Marta Never Wanted What Was in the Window

For Marta, that instinct comes down to what she thinks is actually worth something.

She's watched that idea go mainstream since she moved from England to Spain. Secondhand used to carry a real stigma there, one that's only faded in the last few years.

"These days, hitting up a flea market or scoring something vintage on Vinted actually has a cool factor to it."

But the cool factor was never the point for her.

"It's about digging through a pile of clothes and finding that one special piece: appreciating the materials, a silk from India, a hand-stitched embroidery, a print or a technique that doesn't even exist anymore."

Living in a big city means walking constantly, and for Marta, that decides a lot before style even enters the conversation. If a shoe isn't comfortable, it's out.

That's part of why VIVAIA has stuck around in her wardrobe for over a year, not a passing find, but a repeat choice, season after season.

"It pulls off current details; embellishments on the laces, sheer panels, tulle while still feeling relevant beyond a single season."

The connection runs deeper than looks, too. VIVAIA's focus on giving recycled materials a second purpose lines up with the same belief that's shaped her whole approach to style: that something doesn't have to be new to be worth having.

Her favorite from the lineup: the Cecily ballet flats.

For anyone new to the brand, her recommendation is simple: the water-repellent Chelsea boots for colder months, the Mary Janes for everything in between.

Discover Marta's Favorites

Marta's confidence, she says, didn't come from having things figured out, it came from years of listening to her own instincts and actually following them.

Talking to Marta, that same instinct comes through in everything, whether it's her closet or anything else. It was never about having more to choose from - for her, it's always come down to knowing which of those choices are actually worth keeping. She keeps what fits and drops what doesn't, and she's the one who decides which is which.