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 on THE TELL// we welcome our youngest guest yet: Riley Kinnane-Petersen, Creative Director of Gunner & Lux. I met Riley, now twelve, a few years ago at Pencil & Paper Co. Creative Camp, and her passion for fashion was immediately apparent. She has an eye for style beyond her years, but does not approach fashion or any trend too seriously. As she says, “fashion is always changing and so are we.” (I will be quoting this Riley!) She, like so many of us, also loves a thrifted find, and looks to sites like Poshmark and Etsy to find one of a kind, fabulous, and affordable piece to pair with her Gunner & Lux jewelry and accessories. It’s a pleasure to welcome Riley to this series and stay tuned for more inspiring women to come!
//Your style in 3 words: Fun, Colorful, Accessorized
//Staple Outfit: Long Dress, Gunner & Lux necklace, Fun Shoes
//Style Icon(s): Ann Mashburn , Lucy Boynton , Blanca Miro Scrimieri , Lulu Graham, Eric Kim, Iris Apfel
//Your First Big Purchase: My first Tory Burch Purse (I have 2 now!)
//Do You Still Have It? Heck yes! It is still one of my favorite things I own. The perfect shoulder bag, in a hard red leather with gold chain, and it’s the perfect size for me!
//Best Fashion Advice You Ever Received: Try new things. Don’t get stuck to one specific color or shape.
//Types of clothing you invest in: I love a long dress. I know a good dress when I see it. (It’s the twirl factor for me.) I have definitely spent some of my own money on some dresses I will keep forever. I I love a good shoe, but I don’t think my feet are done growing yet…so that’s a real problem. I really love great skirts; you can change the look so easily with just a t-shirt, a sweater, a colorful top.
//Types of clothing you save on: Tops. I try not to spend too much on tops...(unless they have a great collar) because you can find some great vintage or on sale.
//Your greatest extravagance: My Horror Vacui Dresses. I just feel like I am floating when I wear them.
//Brands That Will Stand the Test of Time: Gucci
//Favorite High Street Brands: Gunner & Lux, Industry Standard, Neely & Chloe, J. Crew, Patagonia, Rowing Blazers
//Favorite Designer Brands: Kule, Horror Vacui, Dondolo Official, Ann Mashburn, Le Lion, Doen, Sea NY, Andion, La Veste
//Favorite High-Low Brands to Mix: Target and Doen / J. Crew + Le Lion
//Favorite Places to Shop Consignment: Poshmark, eBay, Etsy, Esme’s Drawer Too, Barnaby Jack, Good Form
//Favorite Places to Consign Your Own Closet: I sell my clothes on my instagram stories!
//Currently Collecting Dust in the Back of your Closet: My one short skirt! LOL
//Your Closet Tried and Trues: My Kule Stripe tee shirts, Any of my high heels that my dads will let me wear out of the house... My blue Vintage Mickey Mouse Sweatshirt, J. Crew Crew Cuts faded jeans, Liberty Print Dress from O Pioneers , black J. Crew Boots from Poshmark.
//Most prized possession: Besides my CAT..I have this really cool vintage belt that was hand tooled with a belt buckle that says “JOHN” my dad’s name.
//Best investment you ever made in your style: Not shopping in the kids section, and having women’s clothes altered at an early age.
//Style Choice From Your Past That Haunts You: Any t-shirt shirt with emojis.
//“It seemed like a good idea at the time” a.k.a Purchase you most regret: So many headbands…SO SO MANY
//Closet From Which You Would Like to Borrow:Um obviously Emily Hertz
//Last Time You Splurged? Just bought some really good Patagonia clothes for our move to Maine!
//Currently Saving Your Pennies For: Some really good clogs for next summer. Thinking Loeffler Randall
//A Deal for the History Books/Your T&T Personal Best: I bought a Gucci monogram mini cross body purse with the classic red and green stripe on Poshmark. I kind of go in really low...and I know you say not to do that…but, my thought is that, yes I want this bag. BUT I don’t NEED the bag. So if the seller say NO WAY. That is ok. So far, the sellers have just sent back a pretty decent price to what I offered. Then we go back and forth, and honestly I have gotten some crazy good deals.
//Advice to someone looking to define their own style: I have said this before. Be creative and express different sides of who you are. Fashion is always changing and so are we.
//Trend you wish would go away? I mean whatever works for someone, as long as they feel good and it makes them happy!
//You feel great. What are you wearing? Probably a floral dress!
//Occasions when you splurge: It just depends on if it's something I think I will wear for a long time. I’m still not sure I think in terms of seasons with dressing. If you love it, wear it!
//Occasions when you save: Shorts. Always save on shorts!
//Home Decor Style: BRIGHT AND HAPPY! If you have to be in a room, a place for even a minute...it should make you smile!
//Favorite place to hunt for home decor: Lemont Vintage Home Mate Gallery, CW Stockwell, Dear Keaton, Brick + Mortar, Thrills of the Hunt, 45 Three Modern
//Go-to for unique items, whether it be clothing, accessories, home or art: Covet & Lou
//Your fashion motto: From one of my fashion icons who I share a birthday with, “MORE IS MORE & LESS IS A BORE.” The amazing Iris Apfel
//Your life motto: NEVER FORGET THAT YOU ARE AWESOME!
Fill in the blank:
//A woman should invest in- herself. //You’re never too old to—dance. //A woman can never have too much- too much chapstick & OREO COOKIES in her pantry. // Bury Me In: Gunner & Lux Jewelry. //True or False: More is More- always true! //Fashion is- what you feel good in, what makes you happy, what makes you smile! //Style is: whatever you want it to be. Just own it.
Currently Loving:
//Music: Billie Eilish
//Print: The Sunday Comics my grandma sends me in the mail every week from Nebraska and our monthly Gunner & Lux Bookworm Bookclub Pick!
//Food: Calamari
//Drink: Shirley Temple with Extra Cherries
//Film: Underworld
//Podcast: Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest
//Instagram Handle: @gunnerandlux
ABOUT RILEY
Riley loved to play dress up, accessorize, and find fashion inspiration at a very young age. During the summer of 2015, when Riley was just 5 years old she decided to use the vintage jewelry her dad John had collected for her to create her very first necklace. She learned how to use pliers, tweezers, and tie knots as she developed her own line of colorful, whimsical accessories.
Riley and John worked on these necklaces together after dinner each night. Soon, Riley began selling her individual charms at her summer lemonade stand, then on her website, and before they both knew it…their jewelry was being sold in stores all around the world.
Together, Riley and John have created something truly unique. Today, they hope their story and their designs inspire and bring smiles to those who START COLLECTING.
FIND RILEY
Photos used courtesy of Riley Kinnane-Petersen
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