Spring shopping with style and sustainability in mind (special Savannah edit)

Spring is in the air, and so is the excitement of a wardrobe refresh! This was apparent everywhere I looked on a recent trip to Savannah, Ga. Gone were the winter woolens and coats, replaced by a veritable patisserie of colors, dresses and textures. On my last trip to Europe I brought a load of secondhand items and hosted a pop-up at my friend Marcela's house. I had forgotten that my European ladies tend to gravitate towards neutrals and black throughout most of the year (although I did manage to sell a Lily Pulitzer to someone) and I mentioned to them that here in the states, especially the South, as soon as spring hits it is a cacophony of riotous florals, ruffles, flounces and pattern. It's fashion "a la cupcake"!

As much as I love a good pattern, they can sometimes have a short shelf-life. What joy then, to have that item put back into circulation for someone to snap up secondhand! Shopping pre-loved pieces isn’t just a smart way to update your personal confection collection—it’s also a step toward a greener planet...while saving money!

While in Savannah one of my priorities was finding a local consignment store (one of my favorite pastimes!) and I lucked out when I visited Labels on Liberty. This cute little boutique is run by the oh-so-stylish Lulu, whose entrepreneurial mind quickly made a connection with mine (former consignment shop owner) and we quickly dove into the questions that occupy the minds of small business owners - how do you find inventory, how do you price it to keep both the consignor and customer happy, what are the terms, etc.

She has a wonderful selection of fashionable pieces that run the gamut from trendy and accessible, to higher end couture pieces. She only takes quality pieces and has set a high bar for the items she accepts. All of this made shopping at her store an absolute pleasure and I highly recommend popping in when you are there.

Not planning a trip to Savannah in the near future? We have a Labels of our very own (no affiliation with the Savannah store) here in Athens and I am looking forward to a visit in the near future to see what they have in store for spring, or to pick up some past season sale items. They have 2 physical locations, one is dedicated to the new arrivals and the other space has all the juicy discounts!

So what is trending in secondhand spring fashion? Floral Everything – From vintage sundresses to delicate blouses, florals are a timeless spring staple. Relaxed Denim – Straight-leg and wide-leg jeans are making waves, and vintage finds are the best way to achieve that lived-in, effortless vibe. Plaid and preppy seem to be making a comeback and can be easy to acquire. Just make sure you use sparingly so you don’t look like you going to a literal lobster boil.

Ready to give your closet a fresh start? Browse your local thrift stores, vintage boutiques, or online resale platforms to score this season’s best finds.