Gabrielle Trach

In the latest episode of Let’s Talk Clothes I sit down with visual artist, colour enthusiast, and cat owner Caitlin McGuire. Caitlin and I discuss buying clothes second hand, the importance of comfort in clothing, and clothing as self-expression.

Caitlin does not care for clothes shopping, or trying on clothes, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy the thrill of the hunt when shopping second hand. Some of her favourite east coast second hand haunts include the east coast thrift shop chain Frenchy’s, as well as the Halifax gem Elsie’s. When she does shop for clothes, Caitlin looks for quality over trends or labels, something she learned from her mom during monthly mother daughter shopping trips that they’d take together.

When it comes to clothes, for Caitlin, comfort is key. This is exemplified through her lifelong disliking of turtlenecks (a sentiment I share), due to their tight and restrictive nature that is “anxiety-inducing”. If Caitlin can’t paint, teach, or move freely in a certain garment, she doesn’t wear it. This is also linked to feeling safe in her surroundings; as a petite individual Caitlin realizes that if it came to “fight or flight” flight would be her best bet, saying “If I can’t run in it, I’m not wearing it”. For this reason she doesn’t wear any restrictive clothing, including high heels.

This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t enjoy clothing. Far from it! As a painter colour is practically part of Caitlin’s DNA; life just wouldn’t be the same without it. Incorporating colour into her wardrobe, and figuring out how to construct outfits based on colour combinations, is like a puzzle: challenging and very rewarding when it works out. Along with colour Caitlin loves incorporating texture and sparkle into her wardrobe. All of these elements add to the joy and opportunities for self-expression that clothing offer.

Other things discussed during my interview with Caitlin: Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the Teen Creeps podcast, and a reversible Adidas jacket that Caitlin and I both owned in the 90s (see below).

If you’d like to keep up with Caitlin, or check out her work you can check out her Instagram @caitlinmcquireart or check out her website. You can follow the podcast on instagram @talksclothespodcast, or get in touch by emailing talkclothes@gmail.com. Please spread the word by sharing, rating and subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for tuning in, and I’ll see y’all next month!

– Gabby