Whether cases are going up or down in your area, we are still in the middle of a pandemic, people! That doesn’t mean you need to severely compromise your style though. If you want to know how to stay both safe and fashionable, Jess Frausto’s got your back. She runs the popular queer fashion account, @the.thrifted.gay, on Instagram. Her page is full of looks that consist primarily of thrift finds. She started thrifting back in college as a more affordable means to express her style. Her main piece of advice for others is: “Wear what makes you feel comfortable! Once I figured this out, I reinvented my entire closet.”
Check out Frausto's quick and easy tips on how to upgrade your style in a safe and sustainable way:
1) Clean out your closet first.
“I would rate my clothes on a scale from 1-10 (10 being the most comfortable). I would get rid of anything that you have that is less than a 7. I promise, it makes a huge difference.”
2) Sell what you don’t want on apps or swap clothes with others.
Frausto recommends apps like Poshmark, Mercari, ThredUp, and letgo to sell your old or unwanted clothes. Apps like these are usually a good place to both sell and buy things, and they're a relatively contactless option. Or, you can ask loved ones if they would like to trade clothes with you.
3) When you shop online (or in-store if it’s safe), don’t put yourself in a box.
You should keep your options open when buying clothes. Just because there are designated men's and women's sections, it doesn't mean you are restricted to shopping in one of them. Feel free to play around with patterns, textures, and colors too!
4) Sizing may not be perfect, but there’s plenty of ways to make it work.
”If size is an issue: for bigger sized clothes, I normally layer clothes up or use accessories to distract from the fit. If it’s too small, for example, when buying button ups the chest area may not fit properly. I would use the button up shirt as if it was a jacket.”