Wardrobe Series with Jess Molina

This week we caught up with the wonderful storyteller

and content creator Jess Molina.

Read on to see where she finds inspiration, hear about her favourite styling tips + shop her wardrobe items available on our Marketplace

Words by Jess Molina

I’ve always loved the idea that every time I buy something secondhand, I also become part of its history. So many of my best and most memorable fashion moments involve pieces I’ve acquired secondhand, whether that’s from rummaging through the racks of a charity shop or browsing through Designer Wardrobe late at night (let’s face it – we’ve all done a cheeky evening shop in our pjs from the comforts of our own home).

They say you never forget your first love. Well, I say you never forget your first designer purchase. My one happened to be a beautiful vintage Dior bag that I bought in 2018, a year into my first senior corporate job. I wanted to treat myself to something to mark the occasion. I knew I wanted a bag as my first designer piece and buying it secondhand has always been my plan. I spent quite a bit of time browsing online, adding it to my wish list, carefully considering my purchase.

The thing about buying secondhand is that yes, it’s a more sustainable option, but that needs to go hand in hand with changing our attitude towards the way we consume too. For me it that looked like taking my time to decide on what I wanted, what my budget was, and how it fits with my current pieces.

That feeling of finding ‘the one’ is truly magical. I knew when I saw the Dior bag listing that I had found the piece for me. The search was over. Four years later, the bag is still a treasured piece in my wardrobe. That feeling of excitement and adoration is pretty much still alive. But I know when the time comes for it to move on to its next life it will become part of someone else’s wardrobe but my history and connection with it will always be there.

I feel the same way about the pieces I’m selling. It’s no secret that my wardrobe is curated and considered. I love wearing neutrals and sticking to a minimal palette but also focus on how something fits on my body. Every time I add something to my wardrobe, I make sure it already works with pieces I already have and that they will actually be used, not just shoved in the back of my closet, forgotten and not worn. When I was going through the pieces for this selection, I applied the same ethos as I would if I was buying them. I wanted each of these to work together or work with what you already own.


 

These have been in my wardrobe for a season and are now ready to find someone else who can love and enjoy them. Clothes with a history and personal meaning to me that can now be yours to make your own memories in. I hope you find this edit useful and that the styling tips I share here extends beyond my listing and makes you look at your wardrobe from a different perspective.

Miss Crabb reversible black dress – This midi length dress has the most beautiful silhouette and is the perfect dress for days where you feel like ‘you’ve got nothing to wear’ because it’s such a great base layer. Wear with boots and a leather jacket for a dinner out, high heeled stilettos with a faux fur stole for a date, or a denim jacket and sneakers for a casual brunch. A good silk black dress will never go out of fashion and this dress is reversible so you’re basically getting two looks out of it! 

H&M brown pleated dress – Purchased in 2019 and now chocolate hued clothes are all the rage. Just another proof that fashion trends come and go so you may as well just wear whatever you like! And there is plenty to like about this dress! Full length, full skirt, and that pleating makes for interesting movement. Every time I wore it, I felt like I was gliding through air as I moved. The drama! It’s on the sheer side which means a cute little bralette would be nice under it. And because it’s light, it’s a good transition piece for Spring/Summer with sandals and a trench coat or paired with a full-length warm coat for Autumn/Winter... I have too many dresses in my wardrobe and this one deserves to be worn and loved and used which sadly I have neglected to do so! I wore it to the Aladdin on Broadway opening night years ago and it was magical. I hope you make great memories in it too!

Vintage Dior clip-on earrings – This is the pair of earrings that made me realise my ears sat flat in my head. It was devastating! No wonder earrings never sit quite right on me. These vintage Dior ones were bought secondhand and have never been worn out (by me). It’s so beautiful, the gold is in fantastic condition, and the detailing is exquisite. When it comes to designer/vintage jewelry, I like to go for pieces that are classic. So, a shape/cut that won’t ever go out of style, something unique, and still in great condition. These tick all those boxes! I’m pretty sad to be selling them but they don’t deserve to sit in a dark box in my wardrobe all day, every day. It’s such a special piece that can be passed on for generations!

H&M little black dress – There’s a reason why LBDs or the little black dress has received cult status!  This one is my absolute favourite minidress and the only reason why I’m selling it is because I actually have another one of the exact dresses. I don’t need two in my closet even though I wear this pretty much all throughout the warmer months. It’s super cute with a chunky dad sandal for the day or platform slides for evening wear. The frilly skirt makes it perfect for twirling and I like that the sleeves are puffy but not too puffy that it loses shape. I once wore this to my crush’s birthday dinner and my goodness did, I feel lovely in it! My top tip for finding the best LBD – find something with an interesting shape or texture. People say black dresses are boring, but I think it’s all about the finer details. 

Moochi beige skirt – I fell in love with this last year and have worn it out twice. It wasn’t quite the fit I wanted and had to wear it higher than I preferred. But it’s the perfect light beige with a full skirt. I feel like most maxi skirts these days only come in black but sometimes you just want a lighter option. I love this paired with an oversized blazer or a cropped knit. I feel like tonal looks can be intimidating at first, but I think texture is the secret behind getting it right. So a beige skirt like this would amazing with a knitted jumper or a wool coat in the same colour family and for shoes you can either go neutral as well or go full contrast with a black shoe. Beige isn’t boring and having different textures to a beige outfit will really make it more dimensional and interesting!

Grace Hill pleated skirt – It’s the texture for me! Bigger pleats sit more dramatic in my body and that length is so good because most pleated skirts that are long aren’t really full length. This is a proper long skirt so it’s incredible with ankle boots or a trusty pair of Dr. Martens. It also sits a little higher on the waist so a cropped jumper or even a cropped top with a nice plain jacket would really make this skirt pop. It’s such a cool winter to spring look or if you really want to make the most out of this piece, an oversized white linen shirt work open would be beautiful for a summer evening BBQ. 

Witchery bag – Here’s the thing about trends. When you see it pop up enough, eventually you’ll be susceptible to actually trying it out or coveting that same look. Even the most solid of willpowers can be influenced and this was the case for me. I love this bag! I love its shape but especially the colour. When I wear an all-black outfit, having a neutral bag takes it to the next level. But it’s time for me to accept that I’m not a small bag kind of gal. When I go out, I like carrying a lot of things as if I’m Mary Poppins. I have to have a book, a notebook, and a pen with me at the very least. The tiny bag trend is not for me. And that’s okay. But if you’re after a classic silhouette bag in a neutral colour that you can wear with pretty much everything, then this beauty is a solid option.

Previous
Previous

Create a stand-out marketplace listing

Next
Next

Garment Care: Knitwear