My 3 favorite brands at the moment
"Style is the only thing you can’t buy. It’s not in a shopping bag, a label, or a price tag. It’s something reflected from our soul to the outside world—an emotion.”—Alber Elbaz.
As the seasons change and styles go in and out, so do our personal styles and what we like and don't like. Although this mainly refers to certain clothes or clothing styles, it can also be true for our favorite brands.
The brands I'm currently obsessed with are a far cry from the ones I was gushing over last year. It's like driving a car; sometimes, we hit reverse and revisit old favorites, and other times, we speed ahead and discover new ones. Today, I'm excited to share my top three favorite clothing brands that have captured my heart this year!
Photo: Lily Morris
Video: Becky Morris
At the top of my list is the 'luxury sweats' brand, Boys Lie. I first came across this brand on TikTok, and now we proudly stock it in my store, Lily Claire. This is a testament to the immense influence of social media in boosting brand exposure. A single post can catapult a brand from obscurity to popularity.
The clothing brand Boys Lie stands out with its unique approach to empowerment. It uses sweat sets and other accessories to convey messages that are not just about empowerment, ut about celebrating those who have triumphed over adversity. As their website states, 'Boys Lie is a celebration of all those who have been to hell and back. We believe confidence is your most powerful tool, and community is how we foster it."
The clothing uses a combination of written messages and illustrations, and a couple of examples are complex and elaborate angel illustrations and images with heart drawings incorporated in them. The company heavily emphasizes daily affirmation and other things that bring a sense of confidence and empowerment.
A few examples of this would be, "If you love me, then why would you say that," "We're sorry the number you have been trying to reach has moved on," or "The surgeon general has determined that liars are dangerous to your mental health."
The messages they sent drew me into this brand, and as a college girl, cute sweats and calling out lying men are the perfect combination for an adorable outfit!
Photo: Becky Morris
Photo: Becky Morris
Photo: Becky Morris
Another one of my favorite brands is a fan favorite: Free People. I have always loved free people, and this has been consistent in my life for the past couple of years. The thing that sets Free People apart from a lot of other brands is the fact that they have two lines that make up their image. They have Free People, but inside of that, they also have the Free People Movement, their athletic line.
Free People is a globally recognized bohemian-based brand. Their merchandise is "out of the box," if you will. Their styles are very different but in the best way possible. In addition to all of that, they also carry many unique vintage items. The brand has a very diverse customer base that is made up of all ages. Young girls and older women all shop here, and their prices match these. They start at around $20 and can go up to $1,000.
According to the Free People website, "Free People, a specialty women's clothing brand, is the destination for bohemian fashion that features the latest trends and vintage collections for women who live free through fashion, art, music, and travel. The brand offers a wide range of products from apparel to accessories, outerwear, shoes, intimates, swimwear, activewear, and beauty – all reflecting a high level of quality, invoking attributes of femininity, spirit, and creativity in its design while creating the perfect festival clothing."
Free People is known for its playful femininity, and they have everything a woman could want in a clothing brand. This is why I love the brand. It adds such a unique aesthetic to your wardrobe, and it is so different that when you wear the items, people can guess the brand. I love having a unique twist in my style, and Free People adds just the right amount.
3. Farm Rio
Photo: Lily Morris
Photo: Lily Morris
Last but not least, we have Farm Rio. Oh my goodness, I have been obsessed with the brand for the past couple of months. I didn't know about it until my mom started to wear it, so this shows how much my mom's style inspires me because seeing how good it looks on her made me love it.
Many people must pay more attention to the power of word of mouth for a brand. The saying "I'll believe it when I see it" plays a significant role, especially with social media. When someone gets on a social media platform like Instagram or TikTok and sees someone wearing a piece of clothing and notices how good it looks on that person, they are more likely to go out and purchase something from that brand.
Farm Rio is similar to Free People because it is a unique brand. They have a very tropical aesthetic, but they aren't clothing pieces you can only wear on vacation. I wear them here in Oklahoma or when I'm home in Texas. They are fun but classic at the same time.
Farm Rio is a "higher-end" brand because of the quality and price of its clothes. According to the Farm Rio website, "Farm Rio is a contemporary Brazilian brand," it focuses on bright colors, fun prints, and joyful aesthetics that make you feel amazing when wearing the clothes.
Since I started wearing Farm Rio, my style has evolved because I have found an appreciation for bright colors and fun prints. I believe that when dressing nice but ily but with items that include fun colors, ito good vibes in your everyday life.
Even though my list is over, I wanted to say that many underrated brands have yet to have their "big break." I advise someone trying to find suitable brands to shape their style to go to social media platforms and get inspiration from what others are wearing. I don't mean that you should do what everyone else is doing, but this can help you find things you may want to wear, which is a good step towards finding what you like.
I would also advise you to look for smaller, unique, and sustainable brands because these are the brands that will set you apart. But most of all, I wouldare subjective, and as long as you feel good in the clothes you wear, that is the only thing matters.
"Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self-expression and, above all, attitude." —Iris Apfel.
