links: on clothing resellers, tailoring, and the grief of GLP-1's
I’ve never done a link round-up, but there’s a time for everything and this time is for trying to get some posts scheduled ahead so I can take some time off (ha, joke’s on me because not only did I not schedule this piece ahead as intended, I’m literally writing it the morning it should have gone live)!
These are the things I’ve read lately (actually for the months that I’ve been saving up these links) that made me feel more curious, more seen, or just entertained.
🔗 W Magazine, “Remembering Betty Halbreich, Bergdorf Goodman’s ‘Fashion Therapist,’ Through Her Words of Wisdom.”
The iconic Bergdorf Goodman personal shopper and “Director of Solutions” Betty Halbreich died at 96. When I was shifting careers and knew I wanted to do something in fashion but didn’t know exactly what, reading Betty’s book was influential in my decision to go into personal styling. Late in life, she became a bit of a TikTok star.
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🔗 The Cut, “In the Fitting Room Post-Ozempic”
I probably shouldn’t even share this one because The Cut doesn’t offer gift links 🙄 (although you do get a few free articles a month) but this piece from last fall (along with hearing stories from several clients) inspired me to start writing a piece on GLP-1 grief and how that manifests in getting dressed. Here’s a quote from writer
:did a style questionnaire with Samhita back in March!“But the feeling of finally fitting into that outfit you long hoped you could but weren’t able to can be fleeting. Maybe it fits today but won’t tomorrow, maybe buying a new wardrobe is cost prohibitive, or maybe you’ll come off the medication and gain some weight back and then still be left with your old fashion choices or a uniform of black dresses. Or maybe, like me, you still don’t fit those dream clothes or you get them on but they still don’t look the way you’d hoped they would. Realizing that the goal is always shifting can be demoralizing.”
🔗 “I’m fat. Here’s why I’m not taking a weight loss drug.”
Another piece about the grief of GLP-1in The Washington Post by
is an honest take on the current weight-loss drug conversation. I appreciate how the author is able to capture the emotional and social landscape of opting out. Here’s a quote:“I’m angry. I’m seething that this message of ‘you have to lose weight’ has come back with such force. It dominates social media feeds and the news. I don’t want to answer our culture’s calls for thinness. Or change myself with this drug to fit into society’s unrealistic beauty standards.”
🔗 “The Surprising Liberation I Found Getting Dressed in My Biggest Body”
I worked with
as a 1:1 client last year and I loved, loved, loved this piece. There’s literally nothing more rewarding than hearing that my clients are having an easier time getting dressed and expressing themselves regardless of the size of their bodies.During my hours upon hours of thrifting, I’ve occasionally picked up a couple of quality pieces here and there that aren’t right for me to resell, which can be controversial. Typically, I’ll resell them for a price that is still a fraction of retail price and someone who doesn’t like digging as much as I do will get something great for cheap, and I get a few dollars to add to my clothing budget.
backs me up in her piece:“With an estimated 84 percent of donated clothes ending up in landfills or incinerated, I would argue we need more resellers. Thrift stores are absolutely overrun with clothing and resellers aren’t making a dent in clothing waste.”
🔗 “How to Find a Tailor That Works for You”
Shana also has a guide to finding a tailor you’ll actually want to go back to. I’ve been burned by tailors in the past (R.I.P. Équipment dress) so I love the practical advice to test run a tailor and also that “a good tailor is like a good therapist—you may not click with the first one you meet.”
🔗 “What Does $95 Worth of Tailoring Get You?”
Speaking of tailoring, while stylists like to tout tailoring as the solution to all fit issues, I couldn’t stop nodding through
’s piece from The Molehill. Not every problem can be solved and I know from working with clients that just the idea of standing in front of a tailor and being perceived is enough to deter some.🔗 “Sustainable Fashion Begins With Developing Personal Style”
This GQ piece on sustainable fashion and personal style by the genius fashion critic
is from five years ago, but I keep coming back to it. It’s a reminder that “sustainability” isn’t just about what we buy—it’s about how we buy, how we wear, how we value. The line that stuck with me: “Developing personal style is the most sustainable thing you can do.”If you’d like to become more sustainable just by figuring out your personal style, check out my “Uncover Your Authentic Style” workshop. A recent review says “This was a wonderfully designed and very helpful course on how to determine what your style is, gently bringing awareness to our inner script and censor, and giving ourselves permission to wear what creates joy.” Use code SUBSTACK for 20% off.
A few other things bringing me the tiniest bit of joy in these dark times: