In a cobalt-blue coat, Carlie Mahnke, 27, was a bright sight amid the countless people in dark winter jackets walking on West 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan on a Friday in December.
Originally from Nashville, Ms. Mahnke is an aspiring musician who goes by the stage name Frau. She said she prioritizes sustainability in her clothing choices: Her mother bought the blue coat four years ago at Anaconda Vintage, a store in Nashville, Ms. Mahnke said, and her scarf and pants were also secondhand. Ms. Mahnke crocheted her gloves herself, she added.
While discussing her outfit, Ms. Mahnke said she could not remember the last time she bought a new garment straight off the rack. “In a culture obsessed with staying on trend,” she said, “I’ve grown to find satisfaction falling in love with one-of-one pieces and things forgotten.”
