Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Brown
Hi Brooke, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my vintage & styling business around 2018 after my love for collecting rare, secondhand, unique things & clothing. Previously, I was a hair stylist, and had experience working in a salon, as well as behind the scenes on small photo/film sets doing hair & makeup looks, but still always so interested in the wardrobe styling part of the industry as well.
During the pandemic, my salon job was very unpredictable and I had to take action on making money in other avenues in order to pay my bills. So I turned my fun little hobby/side business into my full time job online. I had experience doing pop up markets as well as selling online, and always got compliments on my outfits and the clothing I had curated for sale on my racks. That led me to start offering styling services as well.
Fast forward almost five years later, and I have styled over 100 people across the country from my online “mystery style bundles”, where I take your exact measurements, style preferences, likes & dislikes etc., and make outfits for you from completely secondhand/thrifted clothing and accessories, that you get to keep!
I have also done some styling on small productions & music videos in the Atlanta area and always looking to work with local creatives to style & creative direct for projects they are working on.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road. Especially shifting from one profession to another at such an unpredictable time, but I will say that I KNEW I would thrive at this as long as I kept my head up and worked towards my goals with passion.
I have always had an eye for styling, whether that be with hair, makeup or clothing. It’s something that I believe is ingrained in me as a person.
In this industry, you’re constantly trying to prove yourself, constantly competing online for views and likes on a passion project you fell in love with styling, just to feel like no one appreciated it or even saw it. But you just have to keep going and keep posting your work, because eventually the right people will see it and want to work with you.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d say my title would be Stylist/Vintage Curator/Creative Director/Content Creator/Editor for my business, and adding my own reworked creations soon, so also, Sustainable Designer.
I pull all of the pieces I sell and style as sustainably as possible. I think it takes an extra sprinkle of talent to style people in thrifted clothing. I understand a lot of stylists in the industry like pulling name brand, fashion Haus garments for their clients, but unless I come across them for a thrifted price, I probably don’t have designer in my wardrobe.
Styling my clients in secondhand, no-name items but making it look Couture, that’s my specialty!
I would say I’m most known for my Mystery Style Bundles; I style you from head to toe in all secondhand outfits based on your exact style requests and measurements, and you get to keep it all!
I make Youtube content taking you behind the scenes of the style bundles as well as thrifting and other styling videos. I also do styling and thrifting videos on my Instagram & TikTok.
I’d say I’m most proud of taking a chance on myself and putting my styling out there for people to see. I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the styling jobs I’ve taken whether that be from my online or in person clients.
I’m also proud of building a small community online based around my styling & love for thrifting & secondhand fashion.
I’d say my eye for detail in the “trash” at thrift stores and passion sets me apart from others in the industry. I can take just about anything and turn it into a look or part of a set design I’m helping with. I also try not to be TOO influenced by current trends. Obviously I will dabble in the trends, but I won’t let it change my whole persona & the way I style myself or clients. I think especially now with how fast paced internet trends are, it’s easy to stray away from your own authentic style.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I really stay inspired by physical media. My husband and I love collecting old VHS, CDs and magazines we grew up on in the 90s/2000s. Flipping through old fashion, skate & motorcycle magazines, looking at the artwork on CD & VHS cases, watching old films, vintage art books, that’s where I pull most of my inspiration from for my work whether that be the fashion, set design or how I edit my content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.expiredthreads.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/expiredthreads/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@expiredthreads
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@expiredthreads?_t=8qbp78Lp0kF&_r=1
