The Thrift Queen Macy Eleni Talks Second Chances: Her Ultimate Guide Book to Thrifting.

Plus she gives PMF the 411 on some of her favorite thrift finds!

1) Introduce yourself, who are you? Where are you from? 

I’m Macy Eleni of Blazed & Glazed on TikTok and Youtube, I’m an entertainer, content creator and author of Second Chances: The Ultimate Guide to Thrifting. I was born and raised by a superhero single mom in Dayton, Ohio and now live in my absolute dreamland, favorite place in the world… Los Angeles, California.

2) What made you get into thrifting? 

For me, fashion and getting dressed has always involved thrifting but when I was around 16 years old I started getting super into fashion, desperately wanting to recreate what I was seeing on my fave LA it girls and in all the fashion mags plastered across my bedroom walls. It was always about making magic out of what I could afford and had access to and the thrift store granted me that… it was my first home away from home and safe space that allowed me the room to play and dream.

3) What was the first thing you ever thrifted? 

I honestly can’t remember but I’m sure it was something for a Halloween costume when I was little. However, a very vivid thrift memory that stands out from my teen years was buying a bunch of 80s high waist Levis from Salvation Army, so I could cut them into shorts and stud the back pockets a la everything I was seeing on Tumblr and living for in 2010/could not afford from Urban Outfitters.

4) What do you have to say to those who frown upon thrifting? 

To please remove their heads from their own asses… like for real get your noggin out of your damn booty and get with it!!! When people say things like “thrifting is gross”, I roll my eyes beyond because that tired take is drenched in classism, people associating old/used with “bad” or less appealing… it’s actually extremely iconic, sustainable, and gorgeous!!!

5)  Why did you decide to write the book Second Chances?

I grew up obsessing over physical media and had every fashion mag and book I could get my grubby little paws on but none of them ever really touched on thrifting or used shit in general, beyond like maybe an archival look a celeb was wearing on the red carpet. I’ve always felt so pulled to use second hand clothing as my vessel for story telling and Second Chances is just the beginning of that! I want to make fashion entertainment for those who the mainstream industry has looked over and put the world of second hand on the bright, sparkling platform it has ALWAYS belonged on.

6) What do you hope people get out of reading you book Second Chances? 

I hope they feel inspired to thrift, be kind to others, and express their fabulous authentic selves! I want people to catch all the warm fuzzies and enter the coolest club in fashion… the sexy second hand shoppers club, duh!

7) What's the greatest thing you have ever found thrifting? 

This is far too tough to answer, so I’ll list a few…

Juicy Couture gumball machine from Savers

Cavalli pants from Valley Value Center

Zebra print Prada kitten heels from Salvation Army

Gucci Jackie bag for crazy cheap from an estate sale

8)  What is an item in your closet that you would save in a fire? 

My Dujour (the extremely hot, fabulous, and fictitious boy band from the Jossie and The Pussycats movie) band tee. One of my followers (shout out KiKi Willow!!!) is the daughter of the movies creator Deborah Kaplan and Dujour band member Breckin Meyer and she gave me the shirt that I’m pretty sure only the cast got back in the day and I will cherish it forever. Literally my favorite fashion film of all time.

9) Who is someone you want to trade closets with? 

One of my besties Mackii Shaye, she runs the iconic vintage store Little Oyster Club and has the most epic y2k hottie wardrobe in le world!!!

10)  What is your favorite item in your closet right now? 

All of my second hand beat up Balenciaga city bags, of course.

11) What was your most recent thrift find? 

This denim D&G jacket! I got it at Savers thrift for literally $40 and am still shimmying about it.

12) If you were to have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be, and what are you going to wear to this dinner?! 

Freddie Mercury and Pam Anderson… I would want to be comfortable and feel so hot and amazing so honestly I’d just wear really great comfy vintage jeans, a ratty white tank, vintage leather motto jacket, my trusty Dior shield sunnies and a city bag.

If you like what you’ve read, you can get Second Chances online at Simon & Schuster or on Amazon!