When I started offering custom style boxes through my Etsy shop, I wanted to create something that felt truly personal—something that didn't just look good, but felt like you. Recently, one of those boxes ended up featured in a video by YouTuber Mia Maples, and it’s been such a cool reminder of why I love what I do.
In this blog post, I’m breaking down how I created a fully thrifted, Pinterest-inspired style box for Mia (without knowing it was for her!). Whether you’re curious about the process, thinking of ordering your own box, or just want to peek behind the scenes of sustainable personal styling, this one’s for you.
Using Pinterest to Understand Personal Style
Every Pinterest-inspired wardrobe I create begins with one key element: your mood board. Whether you're a visual thinker or someone who doesn't quite have the words to describe your style, Pinterest is an amazing way to see themes, colors, and silhouettes emerge.
For Mia, her board leaned toward a mix of Y2K revival, playful basics, and a subtle 70s vintage vibe. What stood out to me was the combination of cool-toned neutrals, casual layering, and pieces that could easily be styled together. It wasn’t about recreating exact outfits—it was about capturing the vibe. That’s what makes each custom thrifted style box feel personal.
Because this box was going to a mystery client and I didn’t know who it was, I wasn’t able to use any other reference point to get a good idea of her personal style - just what I could gather from the Pinterest board. This was actually the point of her video - she ordered 3 boxes from 3 different stylists to see if they would curate something close to her personal style solely based on her Pinterest board.
As a personal stylist using Pinterest, I focus less on trends and more on consistency: are there repeated patterns in color, shape, and energy? Do certain pins feel like outliers, or do they mark a clear shift in style direction? That’s the foundation for everything I thrift.
Fit, Preferences, and Real-Life Wearability
While Pinterest sets the visual tone, the real magic happens when it meets reality. Every secondhand personal styling experience starts with a short questionnaire about your size, lifestyle, and clothing preferences.
Some people only want weekend looks. Others want to branch out from fast fashion. Many just want pieces that work harder for them. And I get it—style isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially with sustainable fashion styling. The other thing I take into consideration is aspirational style - what this means is the style we wish to have which is usually what our Pinterest board is. I can speak for myself - I have a board with over 500 pins and it’s a mix of things I know I can easily find and could wear, as well as the style I wish to have.
In Mia’s case, I kept the box grounded in items that could be worn casually but still had visual interest. I’ll break down the box in the next section - but I didn’t want to only include casual items. I wanted to include some fun items as well that would have visual interest. By taking fit and comfort into account, I made sure each piece wasn’t just stylish, but wearable. This is about more than Pinterest aesthetics—it’s about function.
Why Thrifted Items?
This is a great question - Pinterest boards can easily be used for inspiration for buying new clothes and it would be much easier. There are a few reasons I source second hand items for the style boxes:
- Value: Shopping second hand reduces the price - making it more doable to find several items to build a wardrobe without it costing hundreds
- Quality: While this isn't guaranteed, you’re more likely to find non fast-fashion or better made items second hand. A stylist with a good eye will be able to find items that are higher quality and more likely to last.
- Sustainability: Shopping second hand keeps clothing out of landfills and gives a second life to something that may not suit someone else’s style (but that is still totally wearable!)
- Unique: Second hand opens up a world of unique styles. While I shop to match your Pinterest board, I stumble across gems all the time that fit the vibe - and that others are less likely to have, especially if it’s vintage!
I totally get that many don’t like to thrift - it can be tedious and sometimes overwhelming when you have a particular item in mind. Not to mention the shoulder strain from combing through racks and racks of clothes! This is part of the reason I offer this service - so that you don’t have to step foot in a thrift store but still get the benefits above of a curated secondhand collection.
What I Thrifted
Every custom thrifted style box includes a thoughtful selection of secondhand items curated to reflect your style board and fit needs. Here’s how I approach it:
I consider each piece as part of a cohesive Pinterest-inspired wardrobe, not just as a standalone item. Every item needs to serve a purpose—whether it’s a go-to basic, a statement piece, or a connector that bridges multiple outfits. My goal is to give you pieces that can be styled together - making your new clothing bundle an easy go to wardrobe that feels exciting and fresh.
For Mia’s box, the breakdown looked something like this:
Stripey influence
I saw several items on the board that had stripes and wanted to make sure at least one item represented this. Luckily I was able to find 3 items that were a close match to some of her pinned examples. While this may be considered stripe overload, I was intentional with striped pieces that could be mixed and matched with other solid colored pieces from the set.
- Striped scarf - a great accessory that can add visual interest to outfits (and add warmth in the winter!)
- Blue and white striped turtleneck – a flattering style and colour palette that goes with a lot of things
- Striped mock neck dress – this was a super cute find that matched an item on her board (and that I totally wanted to keep for myself!)
Vintage Vibes
Overall, the styles on her board had a lot of 90s and 70s influence. Luckily these are my favourite style eras and I had a lot of fun looking for pieces that would match that vibe.
- Brown button down - this gave a 70s vibe with the faux suede material and is a fantastic layering piece
- Burgundy vest - another great layering piece with a 70s influence that translates to modern style and adds visual interest to outfits
- Low-rise flared jeans - this pair had some interesting detailing and ended up being a perfect fit!
Cute Academia
Another vibe I was getting from the board was a much more playful version of the Dark Academia trend. Think: mini skirts, plaid and basics that can pull together a ready-for-college look.
- Blue and Green Plaid skirt - honestly a staple in a colour way that went with the other items
- Denim mini skirt - another great basic to have that can be worn throughout different seasons (think: with or without tights)
- Cream turtleneck sweater - this 100% wool sweater gave 100% Rory Gilmore energy
Crochet All Day
I saw a couple of crochet and knit faux-crochet items on the board. There was actually a funny moment in Mia’s video where she said she always mixes up crochet and knit. Regardless of how it was made, both items give off a similar look.
- Beige crochet top - this loose silhouette is intended to wear overtop another piece
- Boho off white top - another 70s inspired piece that can be mixed and matched with other items in the bundle
The full box included 13 pieces and was featured in her video titled: “I Bought Pinterest Inspired Style Boxes… again”. It’s been viewed over 900,000 times, and her review of the box was overwhelmingly positive.
What The Client Said (And Why It Matters)
Hearing Mia’s feedback was incredibly affirming. She highlighted how the box didn’t feel random—it felt aligned. And that’s something I always aim for when curating a style box or working with a new client on style or color analysis services.
She pointed out how wearable the pieces were, how many outfit combinations she could make, and how it actually felt like something she’d reach for without hesitation. That’s the goal of every box: to make you feel seen and styled—not just filled up with clothes.
You can watch the full video here (the box I curated is Box #1):
Want Your Own Pinterest-Inspired Style Box?
If you’ve ever wished someone could just get your vibe and build a Pinterest-perfect wardrobe refresh—this is it. Each box is thrifted with intention, pulled from my network of secondhand gems, and packaged to match your lifestyle.
- No low quality pieces (Shein, etc.)
- No cookie-cutter outfits
- Just sustainable personal styling done with heart, color, and clarity
Whether you’re experimenting with a new aesthetic or just want a fresh start, a custom thrifted style box is the perfect way to reconnect with your style—without starting from scratch.
