Maggie Morris’s Passion for Thrift Runs Deep
Interview • Sep 24, 2020 Interview and portraits of Maggie Morris by Scott Marlin
“One of my grandmothers was a seamstress and whenever I would go visit her we would spend the day in her atelier creating one-of-a kind pieces by altering old clothes.”
Buena Onda translates roughly to “good vibes” in Spanish, and it’s an apt name for Maggie Morris’s new venture, Buena Onda Studio, which aims to ease the thrift-curious among us into the wild, wonderful world of second-hand fashion.
Maggie has already built a reputation with her blog as an authority on subjects related to slow fashion, thrifted style, and sustainability. Her most recent business venture feels like a natural development of a passion that runs deep for her.
Earlier in September Maggie and I met up at Boston’s Fan Pier park for an admittedly blustery fall-themed shoot and a bit of a chat about Buena Onda and all things thrift.
When did you start thrifting?
I have been thrifting since I can remember. I would always go through my mom and my grandmother’s closets in search of clothing they no longer wanted so I could do alterations to it or wear it in a completely different way. I used to love going to the weekend flea markets in the park, back home, and find cool and unique items.
What inspired your passion for rediscovered fashion?
I think my grandmothers played a big role in shaping my passion. I was always into fashion and I was lucky enough to have two grandmothers who knew how to sew. One of them was a seamstress and whenever I would go visit her we would spend the day in her atelier creating one-of-a kind pieces by altering old clothes.
What’s on your shortlist of items or styles you’re personally always on the lookout for?
I am always on the lookout for vintage blazers—I love finding tailored pieces because they make a look much more put together. Right now I’m also on the lookout for items that are 100 percent cashmere. They’re much warmer than wool which is great for the colder half of the year.
What are your top three thrifting spots?
I love Boomerangs in Jamaica Plain. I always find great stuff there and they have a great vinyl section. Plus all proceeds from Boomerangs directly helps fund work to prevent new HIV infections and improve the lives of thousands of people already living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts.
I’m also a huge fan of Covet. It’s a consignment store with locations in South Boston and Beacon Hill. It’s a great place to shop because you can find everything here: from a vintage Dior bag to a cute flirty top from Free People. And, the place looks like a very trendy boutique!
My newest obsession is Blessing Barn. They just opened a new store in Beacon Hill. Proceeds from this store help fund the non-profit Compassion New England, which develops programs and services for families in need.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to learn how to style vintage pieces for a modern look?
Make sure to know what style you have or you’re going for. I always recommend creating a Pinterest board to help you build the style you desire and then look for similar pieces in thrift shops. Having a vision board has been a big part of me refining my search.
About Maggie Morris
Maggie Morris the creator of the slow fashion site Maggs.blog and founder of the capsule thrift boutique Buena Onda Studio. Follow more of her work on Instagram at @maggsblog and @buenaondastudio, and shop the most recent collection at buenaondastudio.com.
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