In this solo episode Claire gets honest about something a lot of people in fashion are thinking; secondhand designer isn’t always the better choice anymore.

From overpriced resale finds to pieces that fall apart after a few wears, Claire breaks down how secondhand has shifted from a “fashion hack” into a gamble. When you’re spending real money, is it still worth the risk? Or does it make more sense to save up and buy something new that actually works for your life?

She shares her own experience of ending up with a closet full of designer pieces she doesn’t even wear—and the turning point that led her back to buying basics that actually function.

She also dives into what it really takes to break into fashion today, sharing practical, advice inspired by helping her sister job hunt.

At its core, this episode is about intention; how we shop, how we participate in fashion, and how to build a wardrobe (and life) that actually makes sense.

The real question:

Are you buying something because it works for your life… or just because of the label?

Topics Covered

• The rise (and fall?) of secondhand designer
• Why resale shopping feels like a gamble now
• Price inflation on platforms like eBay & curated vintage
• Quality vs label: what are we actually paying for?
• Buying new vs secondhand: what’s more intentional?
• Building a functional wardrobe vs aesthetic closet
• NYC fashion events + entering the fashion scene
• Losing a makeup bag → Sephora reset (life moment)
• The pressure to “look the part” in fashion
• How to break into fashion (real strategies that work)
• Networking, self-advocacy, and standing out
• Finding balance between ambition and actually enjoying your life

Host Claire Vastola

Instagram: [@girlintofashion](https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion)

Instagram: [@workinginfashion](https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion)

Substack: [Working in Fashion](https://workinginfashion.substack.com)

In this episode of Through the Back Door, I sit down with stylist Mo Johnson, a creative force working behind the scenes on runway collections and brand projects.

Mo shares what it actually takes to bring a runway show together. From early fittings and concept development to the fast paced energy backstage before a show begins, we talk about the creative and logistical work that goes into building a runway moment.

We also discuss Mo’s creative influences, her mentorship with designer Jane Wade, and her work styling for Andrew Curwen. Along the way we explore how personal style evolves through experimentation, the influence of punk and vintage fashion, and how creatives learn to trust their intuition while navigating an industry that constantly demands reinvention.

This conversation is a reminder that fashion is not just clothing. It is storytelling, collaboration, and the many unseen decisions that shape what we eventually see on the runway.

Topics: runway styling, fashion week backstage, Andrew Curwen runway, fashion stylist interview, runway show preparation, fashion week production, emerging designers, fashion creative process.

Mo Johnson
NY / LA stylist and creative director

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lilbbmomo/

Mentions:

Andrew Curwen Official Website
https://www.andrewcurwen.com/

Jane Wade Designer
https://janewade.com/

American Duchess Shoes
https://www.americanduchess.com/

Sophia Morin Corsetry and accessories collaborator
https://www.instagram.com/sofiajmorin/

F10 Casting Model casting services
https://www.f10casting.com/

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Listen on Spotify and all major platforms

Host

Claire Vastola
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion
Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com

In this episode, I’m talking through a rebrand—both creatively and mentally.

I share why I’m shifting some episodes away from video and back into audio, and how that change feels more aligned with where Girl Into Fashion is heading. I also reflect on this past New York Fashion Week and why it felt like a real up-level for me: attending shows I genuinely admired, being invited by PR teams for the first time, and experiencing fashion week from a place that felt earned rather than aspirational.

This episode is less about recap and more about perspective—what changed, what clicked, and how mindset plays a bigger role than we like to admit. A check-in, a reset, and a quiet marker of growth.