The TEll// By Thrift & Tell
Welcome to THE TELL//BY THRIFT & TELL: a celebration of fashionable women who dress as smart as they shop.
This week’s guest on THE TELL// is Bradley Agather Means: style icon, freelance writer, and founder of Luella & June. When I initially asked Thrift & Tell followers who they would like to hear from on this series, Bradley’s name came up repeatedly. As you will see below, it came as no surprise; Bradley style is clean, fun, and consistent. That does not mean that she is mindlessly paying top dollar. Rather, she shops smart and invests where it matters and saves where she can. She mixes high and low brands as a rule, pairing Gap with Chanel and Brock Collection with Zara. When she needs a closet refresh, she uses The Real Real to edit and returns to the site to refresh with new consignment finds. Bradley is a great reminder of what a T&T woman looks like: stylish and smart! I hope you enjoy and stay tuned for more stories of admirable women to come.
//Your style in 3 words: I can do it in seven: Classic and feminine, with a fresh twist.
//Staple Outfit:A striped t-shirt or a tailored button-down shirt paired with cropped jeans and Chanel ballet flats.
//Style Icon(s): Aerin Lauder, Lauren Santo Domingo, Taylor Tomasi Hill, and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
//Your First Big Purchase: A brown leather Céline handbag.
//Do You Still Have It? Of course!
//Best Fashion Advice You Ever Received: “Why be boring?” as said by the always-chic Lauren Santo Domingo.
//Types of clothing you invest in: I invest in well-made essentials like tailored blazers, a timeless LBD, the perfect trench coat... These types of wear-forever pieces don’t go out of style and are the ones that make up the foundation of a great wardrobe.
//Types of clothing you save on: T-shirts. Gap makes some of my favorite tees and they’re less than $20.
//Your greatest extravagance: My overall skincare regimen - facial appointments, products, etc. It’s worth every penny.
//Brands That Will Stand the Test of Time: The Row, Hermès, and Oscar de la Renta.
//Favorite High Street Brands: Zara and Cos.
//Favorite Designer Brands: The Row, Khaite, Toteme, La DoubleJ, and Carolina Herrera.
//Favorite High-Low Brands to Mix: I’m all about a mix. Zara with Chanel , J.Crew with Brock Collection, you name it.
//Favorite Places to Shop Consignment: 1st Dibs and The Real Real
//Favorite Places to Consign Your Own Closet: The Real Real
//Currently Collecting Dust in the Back of your Closet: Under normal circumstances, the answer would be nothing. I wear and love every thing in my closet. However, I’m currently pregnant, which means there are lots of things not getting much wear simply because they don’t fit at the moment.
//Your Closet Tried and Trues: Crisp button-down shirts, Frame Denim cropped jeans, and Chanel ballet flats.
//Best investment you ever made in your style: I have a very clear vision when it comes to my personal style which means I only buy things I really love. Period.
//Style Choice From Your Past That Haunts You: No regrets.
//Closet From Which You Would Like to Borrow: The character Marge Sherwood from the film The Talented Mr. Ripley
//Last Time You Splurged? A Carolina Herrera dress.
//Currently Saving Your Pennies For: We are currently renovating a new home so all of my pennies are headed straight for wallpaper and furniture.
//A Deal for the History Books/Your T&T Personal Best: I found an Hermès white Picotin bag at a Paris flea market. It was a great score!
//Advice to someone looking to define their own style: Skip the trends. Nobody knows your own style better than you do. Be thoughtful about your choices and then trust yourself.
//You feel great. What are you wearing? Cropped jeans from Khaite with a striped t-shirt and my favorite blazer from Blazè Milano.
//Occasions when you splurge: Super special dresses that I really love.
//Occasions when you save: Whenever I can.
//Most prized possession: In my closet, my most prized possession is a vintage gold Rolex watch given to me by my husband on my 30th birthday.
//Home Decor Style: The same as my personal style: timeless, with a modern twist.
//Favorite place to hunt for home decor: Online: 1st Dibs. and Chairish. I also love popping into stores around town. Amy Berry Home and Blue Print always have treasures.
//Go-to for unique items, whether it be clothing, accessories, home or art: 1st Dibs. and Moda Operandi
//Your fashion motto: I don’t save anything for special occasions. If I love it, I wear it.
//Your life motto: Celebrate - and do it often
Fill in the blank:
//A woman should invest in- Timeless, well-made essentials that make her look and feel great. //You’re never too old to— Change your mind. // True or False: More is More- True. //Fashion is- Not the same thing as style.. //Style is: Innate.
Currently Loving:
//Music: A Star is Born soundtrack (9 months later and I’m not tired of it yet!)
//Print: WSJ’s “Off Duty” section
//Food: Sakara meal delivery
//Drink: I drink an iced coffee with fresh almond milk every single morning.
//Film: Steel Magnolias is my all-time favorite movie
//TV: My husband and I just started watching HBO’s Succession. We love it so far.
//Podcast: The Goop Podcast
//Instagram Handle: @_ig_art
//Designer: Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera
ABOUT BRADLEY
Bradley Agather Means is a freelance writer based in Dallas, Texas. A former magazine editor, Bradley has a discerning eye and loves the thrill of the hunt. She is an avid traveler with a passion for art and delicious food. She has a penchant for vintage pineapple treasures, collects beautiful books, and considers pink peonies and peanut M&Ms to be two of life’s greatest pleasures.
Luella & June was founded in 2009 as a place for Bradley to document her own personal style and to share the things she loves.
FIND BRADLEY
Photos used courtesy of Bradley Agather.
