Q&A WITH GRACE ANDERSON
Wednesday editors Stella Brown and Emily Blake talked with Grace Anderson about everything from her Etsy shop, to TikTok, to navigating her own personal style.
Wednesday: So you’re an Etsy seller, what kind of pieces do you gravitate towards? What's your aesthetic inspiration & goals with your shop?
Grace: I love versatility- pieces that can go with anything- but that also are unique in some sense. I honestly get inspired by my own style and create things I’d want to wear myself. I haven’t switched up my products in over a year so I hope to revamp my shop and create one-off and limited release pieces to keep things exciting. I want to combine some of my passions- sewing and thrifting- to upcycle clothes and create something new.
Wednesday: What inspired you to start your etsy shop?
Grace: Before schools closed from the pandemic, I customized earrings for my friends based on the colors and charms they wanted. That’s what started the idea, but I have loved to make things my entire life. During quarantine I continued to enjoy making jewelry and sewing little projects so I decided it would be fun to sell what I made. I started off selling through Instagram. People would DM me if they wanted to purchase from me and I would physically drive to them and drop their earrings off if they were local. I would handwrite and individually buy postage for national orders. One day I posted a denim bag I made on my personal Instagram and I got a handful of DMs asking if I could sell them. So I got busy using scrap and thrifted denim and spent my time making bags upon request. I sold through my Instagram for a few months then decided I wanted to make my shop more official. I researched about making a website but ultimately decided it would be easier to post listings on Etsy.
Wednesday: How do you describe your personal style?
Grace: It’s a mix of Y2K, 60s, and cutesy things your quirky grandma might wear. I absolutely love flare pants, which fit into the 60s and 2000s vibe. The Y2K style brings out so much confidence in me but I also love to feel cute in floral sweaters and dainty clothing. If you scanned my entire closet, you’ll see a ton of color too.
Wednesday: We found out about you through TikTok. Your outfit videos were always on our FYP and we are obsessed with your vibe. What has being on TikTok been like for you? Is it just for fun?
Grace: In the past few years I’ve dreamed of having some sort of fame. Throughout high school I didn't really have many friends so TikTok was a way for me to find people with common interests and create a sense of community that I was lacking. My followers are like my friends, as cheesy as that sounds. Years ago I would just post whatever came to mind, but once I decided I really wanted to try to gain a following I realized I would have to focus my content on something more specific. I post what I love- fashion, creating, sewing, and thrifting. As videos would occasionally go viral, I started to gain more and more followers. It was shocking and scary and exciting all at the same time. I still can’t believe so many people follow me. Of course I’m not a huge internet star but my tiny slice of fame really makes me feel loved and it makes me happy that people are genuinely interested in me because I didn’t feel that in high school. As of now my Tik Tok is just for fun, but I’m hoping that one day I can gain enough of a following to get me opportunities that I’ve dreamed of like modeling, expanding my business, and working in the fashion industry.
Wednesday: I originally found your account pretty early in quarantine because of a video you did about mid-sized clothing + style. How did you find your niche in communicating body positivity in a way you want to? I personally love your TikToks that are vaguely about body acceptance/ overall self-acceptance because it feels real just one facet of your interesting and nuanced approach to TikTok and personal style!
Grace: Fashion plays a huge part in confidence for me, and I think many other people feel that way as well. When I’m wearing something I’m excited about, it makes me feel confident in myself and my body. It wasn’t until quarantine that I accepted and loved the body that I was given and I owe most of that to growing my personal style. I share my own confidence through posting outfit videos and surprisingly it helps others feel more confident too.
Wednesday: How do you stay positive? TikTok and social media can be dramatically toxic places for people even without views/ a following, and we assume that’s only compounded by having a brand and viewership?
Grace: I focus on the people who support me, whether that’s my followers or my friends and family in real life. It can definitely be difficult sometimes, especially when I compare myself to others. But I remind myself that random people on the internet don’t truly know me, only I truly know me. So I trust myself, my decisions, my fashion choices, and my judgment.
Wednesday: Who is your style inspiration?
Grace: Right now my inspiration is Mark Culp. We have a very similar style and I love their creativity. I’m also inspired by 60s and 2000s fashion. Sometimes I find inspiration from all the fashion girlies that pop up on my For You page.
Wednesday: If you could give any advice to your childhood self, what would it be?
Grace: I would tell myself to stop worrying so much. You won’t even remember the thing you were worrying about in a year, so save the energy and let it pass.
FOLLOW GRACE!
Instagram: @gr4ceanders0n https://www.instagram.com/gr4ceanders0n/
Tik Tok: @gr4cesw0rld https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdhrESNG/
Etsy: @shopthingsbygrace https://www.etsy.com/shop/shopthingsbygrace
Etsy's Instagram: @thingsbygrace https://www.instagram.com/thingsbygrace/