6 statement pieces that really make a statement
as a student of sustainability on a quest to become more of a friend to the planet than a foe, i made it a point in 2020 to stop buying new clothes. i make exceptions for underwear, bras, socks, masks (🙃) and merch that supports artists and organizations i love, but other than that i go for second-hand or (less simply) trying to just not buy anything. it’s super hard – i love shopping – and the pandemic put an end to one of my favorite hobbies of walking around nyc and thrifting.
to satiate my shopping desires, i’ve been doing a lot of virtual window shopping, which is just me browsing clothes online with the rule that i cannot buy anything. i’ve found that simply sharing cool stuff i found with my friends is enough for me.
you’re my friends, now, so here are six statement pieces that really make a statement.
my style is a mix between manhattan super villain and jersey health goth, so most of my clothes are black but i do enjoy heather gray shirts (i’m wearing one now). i also like to cuff my sleeves so my cute shoulder tattoos peek out a bit. the chuck taylors are classic and great for when you’re lifting.
when i’m not in the mood for heather gray, but not in the mood for black, i love to go for the inbetween: dark heather-gray. i normally tie my shirts in the back for front depending on if i’m sitting down or working out on a mat, but i should try to the side like it’s styled in this photo! i’m honestly not a fan of keds, they just always take years to break in and stop shredding up the back of my foot.
when i’m feeling dangerous, i’ll wear a crisp white tee. i don’t sort my laundry, so the crispness is always very short-lived. i’d pair this classic with a pair of black leggings and a brooklyn nets cap.
if i wear any colors lately, it’s usually a pink like this or goldenrod. i went through a brown ankle boot phase in 2013 before i discovered gray ankle boots. changing careers from academia to the tech industry is core to my super villain style origin story.
i probably would never wear this color unless the shirt itself smelled like irish spring, but i included it here because it has the tie in the front. what i’ll do with the tie is tuck it under the shirt high enough so that my neighbors could wonder if i have three tits.
believe or not, i LOVE this heather gray + pink mix, and i am really pleased to see the heather gray hybrid shades becoming more prominent in t-shirt fashions as of late – they simply catch stains and cat hair way better than solid colors do.
i encourage you to think about your consumption of clothing, and consider intentional digital window shopping over actual shopping. it’s a sustainable way to pass the time, learn the latest fashion trends, reflect on what you currently own and be inspired to take what you have already to express yourself.
