Goodwill Hunting #10: cottagecore, girlboss culture, & the end of ambition
Goodwill Hunting #10: cottagecore, girlboss culture, & the end of ambition
Hunting the best pre-loved fashion, insights & jobs from across the web
Welcome to Goodwill Hunting, a newsletter curating the best of pre-loved fashion finds, insights, and jobs from across the web. Written by Danielle L. Vermeer, a product manager and avid thrifter obsessed with fashion, tech, curation, and circularity.
Are we in the age of anti-ambition?
The age of anti-ambition is a push away from the aesthetic perfection of Instagram, and a pull towards the authentic chaos of TikTok. It relates to the nostalgia of the before Extremely Online™️ times, which flows into fashion and culture inspired by the 1980s to early 2000s eras.
Futurist and brand strategist Victoria Buchanan explains:
“The age of anti-ambition is about doing the bare minimum, retiring early, and idling for pleasure. [It’s] increasingly aspirational as a new generation opts out of productivity culture and an unhealthy obsession with success.”
The cottagecore trend embodies the era of collective pandemic burnout and fantasies of bucolic living over the last 2+ years. It’s why the Edelman Trust Barometer reported that 59% of workers who left a job last year did so to find one that “better fit with their values.” It’s why Helen Anne Peterson wrote about viral nap dress in “Unpacking the Nap Dress.” It’s why this TikTok voice-over went viral.
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We’re not at the End of Ambition; we’re at the Beginning of Agency.
A few years ago in the height of the Girlboss era, my father-in-law emailed me a TIME magazine article. He said, “I thought about you because the article is about ambitious women!” I took it as a compliment. But it made me think about ambition, and how ambitious women in particular are perceived.
As a recovering perfectionist and Type A high-achiever, I wish some wise mentor sat me down early in my career to explain the difference between ambition and agency.
The antithesis of ambition isn’t mediocrity, or underperformance, or laziness. The antithesis of ambition is agency.
Ambition is the drive to play games that others have created. Climb the corporate ladder. Play politics. Work long hours. Lean in—to corporate feminism.
Agency is the drive to play a game you created. Chart your own path. Forget politics. Work when, how, and where you want. Lean in—to your unique “why.”
“Ambition used to mean a bigger paycheck, a bigger brand, a more senior position…Now I’d actually rather go and watch the sunset.” – Katie Mantwa George, an ex-corporate leader in tech
We can be ambitious but without agency. We can be ambitious and have agency. Or we can have neither. There are no right or wrong answers, but we do need to ask the right questions:
What game do I want to play?
Am I currently playing the game I want?
If not, what needs to change so that I can play the game I want?
♻️ pre-loved fashion under $250
Le Pandorine Hat, one size from Vestiaire Collective ($55)
Foxiedot Dress, size M from ThredUP ($59)
Altru Tote Bag, one size from ThredUP ($10)
Celine Sunglasses, one size from Vestiaire Collective ($145)
Prada Sandals, size IT 39 from ThredUP ($229)
Cleobella Dress, size S from ThredUP ($60)
📕 must-reads in fashion, tech & circularity
Mytheresa x Vestiaire Collective expand partnership (Fashion United). Luxury retailer Mytheresa and luxury resale marketplace Vestiaire are expanding their partnership to the U.S. after piloting in Europe last year.
Saks Off 5th x Rent the Runway (Forbes). Saks’ ecommerce site announced a partnership with Rent the Runway to sell previously rented designer clothes.
Snapchat invests in Galaxy (Retail Dive). Galaxy, a Gen Z thrifting livestream shopping app, received funding from Snapchat and other investors. Galaxy has raised $7M to date.
“Core” is the new “chic” (Vogue). Goodbye, cottagecore. Hello, Barbiecore. Depop reported a 93% increase in searches for “Barbie pink.”
✨ jobs in circular fashion
Product & Tech
Depop — Sr. Technical Product Manager. Product lead for ML-driven recommendations for secondhand buyers and sellers.
GOAT — Sr. Product Manager. Product leader for selling and supply side product roadmap.
Poshmark — Director of Product, Marketplace Monetization. Lead development and growth of monetization products that drive value for Poshmark’s community and incremental revenue.
Stadium Goods — Head of Data. Lead data strategy and team of data analysts, engineers, architects, and data scientists.
The RealReal — Sr. Director, Product Management. Lead product and tech to drive business impact for the luxury consignment company.
Trove — VP of Engineering. Lead engineering and tech teams for resale-as-a-service company.
Business & Marketing
Etsy — Staff Market Researcher. Influence marketing decisions by connecting the dots between macro forces, customer needs, and business goals.
Goodwill — Ecommerce Lead, Collectibles. Guide a squad of people in the identification, authentication, appraisal and listing of collectible products.
Highsnobiety — Strategist. Create brand strategies and cultural moments for Cultural Pioneers.
LiveAuctioneers — Product Marketing Manager. Lead ideation, development, and execution of marketing campaigns.
Rent the Runway — Sr. Manager, Marketing Strategy & Planning. Lead the marketing planning process and develop marketing strategies to drive growth.
Vestiaire Collective — Marketing Manager. Lead marketing and communications for Asia Pacific region; based in Singapore.