“I’m a practical dresser, but I like to throw in a wink or something weird,” says Kate Lindello, the founder of Noihsaf Bazaar, a clothing resale marketplace that focuses on independent designers. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota, with her family, and here she shares thrifting tips, gold winter coats, and jeans comfortable enough to wear on an airplane…
Dress: Kenzo’s 2016 collab with H&M, available secondhand. “I bought this dress off Noihsaf back when it was still on Instagram — it’s 100% silk.”
“In 2013, I was home with a newborn during one of Duluth’s coldest winters. The temperatures were in the negatives for 50 days straight. I’d quit my job and was dealing with bad postpartum depression. One day, I started an Instagram account to pass on vintage clothes from small brands that I loved but no longer wore. This was back when Instagram was all filtered pictures of lattes and cats. Then other people started asking if they could sell their clothes, too. Our little community was born.”
Shoes: vintage Anne Klein Oxfords, similar. Knee-high stockings: K8 Hardy. Anklet: Golden Boie.
“When I went through postpartum depression, I didn’t know who I was anymore. Overcoming depression and feeling like myself again felt so good that I decided, Fuck it. I’m gonna live my life, and I’m gonna wear whatever I want. This anklet is a permanent piece of jewelry; even when I wear sweats, my anklet makes me feel put together.”
Top: vintage via River General, similar. Jeans: Rachel Comey Elkin Pant, available secondhand or new. Shoes: Vans.
“This is Crouton; he’s a big, lovable baby. And these Rachey Comey jeans are the most comfortable pair I own. I even wear them on flights! To me, that’s the gold standard of comfort. Checkered Vans are a neutral in my book, and they hold up for years. I also have them in red, and if I’m feeling spunky, I’ll wear one of each color.”
Top: vintage via River General, similar. Rings: Another Feather and Annika.
“When I saw this shirt at a secondhand shop, I literally gasped. I love pairing simple jeans with a colorful textured top. When thrifting, I always keep an eye out for vintage Wranglers, 100% cotton tees, L.L. Bean or Lands’ End, and vintage Norma Kamali dresses. The men’s section is usually full of gems, too, and I look outside my standard clothing size because vintage sizing is all over the map.”
Coat: “Secondhand from Noihsaf Bazaar. The seller said it was a sample from the North Face,” similar. Hat: “Knit by my friend Emily,” similar.
“My friend decided to climb the Grand Tetons when she was 40. She asked if I’d join, and I said ‘hell yeah,’ even though I’m not really a climber. But then she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, so the trip was postponed to last summer. By that time, I had gotten really into yo-yoing. The guide reviews everything you pack to get rid of unnecessary weight before the trip. When he saw my yo-yo, he was like, ‘Absolutely not.’ So, I had to sneak it back in. The climb was incredible. For hiking, I like Patagonia and Matek.”
Dickey: Matek Dik-Dik. Pants: Le Bon Shoppe.
“Amy Smilovic, the founder of Tibi, once talked about the joy of getting complimented in a checkout line; I feel so good when a random person at the grocery store is like, ‘Hey, great look.’ At fashion events, people are often very polished and dressed similarly. I prefer that out-in-the-wild personal style that makes you want to compliment a stranger.”
Hat: “Knit by my friend Emily,” similar. Dickey: Matek Dik-Dik. Water bottle bag: Romp Bags.
“Every year, my friend Emily knits me a hat. I pick out yarn and send it to her, and then a hat comes back in the mail. People always ask where I bought them, but Emily said she loves knitting so much that she doesn’t want to turn it into work. This water-bottle bag that clips onto bike handlebars was made by a great local company called Romp Bags.”
Jeans: Madewell. Hat: “Knit by my friend Emily,” similar. Sweater: vintage J.Crew men’s, similar. Socks: Una Portland. Shoes: Crocs.
“I get asked a lot about how to develop personal style. To me, feeling good is the most important part. Just because something looks good or fits well doesn’t necessarily mean you feel good wearing it. Pay attention to that.”
Sweatshirt: Rachel Comey. Skirt: vintage, similar. Shoes: Everlane. Glasses: Warby Parker, similar.
“For years, I watched Rachel Comey sweatshirts come in on Noihsaf and sell immediately. They have an almost 100% sell-through rate, but even secondhand, they’re still expensive. Then finally I bought one when there was a really good deal, and I wear it all the time. It just fits so well and looks great with everything.”
“When it comes to shopping secondhand, having a good eye is a skill. But another important skill is knowing when not to buy something. It can be helpful to make a thrift wish list, so you aren’t just buying random stuff in the moment. When I’m not sure about something, it brings me great joy to imagine someone else coming along and having that ‘This is just what I was looking for!’ moment.”
Kate in elementary school.
Thanks so much, Kate. You’re the best.
P.S. More women share their week sof outfits, including a lawyer in Colorado, a cookbook author who loves men’s shirts, and a Guyanese dietician who inherited the family bangles.
(Photos by Liz Pawlik. School photo courtesy of Kate.)
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