Step inside the closet of an ecostylist

• By
• Davinia Yip

Vancouver ecostylist Myriam Laroche puts a new spin on vintage clothes

There are days when I relish the thrill of the hunt in vintage and second-hand stores. But there are also days when I feel quite daunted by the task of sifting through all the pieces of wide-ranging styles.

After all, vintage shopping is an art. Even though the end results are well worth the effort, spotting the hidden gems—and making them work!—usually requires a bit of effort.

That is, unless you've got the helping hand of Vancouver eco-stylist Myriam Laroche.

What is an ecostylist?

“I find good-quality vintage clothes and create really chic, fashionable looks,” says Myriam, who's been working in fashion for 15 years. She admits that for a long time the environment was not on her radar. “I just wanted the latest trends, and I was paying lots for it.”

But that changed about two years ago when she moved to Vancouver and realized she could have the best of both worlds. “There is so much fashion to discover in vintage," she enthuses. "There’s a great look at every price. So it's really not necessary to have so much waste to look good.”

Welcome to Myriam's Closet

Myriam spends long hours patiently scouring thrift stores like Value Village or the Salvation Army store to find well-made, one-of-a-kind pieces for her collection, Myriam's Closet.

Her Vancouver studio is filled with a dazzling mix of clothes, shoes and accessories in all manner of hue and style. There are often designer pieces too, including labels such as Lanvin, YSL and Ralph Lauren.

Clients can enjoy a comfortable, private shopping experience with free consultation, browsing through Myriam's fabulous finds, trying on outfits, and discussing style choices over coffee in a fun and relaxed setting.

“Buying second-hand to me is one of the most eco-friendly ways to be fashionable. Because it’s already there!” she says, reminding us, "There’s no more manufacturing needed. Even organic clothing requires production."