consumption, or just reshaping it? During her time at Depop, Cathy has led the work of quantifying and communicating the real impact of resale — which has included developing industry-aligned methodologies in partnership with organizations like WRAP as well as other resale platforms, and proving with data that buying secondhand is not just a trend, but a meaningful lever for changing fashion's environmental footprint. She's also the person making sure that sustainability isn't siloed in one corner of Depop's business, but woven into every product decision, every marketing campaign, and every feature designed to make it easier and more exciting to choose pre-loved. Those tapped into the universe of Pre-Loved will be aware that last month eBay has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Depop from Etsy, who purchased Depop in 2021, for approximately a $1.2 billion cash deal – we've covered this news as it unfolded. At this time, there's not much more to add, because while eBay and Etsy's Board of Directors unanimously approved the deal, it will not close until the second quarter of this year, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals.  Instead, on today's episode, we talk about what it actually takes to shift consumer behavior at scale, why emotional connection to our clothing is in fact a sustainability strategy, and what the data really says about whether secondhand shopping is displacing new production. We also get into the culture of resale — how it's moved from the margins to the mainstream — and what Cathy believes needs to happen next to truly make fashion circular. Let's dive right in.  

Today, we're sitting down with two of the many people behind one of New York City's most beloved thrift institutions — Housing Works. Housing Works is a mission-based organization born from the AIDS crisis, fighting for inclusive care, social justice, and an end to homelessness and the AIDS epidemic. Their thrift shops — nine locations across New York City, plus a bookstore café and online ecommerce shop — aren't just places to find incredible secondhand treasures. They're also the engine that funds life-saving services for New Yorkers, rooted in the belief that housing is healthcare. Daniel Rodriguez has been with Housing Works for nearly two decades. As Director of Operations, he has helped shape the organization's thrift enterprise, and oversees its operation from the shop floors to the annual events to the online auction site, developing the way Housing Works prices, merchandises, and tells the story of the pieces that come through its doors. Emily McKay is the Processing & Curation Manager which means she leads the Housing Works Processing and Distribution Center out in Long Island City — the behind-the-scenes warehouse hub where the majority of the organizations donations are sorted, curated, and transformed into the beautiful collections that stock the many city shops and headline the annual events. A former luxury consignment boutique owner who has earned her master's in fashion management at Parsons since her last time on this show, Emily brings a rare blend of expertise to the work of curating collections at scale. On today's episode, we get to explore the magic of what it actually takes to run a thrift enterprise of this size — the stories that come through the donation bags, the philosophy behind their curation, the unique role Housing Works plays in the iconic NYC vintage scene, and the annual 'Best of Spring' event that's happening right now across Housing Works locations. This one is for all of us who've ever believed that a great piece deserves another chapter.  Let's dive right in. DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [5:15] Daniel has been a part of the vintage and secondhand scene in New York since the late 90s — shopping at iconic spots like Screaming Mimi's, Cheap Jacks, Andy's Cheapies, Starstruck, and Rags-A-Go-Go. [8:25] He started at Housing Works as a manager of several of the thrift stores, eventually becoming senior merchandising manager and developing the organization's pricing philosophy and visual merchandising.  [12:15] How Housing Works has grown since it was founded in response to the AIDS crisis — from a carriage house on 18th Street in 1992 to nine shops, a bookstore café, annual events, and an online shop. [17:00] How the resale boom changed how Housing Works approaches donations and sales strategy. [20:00] Emily McKaydescribes what it's like to walk into the PDC — the Processing and Distribution Center in Long Island City — and what her team does every day. [24:30] What it's like to curate donations at scale — developing material knowledge, sorting by gut instinct, and routing pieces to the right stores and events. [30:17] What shoppers can expect at Best of Spring this month. [36:20] Some of the most unique and historically significant collections that have come through Housing Works — including a Patti Smith art auction, an Andy Cohen Clubhouse event. [37:40] Emily reflects on how universally adored Housing Works is in New York City [42:30] Daniel and Emily share their personal favorite Housing Works finds. EPISODE MENTIONS:  Housing Works @housingworks Screaming Mimi's  ACT UP NY Fashion for Action Design on a Dime Parsons School of Design — Fashion Management Housing Works Bookstore As shown in Taylor Swift's All Too Well (10 Minute Version) Most Wanted Luxury on Pre-Loved Podcast Best of Spring - Events Calendar LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale  

Today, we're chatting with Dana Andrews — the creator and maker behind Sunworn Vintage, an upcycled clothing and accessory brand, built on the art of reuse and reimagination. Dana grew up on the Central Coast of California in Santa Maria where she fell in love with fashion early, raiding her older sisters' closets and getting voted best dressed in high school. She learned to sew in a clothing and fashion elective she took all four years of high school, and she loved it so much she'd stay in the classroom through lunch just to keep working. Always creative with a couple of side hustles, Dana found her way back to sewing amidst the pandemic. She bought a pre-loved sewing machine of KSL, and Sunworn Vintage was born. Now, it's her full-time dream job. She creates one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage and thrifted textiles, offers custom orders, runs monthly website restocks, and has stepped into something she never expected: designing digital sewing patterns so others can make their own Sunworn creations at home. Her first pattern was for a bag made entirely from neckties —and we get into the whole story on today's show. This one is truly for the makers, the thrifters, and everyone who's ever looked at a pile of men's ties at Goodwill and thought — wait, what if? And keep your eyes peeled, because Sunworn's next pattern is coming very soon – sneak peek on today's show. Let's dive in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [5:57] How Dana got into thrifting as a teen. [9:26] Her love of estates sales — and why she'd go even if she found nothing [11:25] Learning to sew in high school [18:27] How Dana found her way back to sewing amidst the pandemic when she bought a secondhand sewing machine. [22:24] The early days of the upcycling business, and how it has changed in the last six years. [27:35] She never expected to be designing digital sewing patterns for others to create at home. [29:28] The thrift store inspired the idea of the Tie Bag [37:48] The response to the Tie Bag pattern — and how passive income changed her business [39:54] Working on her second digital pattern [45:46] Pitching Sunworn Vintage to Mildew Magazine [51:57] Dana's personal style and holy grail thrift finds EPISODE MENTIONS:  Sunworn Vintage @sunwornvintage Jess - digital sewing patterns course Mildew Magazine @mildewmag Alyssa Vallejos, photographer Ship Rock Santa Fe LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale

Today, we're chatting with Margy McCarthy, a 29-year-old who did something most of us only dream about — she walked away from a corporate career to take over her grandmother's 57-year-old resale business, Elite Repeat. Grandma, Betty started Elite Repeat in 1969 in the Chicago suburbs as a consignment business. For over 50 years, she ran her shop with no website, no social media – just word of mouth, a gift for connection, and an eye for craftsmanship and quality in vintage pieces. All these years later, the regulars who came in with their moms are now coming in with their daughters. Our guest today, Margy, grew up with a front row seat to all of it — doing her homework on a vintage sofa in the consignment room, watching her grandmother and learning early that the real business wasn't the clothes. It was the relationships. On today's show, she'll share how she found her way back to Elite Repeat, as the  pull of the business became impossible to ignore.  In 2024, she sat down with her grandmother, who is now 92, and made it official. Since then, she's built Elite Repeat's first ever website, grown their audience on TikTok and Instagram, and attracted consignors flying in from the East Coast after finding Elite Repeat through her videos. Margy shares the story of how Betty built Elite Repeat from a single gown to a destination for St. John knits and vintage furs, and – speaking of – we'll  get into the craft of vintage fur: how to choose it, how to care for it, and why Margy thinks the renewed interest comes with a real responsibility. And we talk about what it means to carry forward something your grandmother built, brick by brick, for nearly six decades. DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [4:41] After leaving competitive diving, Margy found her interest in fashion rising. [5:06] Margy's early memories of being at Elite Repeat with her grandma. [6:47] How Betty started Elite Repeat in 1969, and grew the business entirely through word of mouth [10:48] How secondhand shopping has shifted over the decades [16:02] Taking the leap to leave her corporate job and take over Elite Repeat [17:24] What Betty taught Margy about running the business [19:22] The relationships at the heart of Elite Repeat [23:24] Expanding Elite Repeat's reach beyond the local community. [26:31] Facing the challenges of taking over — like building the website, learning photography, and navigating people and emotions.  [29:10] St. John knits are one of the shop's specialties.  [31:16] Elite Repeat has always specialized in vintage furs, and the responsibility behind recirculating vintage furs  [34:46] How to pick out an investment vintage fur coat — what to look for [36:04] How to take care of a vintage fur coat. [41:43] Margy's personal style philosophy includes tailoring, and dressing with intention [44:37] Special pieces and memorable finds.  EPISODE MENTIONS:  Elite Repeat @eliterepeatresale on Instagram @shopeliterepeat on TikTok The Merchandise Mart York Furrier Rae Harrison LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale  

Today, we're chatting with Monica and Scotti, a mother-daughter team behind CS80 Vintage who are rediscovering the 80s in a way neither of them expected.  Monica, who once worked in sporting goods and later built a career in photography and organizing – helping people deal with large-scale hoards and inventories, stumbled into a massive vintage collection during the pandemic. When the original owner, Franz, passed after years of illness, the inventory — tucked into basements, an attic, gazebos, and storage pods — just sat. Nobody knew what to do with it. Her daughter, Scotti, now 23, grew up thrifting and has always loved vintage – now she's helping mom preserve an incredible archive of true 1980s deadstock sportswear.  Neither Monica or Scotti set out to be vintage dealers. They've learned from conversations with experts and mentors and midnight eBay searches, like we all do.  They have uncovered what turns out to be — by the account of multiple experts — one of the largest deadstock vintage sportswear collections ever found: 10,000 pairs of sneakers, thousands of hats, blanks, jerseys, satin jackets, and more. Every single piece true deadstock, never worn, straight from the warehouse. On today's show, they'll share how they did it. All the sales strategies, collaborations and pop-ups. Scotty came home, built a website from scratch, launched their Instagram in December, and within two weeks had gained 28,000 followers. How their drops sell out reaching collectors from Paris to Japan.  A pair of boxing shoes sold to a film produced by Sylvester Stallone. Their clothes filled the set of a Target x Stranger Things commercial. But more than any of that, this is a story about honoring Franz's life work, about a mother and daughter collaboration, and about what it means to be the unexpected stewards of something rare. It's a really really good one — let's dive in.   DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [5:57] How Monica and Scotti came into the largest deadstock vintage sportswear collections known to exist. [12:21] How they started to discover the value of this collection. [14:14] A mentor warned Monica she could "destroy the vintage market" — and the responsibility to sell slowly. [15:12] Their first major sale was a buyer from Japan at the Alameda Flea Market — the moment Monica and her husband realized what they really had. [19:00] Scotti came home, launched a website for CS80 and started Instagram sales. [21:49] How pricing works differently depending on geography, buyer, and context — and why the story behind CS80 commands higher prices than comparable pieces. [24:07] Honoring Franz's life work and what it means to be the unexpected stewards of something so rare.  [30:32] Most surprising finds and holy grail collector moments [33:56] What they've learned about vintage labels and how a single label difference can change value by hundreds of dollars. [39:53] What happens when CS80 sells the last deadstock piece? [47:43] Favorite personal pieces they've kept, and what comes next. EPISODE MENTIONS:  CS80 Vintage @cs80vintage Chris Bond - Spiders Garage Alameda Flea Market Sneakercon Jordan at Shoezeum Sea Hive Station in San Diego CS80's viral TikTok Target x Stranger Things commercial Justin with Stuck in the 90s The Wordlsworst Expo LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale

On today's show, we're chatting with Sue Poole, the founder of At Source Vintage. Sue's love for fashion started young – she remembers many bold fashion moments from her teens – wearing a turquoise pencil skirt with rainbow leggings, buying her first designer piece, shopping the charity shops in London.  In 2020, Sue made a decision that changed everything: she stopped buying new clothes completely. What started as participating in Oxfam's Secondhand September challenge – where she committed to only wearing the secondhand pieces already in her wardrobe – turned into a permanent lifestyle shift. Four years later, she hasn't bought a single new item. This commitment didn't just change how Sue shops – it revolutionized her entire relationship with fashion. She went from following trends and scrolling through brand algorithms to becoming a vintage expert who tracks down 1970s YSL toweling caftans, collects Celine blouses, and once scored an '80s Hermès velour lounge suit on eBay for £18. In 2022, she launched her own curated vintage business, At Source Vintage, and since Sue's been featured in British Vogue, she showcases at London vintage fairs, and her Instagram is a masterclass in styling vintage pieces in ways that make them feel completely contemporary.  We talk about the styling challenge that started it all for her, and how secondhand shopping is actually about right-sizing our relationship with clothing  – finding your style through vintage, breaking free from consumption cycles, and proving that you don't need to buy new clothes to dress incredibly well. It's a fun one, so let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [3:27] Sue's always been a fashion-lover, and shares her early style memories. [6:38] Her earliest secondhand experiences and London's vintage scene [9:46] Why she took Oxfam's Secondhand September Challenge in 2020. [11:23] Practical strategies that helped her stick to buying only secondhand [14:57] How the challenge transformed her relationship with fashion [19:51] How her personal style has shifted since adopting a secondhand wardrobe. [22:28] Getting off trend cycles and tracking down vintage versions of runway pieces [26:52] The joy of researching vintage pieces and dating labels [29:52] Starting At Source Vintage, her curated vintage brand [37:20] The rise of secondhand shopping and what has changed [43:55] Her vintage wishlist and holy grail finds [50:29] Her best deal ever: an £18 Hermès lounge suit on eBay [54:33] Shout-outs to vintage sellers and fashion historians to follow EPISODE MENTIONS:  Sue's Instagram At Source Vintage British Vogue feature Portobello Market Oxfam Secondhand September Somewhere in Hackney Kate at Converted Closet Jacquemus runway video  British Heart Foundation charity shops Frock Me Second Life Markets Angelina - Just What You Know Rebecca - Documenting Fashion Frank Akinsete - Souled out at the House of Provenance Known Source Orsola de Castro on Pre-Loved Podcast Emily and Clare Press on Wardrobe Crisis LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/  🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod  SPECIAL THANKS:  A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible! Patty Weber Kathy Brand Lisa of Queenie & Pearl Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura Amanda Hale