Editor’s note: Tastemakers is a column where we give you, the readers, a glimpse into what we at The Spectator are interested in (fashion, music, pop culture, etc.). It also takes heavy inspiration from Perfectly Imperfect, a paid Substack with content in a similar format. 

As summer makes its long-awaited transition into fall, I’m embracing some of the beautiful elements, old and new, that make me feel most extraordinarily human.

I think it’s through the acquisition of new ideas, styles and things to love — the weaving together of old and new — that we can most effectively discover our own identity.

Music: For me, music has always been the utmost source of growth, reflection and emotional outlet. 

From a young age, I’ve been somewhat of a zealot when it comes to music. I can attribute this in no small part to my parents, who introduced me early on to some of my all-time favorite artists and sent me into the deranged, prodigious musical spiral from which I will never return.

My musical taste contains absolutely no rhyme or reason, but generally spans between the 1960s and early 2000s. I have a hefty, ever-expanding stash of vinyl which helps fuel the obsession.

If I could travel back in time to any decade, the ‘60s would be at the very top of my list. In many ways, this decade was a miniature renaissance in the world of western music, politics and culture. 

I would give so much for the opportunity to see greats like Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Nico, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and so many others live during that era.

That being said, so much of my favorite music is a product of the 1990s. Musicians like Mazzy Star, Belle and Sebastian, The White Stripes, Jeff Buckley, Sublime, Ben Harper, Salt-N-Pepa, The Black Eyed Peas and a sea of others have become my lifeline.

Vintage Clothes: It’s beautiful the way our culture, and perhaps my generation in particular, piece together snippets of the past so they can be recycled into something new. I’m noticing this more and more prominently in fashion trends.

Every year, just around sweater season, I stop to reflect on how much meaning clothing can hold. What we wear is with us every step of the way. It sees us through joy, heartbreak, excitement, anger, bliss and everything in between.

As an avid vintage shopper and hand-me-down receiver, it isn’t lost on me that many of the items in my closet have lived previous, unknown lives.

What we wear reflects the way we see ourselves and how we want to be perceived. Clothing can take the form of art, armor, comfort or a window into our identities. For me, it’s a projection of who I feel I am and who I want to become.

For these reasons, I simply can’t shake the feeling that the morsels of humanity these garments have adopted will never truly be lost. 

As I walk down the street, I’m an amalgamation of every person who wore my clothing before me. I’m my mother in high school, trekking through the snow and listening to Tori Amos in her plaid brown coat. 

I’m some fabulous woman in the ‘60s, arriving at a party in her green and yellow sweater. I’m a Parisian baker running to work in her Girbaud jeans. I’m a young Scottish girl hopping between puddles in her purple Dr. Martens. I’m my great-grandmother arriving in Chicago from Poland, a gold and black bracelet clasped around her wrist.

There are so many reasons why I love secondhand clothing, but I think the memories preserved in each woven thread might be the most compelling of all.

Film and television are some of my greatest sources of style inspiration. Some of my top comfort shows in the autumn include “Felicity,” “My So-Called Life,” “Girls” and “Twin Peaks.” I love revisiting these series every year and sampling ideas from the characters’ wardrobes as I build new outfits.

Room/Home Decoration: One opportunity to express myself that I will never compromise is how I decorate my living space. I require a certain balance of bookishness, elegance and chaos in my environment to venture anywhere near tranquility. 

This equilibrium involves large quantities of tapestries, candles, plants, lamps and odd trinkets. One absolute necessity is the ability, at any given moment, to brew a cup of tea. 

Sitting front and center on my desk is my prized possession: a Hazel Quinn electric tea kettle. Never in my life have I had such an affinity for a cooking appliance. This absolute gem is put to use at least five times per day. 

To put things simply, we can glean inspiration from all sorts of places. Understanding what brings you happiness and what makes you feel most human is crucial to articulating who you are as a person, and there are so many fun little avenues to explore that.

Wojahn can be reached at [email protected].