S8 Ep6 MEL WORE IT: a Toronto-based thrifter on a sustainable personal style journey - on tracking the cost per wear of your closet, and shopping designer handbags on Japanese eBay.

Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl

Pre-Loved Podcast is a weekly vintage fashion interview show, with guests you’ll want to go thrifting with! For more Pre-Loved Podcast, subscribe to our Patreon!

On today’s show, we’re chatting with Melissa, you may know her online as Mel Wore It! Mel is a Toronto-based graphic designer and part time content creator, juggling her creative endeavors with the joys of motherhood.

She loves thrifting and shopping secondhand, and she unpacks the joys and journeys of her sustainable living practices online on TikTok and Instagram. On this episode, we chat a lot about the personal style journey, and what choosing secondhand has taught Mel about herself, plus some of the sustainability resolutions and practices she’s put in place to help her keep continuing to improve her shopping habits.

Really loved having this conversation, and I know you’re going to find it super interesting too, so let’s dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [3:38] How Mel’s love of pop culture and playing dress up influenced her interest in fashion growing up.
• [7:24] Mel’s journey with secondhand shopping really took off after her son was born.
• [11:50] On Mel’s personal style journey.
• [17:37] On slow and sustainable fashion resolutions and tracking the cost per wear of items in your closet.
• [27:12] Deciding when it’s the right time to let something go, and how that can make you feel.
• [30:46] Shopping for designer goods on Japanese eBay, and the best handbags she’s found.
• [34:38] Finding – and repairing! – a vintage Lady Di bag from the 90s.
• [37:02] Finding a faux Hermès bag in the thrift store, and the process of having it authenticated.

EPISODE MENTIONS:

• @melworeit (Instagram)
• @melworeit (TikTok)
• Avril Lavigne on SNL in 2003
• @oldloserinbrooklyn
• Kate of @readwritethrift
• Kate on Pre-Loved Podcast
• Whering
• @christina.mychas
• For the Love of Luxury (authentication service)
• @estellemuzic on TikTok
• @albertarose
• Alberta Rose on Pre-Loved Podcast

LET’S CONNECT:

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Twitter: @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
• Beverley Docherty of Wolfe Pack Vintage
• Danny of Galaxy Live
• Kathy Brand
• Lucero Buendia
• Tricia Zelazny
• Leslie V.
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• Lucille of Galipette Vintage
• KT
• Lydia Welp
• Anastacia Banicke of Goods & Provisions
• Michael A.
• Megan Morris