september 8th, 2026
Having sat with this idea for a little more than a week, I’ve begun building the collection. I spent hours in Goodwill stores, pouring over online marketplaces, and scrolling through inspiration on Pinterest to find pieces that best resemble the feelings explained in my last post. I am proud to say I have found plenty of clothing items that deserve to be lovingly worn looking for a little extra warmth and comfort. Although not every piece is a “true vintage” item, the collection I’ve started to build still reflect the soft, comfortable materials and coziness I was looking for.
I am slightly embarrassed to admit there are a couple items I fell so in love with I decided to keep for myself. I may still decide to sell these pieces in the future, however I couldn’t part with them without giving them a life of my own. Over the past few months, I’ve been struggling finding secondhand clothing that I truly adore. It seems most stores I visit are already well sorted through or lack inventory. It was exciting to have the chance to finally go to an area that has an abundance of stock, given to them by thousands of people simply seeking getting rid of things they no longer need. It was refreshing being able to sort through racks of items looking for a second life, rather than scanning a store for a disorganized, high priced clearance rack.
During my recent searches through secondhand stores I’ve also begun to learn to read material tags, pay attention to the structure of the garment. Years ago, when I’d browse thrift stores to kill time, I was simply shopping for pieces that I could wear that could show off my style without having to pay full price. Now, I adore buying second hand because it’s easier to acquire meticulously made, unique pieces that is simply not found when shopping online or at modern stores. I have been specifically looking for pieces that I could tell have structure, made with natural materials. I realize that these pieces would not only be more comfortable to wear, but more durable through washing, living in, and easier to repair.
I have yet to collect all the pieces I’d like to sell, so unfortunately the WhatNot show is currently on hold until I can gather just a few more items to make the live auction worthwhile. I am also wanting to add in a few pieces that aren’t strictly clothing, that way there’s some versatility for the audience.
In truth, not only do I have some busy times coming up this week, but I know myself well enough to recognize I’m procrastinating this show out of fear. Fear of not selling, fear of failure, fear of wasting my time. With all the advice I’ve heard over the years I know, logically, this fear is all inside myself. The only road blocks that are in my way are self-inflicted. But, even still, it’s hard to round that corner without knowing what might be waiting for me. The bravery of doing something that I have never done before is getting harder to grasp onto, especially because I feel I have more to lose.
Despite my fear, what has kept me from quitting completely is sheer stubbornness. I have a gut feeling that something like this could truly work for me. A job online and where I am in charge of myself and my store is something I’ve always wanted, just never thought possible. I refuse to simply let fear get in the way of something that I have been dreaming of for years. Now that my dream has materialized in a way that feels real, I am too determined to just let it fizzle out.
I’m excited to continue this journey of building an online presence, curating my shop, building my persona. Even if the audience is just myself and close friends right now, my focus is on building something that others can benefit from. I also want to prove to myself I truly do have the freedom to do or be whatever I put my mind to. I don’t have to let fear get in the way of that.
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