How To Shop Vintage, Resist Trends, And Break Your Fast Fashion Habits 

She has a good point that most people don’t know what good quality is until they see or feel it for themselves. It’s hard to go back after you experience something actually nice!- but many people don’t get the chance to experience or understand .

Thank you Chelsea for having me for that episode! Great conversation. And also: your outfit looked SHARP 👌😊

Great interview! Justine is a breath of fresh air for many reasons. One that wasn’t touched on in the video is the fact that she has a much healthier verbal stance on aging than what I’ve been seeing on the channel lately. Her age doesn’t matter. A common trend lately has been having the guests proclaim that they are “so old!” Even though they are in their late 20’s - early 30’s. The toxic ageism has made it difficult to stay engaged and watch long enough to get to the meat of the videos. Justine’s perspective on various topics seems healthier and more nuanced. As a result it was a pleasure to watch from beginning to end.

In my opinion the easiest way to create a mind shift is for people to learn to knit, or sew, or crochet. Even if one never makes it past samplers / dish cloth, people will start to understand that cloth have value.

I appreciate that she shares more details and examples of clothing quality. Too many content creators just say "look for quality" without a clear, thorough explanation of what quality clothes look and feel like.

Chelsea brought up a really good point that even when we look at new, high priced clothing, it's still not very well made. It really is difficult to figure out how to buy good quality, sustainable clothing in our current market

Justine was the reason why I started learning how to sew and eventually made my own clothes. She's very inspirational. ❤

Having grown up as a plus size person in South America I can tell you, it is incredibly difficult to find clothes that fit bigger bodies in South America. The clothes I was able to find came actually from the US. Big and curvy are not the same thing, body shape and body size are are not the same thing. I have many small and medium size friends with curves. And then there’s me, big but not curvy. Some brands use words like “curvy” instead of plus size just to make it sound “cuter”, but that’s not it.

It is also worth noting that many so called designer labels or higher end companies also manufacture their products in unsafe factories and with overuse of petrol based fibers.

I’ve noticed the quality of clothing has drastically gone down in the past 15 years, probably more. I literally shop my mums wardrobe (she has pieces from Berlin from the 80s!) and the quality difference to current clothing is INSANE. The difference is night and day. I now shop second hand, and if I have some extra $$ then on Farfetch sales. Yes, the pieces are expensive up front but last me years, if not my whole lifetime.

I wanted to share a recent experience: we were in Bangkok and went to a huge shopping mall (don't really know why, it was on a list of highlights) I was extremely overwhelmed and because there was SO much choice I felt like a failure for not finding anything I really wanted. I then took a step back and realized how crazy the fast fashion marketing is and how compelled you feel to take part. It was a huge moment of clarity for me and I don't want to go to places like that anymore. The pull to buy is so strong EVEN if you are conscious and lucid so it's best to just avoid.

Chelsea and Justine!!! Two of my favorite ladies in one podcast! 2min into the video and I can already tell it is a great and quality content

I sew and I love it. A lot of people do not understand the value and skill that goes into it. I guess it's hard to see the true value when fast fashion cheapens it all. I feel like factory workers have been dehumanized by their employers and the consumer and its so sad.

It’s interesting the thing she mentioned about necklines lying flat. I noticed several years ago that tops with a substantial collar last much longer and look higher quality. But even in some more “high quality” stores, I see clothing where the collar flips over and shows the lining.

I have my father’s wool cardigan from the 70s. It’s still in top notch condition and worn regularly. It’s my most treasured clothing item

Love Justine’s channel! Great collab. The point she made about shopping brands and designers that cater to markets with similar body types as you… WOW. What a lightbulb moment. Of course I should be looking at Latin American designers who are used to cutting clothes to fit bodies with curves. Eye-opening.

What she said about high heels and sneakers is indeed correct. My employer is also encouraging people to wear sneakers to work. It encourages people to be more active during their work day. We do walking lunches, catch ups and sneakers do definitely make it easier.

I really enjoyed this conversation and appreciated Justine’s suggestions of how we can make shopping more ethically work regardless of how much we earn. Also the discussion of how to not pass on our own exploitation and instead foster a sense of community was very elegantly articulated. What an important mindset. Thanks for a great episode 👏

Justine is amazing. Have watched her channel for the last 3 years at least. Such a sane voice in the fashion world.

Two of everybody's favorite ladies. I'm lucky enough to be old and didn't grow up with fast fashion. I grew up as a child in the fifties and sixties and seventies and remember when clothes were really great quality and well made. Quality began to deteriorate in the mid seventies when much of our manufacturing began to go overseas and has gone down ever since. I remember when shoes came in many widths . Now they are made with cheaper labor higher prices and fewer options. I think one thing to ask when we consider buying something is whether we really love an item of clothing. Sometimes waiting two weeks or more to see if something is still in our mind is a good strategy. Another thing is do items of clothing fit our lifestyle and work for the environment we live in. I think the French idea of quality over quantity is something we as Americans can and should adapt.

I had to replace my entire wardrobe last year, not out of desire but out of necessity because I lost all of my belongings in a fire. It's been kind of a grueling process, because I'd like to be more mindful of my choices but I've also had to make some quick decisions in the following days and weeks (like buying shitty H&M pieces on the day of the fire because I needed something quick, had no change of clothes and was on a tight insurance budget) and it's been bugging me ever since. I'd love to buy more secondhand stuff, but like mentioned here, it's tough when you're not a "standard" size in most clothes. I have extremely specific measurements for pants and jeans that I've never been able to find in thrift stores, so I've had to really just buy whatever actually fit me.

Justine Leconte is so fabulous - knowledgeable, creative, business minded, intelligent and ethical. And she speaks at least 3 languages! Thanks for having her on, very interesting interview. As for clothing, I'm old enough i used to dress make in the '70s and '80s. I thought of returning to it recently as it's so hard to find standard, classical, properly fitted, properly sewn clothes in decent fabrics nowadays - at any price! But the fabrics being sold in stores now has also gone badly downhill. As for people not knowing quality - yes, people are buying rubbishy sewn garments because they don't know what decent stitching, fit or fabric seam matching even looks like any more.

I live in Chile, where the majority of people are poor, and a thin strata of people are very wealthy. For people here H&M is not fast fashion. They use the clothes until they fall apart. They can't afford anything more. Having said that we also have 'ferias' which are markets that sell fruit/veg and second hand clothes from other countries (mainly US and some UK). The sellers buy the bales of clothes from abroad (mostly things that haven't sold in charity shops or thrift stores) and resell. These clothes are much cheaper than even H&M. There is a mix of rubbish in there and also quite a few very good quality little worn gems....Ralph Lauren, Talbot, Free People etc. You have to look though and nothing is organized it is just in big piles. A lot of people shop here out of necessity not because they have the luxury of caring about the environment. It should be pointed out that SHEIN clothes NEVER resell because they are crap quality. So it is true these clothes really do end up in the desert in a massive disgusting tip here. The quality clothes resell. Some expensive brands I have noticed are not great quality...yes Free People I am calling out here.

I remember buying from Zara in the 2000s and I had a pair of corduroy trousers that I wore all the time until I gave them away because I lost weight and didn't fit anymore. Thinking of those trousers, I bought another pair also from Zara years later, they didn't last a year before the fabric wore out in places. I also experienced how clothes became smaller and smaller, the same size in 2002 was way smaller in 2010. I had my 2002 clothes, all the clothes bought in 2010 and after disintegrated quickly. Now I try to make my own clothes or buy second hand. Fast fashion is the worst.

I think she was referring to moth balls, not cedar, when she said it was toxic. Cedar is a great moth repellent and is natural and not toxic…and smells great!

We had beautiful-quality clothes in the 80s and early 90s. Suiting was always 100% wool, lined with rayon, which I love because it’s breathable, unlike polyester. Blouses were cotton or silk, jeans were 100% cotton. I wish I had saved more items from then. I was forced into early retirement because of an injury, and thought I wouldn’t miss my blazers, etc., but I did, after I got rid of them. When I tried to buy similar items after 2005, that quality wasn’t available at any price. They say NAFTA is at least partly responsible for the degradation of fashion, because it allows outsourcing to developing countries without environmental or labor laws.

I love Justine’s channel. I’ve learned so much from her over the years. It also helps that my hubby is not from the US so already had many of the things she teaches embedded in his upbringing. We have a child and we do not have a dryer. We haven’t used a dryer for over a decade (stopped in college) not only do my clothes last longer but they look better. So, with diligent planning (folding laundry now while watching this so I can hang the next load that is currently washing). The other thing I learned many years ago before RU-vid was about fabrics. Synthetics make me sweat like crazy. I have always gravitated towards the wools, cashmeres, and silks even when I couldn’t afford. Now there are brands like Grana or Quince where it’s not unaffordable (don’t know about their ethics though). It’s possible to take care of your clothes without it being terribly overwhelming.

The tip about looking for clothing brands from different countries based on average body type there is honestly so smart and helpful if you're tall or short compared to most others where you live

Great video. Old lady commenter- I remember the eighties and nineties, and I did buy less often and considered each purchase more carefully than now. That being said, I have always shopped second hand to some extent as well as buying new. The past four or five years I find fewer nice garments in the secondary market, as fast fashion is dominating. When I do find a legacy brand (LL Bean, Talbots, Nordstrom) the quality difference is dramatically apparent. As an example, Jacqueline Smith was a Kmart line, and their garments are much higher quality fabric and construction than newer (Madewell, J Crew) 'higher end' mall brands I find at thrift stores.

So excited to see Justine! I adore her. I stopped all my gap, banana republic etc shopping after watching her talk about fast fashion

Sewing definitely makes a difference to how I understand a quality garment (lucky to have been taught to sew as a teenager); and the popularity of shows like Sewing Bee means that good/interesting fabric is readily available. What sewing for oneself ISN'T is cheap. I reckon I spend similar on the fabric for a garment that I might have on buying a completed equivalent garment (and from somewhere like M&S/Monsoon/Boden, so not that cheap). And yes, I enjoy putting in linings, high quality enclosed seam finishes etc., (all of which help a garment to last longer).

I really liked how she asked Chelsea how she would answer that question when she wasn't sure. That was really smart. Loved this convo!♡ big fan of both channels♡

Great collaboration! I also don't spin my clothes, my mom gave me weird looks, but my clothes are so much better off that way! Also a material that should be mentioned is hemp! Recently bought two dresses made from hemp and I am in love! Very durable, solid fabric. I also recently switched to a more quality, basic-focused wardrobe and noticed my anxiety in terms of clothing had really gone down and subsided. Now I focus on higher quality, more basic garments that I know I will use and will fit with most of my garments.

I literally thought I was clicking on Justine’s video, but was so happy when I put it all together. She RULES!!

I think the scarcity discussion needs to be expanded in general. I am working on an inventory of my clothing and I realize that I have dome excesses that I buy on repeat because I worry about running out. The other side of that is hitting up thrift stores and sites to buy things that are affordable but well made.

For Flocks Sake! I just got an ad for Shein while watching this video. Way to read the room, RU-vid!

This is a very thought-provoking video by two of my favorite content creators, Justine and Chelsea. I am fascinated by the idea of buying high quality clothing, but less clothing, to save money, the environment and to promote sustainable and humane industry practices. I have a lot in my closet, too much, but many of my older items have been worn hundreds of times. I am going to try Justine’s recommendation to shop second-hand.

I so enjoyed this! I love both of your channels and have been watching Justine since she only had about 20,000 subscribers. As I’ve gotten older, I am 56 now, I have gravitated towards higher quality clothing. I thought the problem was because of my body changes happening, that my clothes were lying differently on me and didn’t look as good. At first I was attributing this to not having my 20/ 30-year-old body anymore, and then I realized it really is the quality, the thickness of the fabric, the weave or the small details that were making the clothing not look as good on me. this in turn has caused me to purchase less items.

I pick my own trends that are classic and universal to my alternative lifestyle. I'm currently into button down tops with jeans for work and going out, while tshirt and plain pajama pants for at home wear. I also love coridor (sorry for typo) fabrics because they last long and purchase items from eBay that are from respectable company that practice fair trade. Ebay and Etsy have amazing fair trade, ethical clothing that aren't even that expensive and allows you to collect over time so you build your wardrobe over time while using what you already have till they are rags and then you use them fabrics as cleaning rags. That is what I use my stuff for.

I’ve been following Justine for awhile now, so glad to see her on TFD

Thank you for interviewing Justine! I have been following here for some time. She’s wonderfully informed.

This was such a great episode! Thank you for having Justine as a guest. That answer from Chelsey to that last question about affordable ethical fashion resonated with me. Thank you!

I already love her! Followed! I think I’m convinced: no more fast fashion.

Thank you very much for this channel and this particular episode with Justine LeConte. Re: sizing, Justine’s suggestion of seeking clothing from a region in the world where the female norm most closely matches your body size and shape. When I lived in South Africa, I came across very well made clothing from German designers that probably dated back to the 80’s. Really high quality fabrics and construction - larger pattern cuts than French - as well as ample fabric in the seams to allow a customer to let out the item if needed, especially for pants and skirts. Just a few decades later, we would NEVER find any extra fabric on a garment. I also appreciated some of these brands because I knew that German consumers were conservative with their money and insisted on quality and durability way over trendy, flighty “fashion.” But these brands did not survive once “fashion” became profitable for corporations, or else their quality plummeted, or they became staples in bargain basic outlet stores.

I feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon Justine's you tube channel a few years ago. Her content is always thought provoking. Great discussion today.

I find my stuff always looks brand new since I've started ironing. Nothing like a well ironed t-shirt ❤

I miss good quality fabrics. 😢 I’ve always hated polyester, but as a menopausal woman I REALLY hate how suffocating it is.

So much of my wardrobe is comprised of high quality vintage handed-me-down items or the same purchased in thrift and consignment shops. I do buy new socks and underwear, and leggings and tights. As I like having art on my walls to enjoy and fine dishes in my China cabinet to use and enjoy seeing; I also enjoy seeing and looking at the special clothing well-fitting, high quality vintage items, including shoes, in my closet snd drawers. I buy only vintage swimsuits and Own many. If I “need” a specific item for a special occasion I look for it in a thrift shop. If I don’t find it I make do with something I already have. I love the clothing I have.

So happy to hear two favourite women bloggers in 1 podcast

Yay! You interviewed Justine, her chanel is amazing, very focused on sustaintability and quality of garments over quantity.

Thank you for this feature that raises so many vital points that we all need to engage with. I would like to contribute to the discussion with the suggestion of finding a good tailor or seamtress (apologies if these terms are gendered). This supports local crafts people while opening up possibilities for re-shaping and re-sizing vintage and second-hand items as well as repairing and altering existing garments. I am very pleased to see that repair techniques, such as Sashiko, have become popular, and where I live there are classes and courses in repairing and re-fitting garments. I have been watching Justine’s videos for a number of years and am inspired by her passion and commitment … waiting for her to start a menswear line! Thanks again for great content!

There's that old André Toulouse quote that goes, "Les choses ne sont pas bonnes parce-qu'elles sont vieilles, elles sont vieilles parce qu'elles sont bonnes." Things aren't good because they're old, they're old because they're good.

I love how there is so much cross-fertilization between the content creators I watch. This interview was wonderful. Justine is an excellent guest.

You two win for two of the most articulate, informed, intelligent, relevant, and ethical content producers I've ever seen on any of the available media 🥰🤩 Bonjour and Hello from Vancouver ❤🤍❤

Oh, and cedar balls are not toxic! Justine was referring to Naphthalene Balls - aka Moth Balls! Very toxic. However, cedar is a great choice!

love this collab! Justine was the reason I started to pay attention to fast fashion atrocity and I am so happy that the fashion aspect is blending into financial mindset more as food and good quality clothing are my biggest expenses at the moment.

This is a great interview and intersection of two of my favorite RU-vid channels. So good ❤

Wow, your answer to the question you read at 47:17 made me subscribe to your channel! Very wise and empathetic. As a long term subscriber to Justine’s channel, I was not surprised by her brilliance throughout this video ☺️

This interview is a true gem! Thank you so much for it. Your answers to the many ethical questions about the clothes industry were a real eye opener, going far beyond the very scope of your interview. The questions of treating the others better than we are maybe treated rang a bell, but made me wonder if an other formulation would not be more accurate. Maybe we should not treat others better than ourselves, because that would rise the question of how much more is better. Maybe we should treat them as we oulselves would like to be treated, as an alter ego. I'm quite certain that the vast majority of us knows exactly what that means, and can identify in a simple way to it. We would all like that we, as persons, as well as our work, would be given the deserved consideration and respect. Which should translate, in this specific case, in a fair price for the work done, and an appreciation for the object itself. Which, in turn would also mean less clothes to be bought, of far better quality, as fast fashion is not really an object to be appreciated as much as distracting clutter. And who really likes clutter?

Thank you for the amazing guest. I'm Justine's subscriber and her channel completely change my point of view regarding clothing.

It's not just being able to find secondhand clothes if you're bigger/taller than a size small. It's the amount of time, skill, and energy required to be able to sew, thrift, or tailor thrifted finds. For people who work full time outside their home, have long commutes, are raising kids and/or caring for ailing family members (unpaid work that disproportionately falls on women), embracing "slow fashion" is a luxury. Another barrier to creating a perfectly curated capsule wardrobe of a few high quality garments is constantly fluctuating body weight (stress, menopause/ other hormonal fluctuations, medications can all contribute to this). I hate fast fashion, but I wish Chelsea and Justine had acknowledged how difficult avoiding it can be for anyone who doesn't have the benefits of time, skill, and energy to do otherwise, or whose body weight/ shape/ size is not static.

I love this interview! I request that you have her on regularly if possible, please - that would be wonderful. Thanks for sharing🌷

I struggle to buy clothes. I can’t feel good buying fast fashion and they don’t fit. but as a tall, big busted woman the options are so limited. I sew and I make a lot of my clothes but that is time consuming with a job and children. And the town I live in doesn’t have a fabric store. I end up sewing/buying a couple items per year and I receive hand me downs from a friend. I usually feel I need to get better at buying clothes haha

I would add a few points: - Considering the top 1% of the world makes USD $30k a year, is not about passing down the oppression, is about most people not earning enough to even save for a better garment, like this channel itself has pointed to in the past. Im blessed to live in Australia and have earned minimum wage most of my life, there is no saving for 150 euro dress - I dont agree with something more expensive most likely being more ethical in production, very often that extra money goes to renting a store front in a more expensive area, making the store fancier etc, most docs on clothes and leather often show evidence how often cheap and super expensive garments are made in the same place. - What makes a material sustainable is not so clear. Something can be less toxic which is great and so important (climate change is important but so is pollution), but for example a synthetic fabric made of petroleum BYPRODUCTt can technically be more sustainable than natural wool (as we know animal agriculture is one of the top polluters and highest consumer of natural resources * and that doesn’t count the chemicals sheep are SUBMERGED!!! in to kill parasites for your ORGANIC wool (often labelled organic bc the sheep is eating grass) - Leather despite being called a byproduct, it is not... as leather accounts for approximately 10% of the animal's total value, making it the most valuable part, pound for pound. So animals would still be raised and killed for your shoes, belt, purse etc.

I really like Justine, I'm glad she is sharing her knowledge here.

Thanks for having Justine on your channel. Ive watched her for years. She always produces well researched and professional videos.

This interview is awesome! Thanks for bringing in a sustainability expert. I just want to learn more about this now 😅

It's true about each region making clothes for different body types. I find I can't wear Japanese brands for shirts because they're all like belly shirts on me. French brands are made for rectangles - their shorts and pants are too narrow at the hips, and shirts and dresses look like sacks. Italian seems to work best for me. They often make fitted shirts and dresses with fitted bodices and flared skirts that work well for people who are hourglasses.

So glad Justine did the interview. Such a beautiful intro Chelsey. A great topic.

I don t go by trends. I go by if it looks good on me and how well it fits me and how well it is made. And if it is needed. I do buy some wants, things that I love also. God Bless.

Finally!!!!! My fav RU-vidrs coming together 🎉🎉🎉

Love this video! And I rarely comment but I just have to shout out how fierce Chelsea's outfit is in this video.

Love Justine! One of my fav youtubers, I always learn so much valuable information from her!

I thrift almost exclusively for my family and I still am on that hamster wheel of shopping trends . I thrift trends . It’s not perfect but I’m working on it

Justine is awesome. Have been following her channel for a few years. She is very authentic.

Very good to see Justine in your chanel. I watch both of you since a few years. Xo

That’s the beat collaboration I could wish for. Thank you both!

Amazing episode Chelsea! This was so informative and answered a lot of my own questions about not just buying ethically, but how to care for what clothing I already own to make it last. Thank you to you both!

I was just visiting with a friend. We both sew and we were discussing the levels of fashion that we used to have. We were teenagers in the 80s and the cheapest level was better quality than most clothing now. And I agree, there is the missing middle level of fashion that we used to have. Now when I shop at thrift shops, I look for quality goods that I can up cycle, because almost everything left in my area is fast fashion. For example, on Friday I found two beautiful men's wool suits in new condition. I will wear one jacket that fits beautifully, the trousers will become a skirt and the other jacket will probably become a waistcoat with a matching handbag.

Thank you for mentioning that finding quality or second hand clothing in larger sizes (I'm a 16) is very difficult. I tend to buy at lower end retailers (Target, Gap, etc) because they sell large sizes and have them in store. I wish I could buy from better stores or brands, but they rarely go up to my size.

So glad I stumbled on TFD channel! I've been a fan of Justine's for quite a while. I DO know what quality is & I love the French way: small wardrobe of quality items that are interchangeable. I live in France & I want French Poshmark & ThreadUp.

I’ve followed Justine for a couple years now… I love her stuff! ❤❤❤

I love Justine Leconte. I've been watching her channel for years. Thank you for having her on.

Wow Justine is here..happy to see this collaboration ^^..thank you.

Justine and Chelsea... two of my favorite women on RU-vid! Great conversation!

Omg omg omg Justine and Chelsea in the same video!! And talking about fast fashion!! 🤯🥰🤩

I wasn’t expecting to see Justine here but I’m so so glad to!

I love that you are able to collaborate with Justine!!

Too bad sewing classes aren't as available in HS. It's where I learned about sewing and then as I found I liked it I researched fabric, fiber and fashion history. I've shopped thrift for over 50 years. Home sewing and thrifting doesn't make companies much money though. Now the emphasis is being first with the latest even if it's made of plastic and badly made. We've cast aside well made garments for cheap and attention getting items. Times always don't change for the better. I shopped thrift stores because old clothes used to be well-made and made of real fibers. Thanks for the effort to educate.

I'm lower income. I love what Justine says on her channel - when you need clothes, go to 2nd hand stores/consignment shops...many have loads of options...usually worn a lot and still good condition. Instead of buying things that are new, but cheaply made, you only wear a couple times before they fall apart, not good fabric, not breathable, not environmentally friendly etc. When you know how good clothes are made, you would know what to look for when you are shopping...in the long run, you would save money.

I love your pale green classic pant suit. It looks great on you. Justine has a video where she says it's mandatory in Europe to have special filters in washing machines. These filters catch much of the micro plastics. Unfortunately North America hasn't introduced this. We need to start putting pressure on our manufacturers/brands.

Wow! Brilliant, inspiring & hopeful discussion Chelsea & Justine!

I jumped out of my seat when I saw the interview combo! Yes! thank you for it

Love, Justine! I've been a suscriber for years! She's an ICON! ❤

This was so good! Thank you, Chelsea for having Justine talk about this very important subject that impacts us all.

Clicked on this video so fast! Avid follower of Justine!

I love the video. I love shopping second hand as you can find great brands and great quality clothes. I do not understand how so many influencers are promoting fast fashion brands and most of the time never talking about the fabric and quality but usually just highlighting low price

Thanks to my Mom’s teaching, I sew, but use this skill mostly for doing my own alterations, which are constantly necessary. I also make my own curtains, etc., but have been disappointed with the clothes I’ve made, it think it’s the patterns. Maybe it’s just passing the buck, my skill never improved beyond an average/intermediate level.

I bought this 2nd hand 100% linen shirt for $40 on posh mark after measuring myself & comparing the garments measurement. I bought a small & it was so baggy on me I was shocked! I did my due diligence. I tried styling it tucked in, tied up Etc. I gave up & stopped wearing it outside the house because it swallowed me up. Finally, I took it to the tailor. The local tailor wanted $74USD to take it in at the shoulder seams & sides 🤨😬. I sew, but I'm still not a pro. I learned by watching her pin the areas I struggle with paid her but wont be back. I will attempt to tailor the garments myself from now on. The tailor is to exspensive!

Aaah my favourite two youtubers doing a vid together! Very cool that u have guests from our side of the pond 😉