065: SARAH BROWN
lives in Red Kap work pants and an Auto Model S.
For this week’s newsletter, I chatted with Sarah Brown, co-founder of Auto—the newly launched brand behind the cheeky tagline, “bags are cars for girls.” Are bags really cars for girls? Mine doesn’t drive me anywhere, but it does haul around all my junk. Which, of course, is the point.
Since its debut earlier this year, Auto’s Model S and C bags have been nearly impossible to get your hands on (though a few are back in stock now—the Oil is positively screaming my name). What first drew me in was the brand’s clever marketing: cool girls casually emptying their bags to reveal a curated chaos of lip gloss, rolling papers, novels, clementines, deodorant. We contain multitudes!
Sarah has also served as a creative vehicle behind the scenes at cult favorites like Sandy Liang, Ashley Williams, LeoRosa, and Lisa Says Gah—which is to say, the girl has taste. I asked what she’s been living in lately.
Describe your personal style. What are you living in right now and why?
My background is in accessory design, so typically I like simple clothing that you can easily mix and match and add details to. I just got this collarless leather jacket from the brand Belle which looks so good with a pair of low waisted jeans and belt or with a midi skirt and boots. It’s in a beige color — my husband pointed out I already have five garments in this shade, I think it’s such a cool neutral. I also really like to style unexpected things together: hard and soft — like a quilted satin jacket with a studded leather belt or a strawberry barrette with a fur coat. When I was a teen I was kind of grunge/punk/mall goth and I think that tends to influence my style in subtle ways.
How often do you shop?
Not often, I am very picky about how things fit me and about materials so it takes me a while to pull the trigger.
SARAH’S MOST WORN
Not even trying to do product placement, I just really do wear this every day!
Get them oversized.
Where do you shop the most?
I buy mostly vintage from Ebay, Poshmark or Depop but I also love to buy from small brands.
Best buy of the last year?
I was searching for leather pants forever. I bought and returned so many from ebay. I almost cried when I finally found a pair that fit at a thrift store in Florida.
Midi Skirt from Karl Lagerfeld
Similar below. I think the key is it hitting right above the knee
MNZ Boots (mine are beige) and Our Legacy studded belt
What are you currently searching for?
A gray argyle cashmere cardigan and a white short sleeve button up dress in a crispy cotton (think Daryl Hannah in Kill Bill). For Auto, we’re working on a cool event bag right now because I truly don’t know where to find that.
What’s your go-to bodega/coffee/grocery-run outfit?
Umbro shorts, my McSorley’s tee, a trench coat, argyle socks and Chillbies
Does your style change when you go to work?
Luckily, I can wear whatever I want to work, but I really enjoy an outfit that evokes getting the job done. I love to wear a two piece set.
Brooke Callahan Column Skirt and Tiffany’s bottle necklace
Margaret Howell School Shoes and Teva Platform Flip flops
We added bows to the Tevas for the Sandy Liang S24 runway show and I’ve been wearing them ever since. I walked 20,000 steps in Tokyo in them one day.
What’s your go-to out for a night out?
I really love when girls dress up to go out; it’s something I’ve always aspired to but because I hate being uncomfortable, I don’t have a great closet for it. When I went to Atlantic City with two friends last year I ended up making a crazy outfit from their clothes that were way too small for me — it worked in a kind of slutty way.
What clothing item or accessory do you always travel with?
Feels like an obvious recommendation at this point, but my Agnes B. snap cardigan. I have one in navy and a white one that I dyed gray because it got too dirty. I usually layer it for the plane with a leather jacket and t-shirt underneath so then I can wear it as a top or as a sweater throughout the trip. I heard a rumor there’s a snap shortage and judging by the website inventory that might be true?
Those Teva’s tho! 😍
love the look of the chillbies boots and want to order for my husband, but they are non-returnable/exchangeable, which seems crazy for shoes. if anyone has recs for something similar, please do share!
also, her bags are to die for! has anyone seen irl?