Trina, Author at Electric Bones

Shopping Small & Independent This Black Friday

I generally dislike Black Friday since it’s so overhyped by every retailer out there. I also think it’s tragically ironic that the holiday where you’re supposed to be thankful for what you have is directly followed by the most consumer-focused day of the year.

But if you are going to get your holiday shopping done on Black Friday this year, I definitely suggest opting to shop from small and local business instead of big retailers. COVID has wreaked havoc amongst small businesses so your patronage is more important than ever.

I’ve listed a few of my favorite small and local businesses to shop from this year:

Clothing + Lingerie

Strange Ray Vintage: a boutique ran by Rachel Valentine that features highly curated top shelf vintage. It’s the perfect place to find vintage tees, 70’s dresses, and tons of leather.

Pretty Attitude: an online boutique ran by Christine and Maria, it carries brands you already know (like YRU, Matisse, and Daydreamer LA) as well as its own private label. Its Black Label is perfect for girls who celebrate Halloween all year round, and its White Label is full of 70s rock n roll vibes.

Hallow Collective: a brand featuring music-inspired graphic tees as well as a premium label. They love working with other independent designers, artists, photographers, and bloggers (like me!).

Backbite: a female-owned brand that features ethically made slow fashion as well as some great vintage finds. Everything they make is totally badass and I’m a huge fan.

Solstice Intimates: handmade lingerie made by Nat Maddon and friends. They carry sizes XS-3X and have all the amazing velvet pieces you could ever dream of.

Rebel Soul Collective: a Latina-owned and operated graphic tee brand that is ethically manufactured and screen printed right in Los Angeles. They donate to various organizations including the ACLU, Color Of Change, Planned Parenthood, and Reclaim The Block.

Jewelry

Maiden Voyage Jewelry: independent jewelry designer Megan Rugani creates beautiful works of art through her hand-engraved fine jewelry. Her use of gold and fine stones turn biker-inspired pieces into future heirlooms.

The Great Frog: a family owned brand established in 1972, it has a long history of providing a rock n’ roll alternative to mainstream jewelry. They’ve done collabs with iconic musicians such as Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Slayer and also recently branched out into fine gold jewelry.

Beauty

Strawberry Hedgehog: owned and operated by Tracy Perkins, the brand features vegan eco-conscious soaps. The boutique location in Phoenix, AZ also features other 50 small makers and artists alongside the brand.

Rituel De Fille: founded by three sisters, the brand features cosmetics that are free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes or synthetic fragrances. They are Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free and are perfect for anyone looking for cosmetics with some edge. The recently did a collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe.

Witch Baby Soap: founded by Chelsea Selby in 2013, this brand is a fun and spooky take on vegan and cruelty-free bath products. You’ll find everything from black coffin bath bombs to astrology soaps to crystal-infused body butters.

Home Decor + Art

Real Fun, Wow!: freelance illustrator Daren Thomas Magee creates beautiful art inspired by nature and the supernatural. A lot of his work definitely gives me midcentury desert vibes.

Pueblo: two adorable queer-owned and inclusive plant shops located in Phoenix, AZ and Venice, CA. They have a bunch of beautiful plants and their staff is always there to answer all your plant parent-related questions. They only work with reputable growers who ensure fair labor practices and always occupy historic buildings to reduce their environmental footprint. I refuse to buy live plants from anywhere else.

Gold Bug Gallery: a family-owned gallery and shop located in Pasadena, CA, they also have some inventory available online. They value community and aim to nurture artists. It’s the perfect destination for unique finds for your home.

Desert Collective Co.: the best source for dried palm leaves, flora, and cacti that I’ve found online. All dried goods are hand selected and harvested only after they have naturally started to naturally wither and brown, so no plants are harmed. Their packaging is also biodegradable.

White Hot Fire Mirrors: super rad hand-etched mirrors. They all have a rock n’ roll biker feel and some even features bands like Motorhead, Black Sabbath, and Thin Lizzy.

Still can’t decide? Check out Wolf & Badger. The store was founded by two brothers in 2010 looking to disrupt typical high street shopping. The store has physical retail shops as well as a large online boutique. It features independent designers and brands, ethical sourcing, and slow fashion. It has tons of vegan leather and fur options as well.

I’ve picked some of my favorite items from their online boutique:

Obsessed With Band Tees

I own a ton of band tees. Shocker.

With music being such an influence on my life, I’ve collected a lot of band tees over the years. While I’ve retired a lot of my tees and put them into storage, I do have many that I still wear. Even when band tees aren’t really “in” anymore they definitely won’t be leaving my wardrobe.

When it comes to band tees, I usually stick to classics like The Ramones, David Bowie, and Guns N Roses. I definitely like to size up so they’re a little baggy and oversized. I also try and look for ones that are a little bit distressed, which is actually pretty easy if you stick to vintage tees.

If you’re able to spend a little more money on your band tees, MadeWorn is definitely worth checking out. They use organic cotton and specialty inks to create their tees. They’re also made in America and focus on sustainable manufacturing as well as locally-sourced materials. If you’re feeling extra, they have a selection of one-of-a-kind hand-painted jackets featuring bands like Metallica, The Rolling Stones, and The Grateful Dead as well.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, Pretty Attitude always has a good selection. This online boutique was founded by two women who love rock n roll, Christine and Maria. Their Black Label is perfect for girls who live like it’s Halloween every day, and their White Label is full of that 70s rock n roll you need in your life.

Velvet Party Of One

So far, 2020 has sucked, but that doesn’t mean our outfits have to. Even though I haven’t actually gone out in since March, I couldn’t resist breaking out my favorite velvet suit. Plus, who doesn’t like some 70s-inspired suiting?

Originally, I bought this suit before everything shut down thinking I would be able to wear it around the holidays, but it looks like socializing in 2020 has been cancelled. Still, I couldn’t just let this beautiful golden-olive velvet suit just sit in my closet for a year.

One thing that’s been pretty nice about being stuck inside is that I don’t have to worry about dressing practically anymore. I can wear a ball gown one day and sweatpants the next. I can wear a full suit on a casual Saturday and no one stares at me for being overdressed. I really hope that, once we can all safely go outside again, we’ll stop caring about being “overdressed” and just wear what we love.

I got this velvet suit from Rag & Bone (jacket here, trousers here) as part of a seasonal sale right at end of February. Originally, the suit would have cost around $1100, but I only paid about $150 with shipping. If you’re looking for an affordable way to pick up great designer pieces, I highly suggest skipping Black Friday and shopping seasonal sales instead.

I did pay a little more for my studded western booties from Givenchy, but I still got them on sale. I first became obsessed with them when they first came out a couple of years ago. I didn’t want to buy them for full price, but years later I was still thinking about those boots, and I found them on sale. While it’s pretty hard to find them new anywhere online, I was able to find some secondhand ones in amazing condition here and here.

My strappy tank top is from Scotch & Soda. And my clutch bag was a present for my 21st birthday.

Photos by Maria

PS: Some of the pictures look pretty close up, but the photographer and I were 6+ feet apart the entire time, she wore a mask, and we purposely chose to shoot inside my home where I would be able to keep everything totally sanitized. COVID sucks, but it hasn’t magically disappeared. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Get tested when you can. Don’t be an asshole.