In this episode of Style DNA I go on a thrifting style journey with the British stylist, editor, author and long-standing champion of second-hand fashion the brilliant Bay Garnett. Often called the “Queen of Thrift”, she is known for her eclectic, vintage-infused styling and her belief in the creativity and sustainability of re-wearing clothes… yes to that!

She started her career working on Cheap Date magazine where she worked on the second hand fashion advertising pictures, changing the font from high designer names to thrift stores and charity shops ( Salvation Army replacing Yves Saint Laurent, Cancer Care Calvin Klein, and so on). Her witty irreverent spreads were spotted by the editor of British Vogue Alexandra Shulman who invited Bay to work on the magazine’s first charity shop fashion shoot and become a contributing Fashion Editor. Bay approached her good friend and thrifting buddy Anita Pallenberg to help her pull some looks together for Jurgen Teller to shoot Kate Moss in…the iconic shoot is often referenced by designers and creatives to this day. She went on to use vintage in all fashion shoots moving forward over 25 years. Working with photographers from Bruce Weber, Jurgen Teller, Tom Craig, Glen Luchford and Craig McDean. 

In 2016 she became an Independent Fashion Advisor at Oxfam and styled their first runway show, Fashion Fighting Poverty. In 2019 she Co- founded Second Hand September with Oxfam… the first campaign starred Stella Tennant and her daughter Iris, and then following year, Michaela Cole, then Sienna Miller and a new face each year. 

She is a true champion of second hand style … she tells me that a shocking 13 million pieces of clothing goes into British landfill A WEEK…food for thought…

She shares her thrifting tips with me…it can be pretty intimidating to go thrifting if you have never given it a go.

She is also the author of Style and Substance: Why What We Wear Matters (2022), a collection of essays exploring the deeper meaning of fashion and clothing. It is a beautiful and thought provoking book which I have enjoyed dipping in and out of. SOPH CAN WE LINK TO AMAZON?

She is now working with Smartworks …the most amazing charity to help women prepare for interviews by assisting them with what they will be wearing (they have stylists on hand to guide them through the process), as well as helping them with interview techniques and then gives them several outfits once they have the job to set them on their way. Bay has been invited by Bicester Village to create her ultimate charity shop (open now for the next month). She has sourced everything and all the money goes to Smartworks…bravo! If you are nearby over the next month do pop in and check it out…you may even get the chance to meet her.

We talk about age being a consideration as to how we dress…and some style hacks for remaining cool as the years tick by…funnily enough she is also a fan of a good belt!

I hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you @baygarnettt for being such a great guest xx