The eco-friendly thrifter shares her favorite fashion decades, the importance of upcycling, and what she can't stop listening to.
Kaitlin Stewart is a breath of fresh air in this city. Between her bubbly personality and keen fashion sense, her mission is to make others feel confident in themselves and their style choices. Oh, and save the environment at the same time.
Known as "The Windy City Thrifter," Kaitlin believes fashion has a positive impact on identity and self-expression. She describes her personal style as "the silhouette of 70's bohemian with a touch of 90's grunge"—the "actor" in her likes dressing up to show off her many different sides.
Kaitlin's interest in thrifting and styling began with picking out pieces for her friends to wear. With the fast fashion industry surrounding consumers daily, she wanted to take a different approach when turning her passion into a career, by creating something both sustainable and budget-friendly.
"There is nothing like putting on an outfit that you feel amazing in. When you feel good your whole demeanor changes and when we feel good we project more confidence to the outside world."
Kaitlin stresses the importance of upcycling: "Fast fashion is starting to get the hint that their consumers want to know where and how their clothes are being made." A true creative at heart, she also looks at upcyling as an opportunity for reinvention. "There is also something to be said for reimagining a piece and making it into something new for a person to love."
For eco-styling, collaborations, or to keep up with Kaitlin's latest happenings, follow her on Instagram.
Get to know Kaitlin below and check out her custom playlist here and onSpotify!
Favorite TV Show?
"The Office."
Favorite cocktail?
Dr. Pepper and Sailor Jerry's.
Favorite Chicago artist?
Right now I absolutely love the artistry of Meghan Lorenz who is the jewelry designer of Cities in Dust and Jenna Blazevich of Vichcraft can do no wrong with her artistry.
Favorite spot in Chicago?
The Atlantic in Lincoln Square on Friday nights for the best karaoke in Chicago!
Favorite place to shop in Chicago?
I love Brown Elephant. They get so many great donations of great brands and vintage pieces, and I love that the proceeds go to Howard Brown Health to provide healthcare to the LBGTQ community. I also love Village Discount Outlet for their wide variety of inventory and Family Tree Resale for their beautiful designer pieces.
What do you love about the local artist community? I love the sense of support in the local artist community. I come from a theatre artist background in the city and everyone in the community is very supportive and familial. What I love about the artists in Chicago is everyone is extremely talented and has the work ethic to back it up.
"Spotlight On" is a weekly series highlighting Chicago creatives with a twist. We share a slice of their stories and what they love, hoping to inspire and connect.