We all buy clothes, but no two people shop the same. It can be a social experience, and a deeply personal one; at times, it can be impulsive and entertaining, at others, purpose-driven, a chore. Where do you shop? When do you shop? How do you decide what you need, how much to spend and what’s “you”? These are some of the questions we’re putting to prominent figures in our column “How I Shop.”

In 2022, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” — Jenny Han’s TV adaptation of her novel series — debuted on Prime Video, and I’ve been absolutely and completely consumed by it every summer since. And it isn’t just my friends and me sitting around a television trying to guess which Taylor Swift song will score the next momentous scene. The entire world is seemingly mesmerized by the slightly weird but ultimately captivating love triangle between Belly Conklin and brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher.

But the fans aren’t only fixated on the three main players: Belly’s trusted sidekick throughout her never-ending romantic drama is Taylor Jewel, played by Rain Spencer. In Seasons 1 and 2, Taylor functions primarily as Belly’s closest confidant and, at times, unofficial life coach. (There’s also the fan-favorite ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ relationship she has with Belly’s brother, Steven.) Now, in Season 3, Taylor gets a bigger spotlight. Not only does she play a pivotal role in catalyzing multiple plot points for other characters (no spoilers here!), but we also get to see much more of her own life and personality — separate from the Conklins and Fishers. 

Part of what’s uncovered is Taylor’s interest in fashion. In the first three episodes of this season, the college junior expresses a strong desire to visit the Chanel store in Paris, declares, “menswear is in” and dons not one, but two Telfar bags around campus.

“Her dream is to move to New York and to be in PR,” Spencer tells Fashionista. “I can’t say much more since the show is still coming out, but she totally wants to be in the fashion world, which I think is a really fun arc that Jenny created this season.”

Just 21 years old when the show began filming, Spencer has seen her style develop alongside Taylor’s: “In your early twenties, you’re learning so much about yourself,” she says. “I was always dressing up and trying things out. [It’s] such a wonderful way to express your authentic self or your creativity. It’s like my body gets to be this canvas and I get to paint it. I think it’s art.”

Below, the now-25-year-old actor shares her favorite looks she’s gotten to wear on the show, the mix of masculine and feminine aesthetics in her real-life wardrobe, the best vintage purchases she’s made recently and more.

“Growing up, I remember looking through magazines and being obsessed with all the different creative editorials and the fashion. I’d watch all the shows that had to do with making clothes or even modeling. That space has always been really interesting and otherworldly to me. When I was a kid, my mom put me into a design class and I made a dress. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

“When I get to do different photo shoots, the feeling I get when putting on the clothing is really interesting because it’s kind of like acting. I’m always thinking about, ‘What character is this?’ Instead of being shy about it, I get to think about the personality and that helps make those shoots really fun.

“Whatever the dress code is at an event, feeling like myself is a top priority for me. I like to feel like I’m wearing an aspect of my personality — like I’m wearing the clothes and they’re not wearing me. I have a stylist, Alex [Imgruth], who is wonderful and a great collaborator. She sees me and knows what I respond well to.

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“Right now, I’m into embracing a balance of masculine and feminine. I like dressing more androgynous and having that mix — I like both aspects of myself. There are certain days when my friends will make fun of me because I look like a teenage boy. I’ve got on long baggy shorts and a big shirt and sneakers. And then there are other days where I’m wearing a light pink, lacey vintage slip or something, and I feel really feminine. I never want to put myself in a box when it comes to fashion.

“I’ve been learning so much about brands and how the fashion world works from going to shows and picking my stylist’s brain. She’s been such a teacher for me.

“I’ve been obsessed with everything that Chloé is doing. The majority of the press I’ve done for ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty,’ I’ve been in full Chloé. Every time I wear it, I feel authentic and like an elevated version of myself. There was one look I wore to the show last year with long shorts and boots, but there was lace, and it was this gorgeous outfit that I really loved.

“For everyday, I’m loving the brand Re/Done. There are these jeans that I’m obsessed with and they do a simple T-shirt really well. I have a black shirt from them that’s cropped perfectly. I’ve worn it so many times and it still feels perfectly kind of vintage.

“Aritzia has some really good elevated staple pieces that I love. I like being able to wear jeans and sneakers to a meeting and still feel put together. I also always throw on my Saint Laurent bag, which feels effortless.

“I’m much more covered up most of the time. My stylist makes fun of me sometimes because I’ll send her photos of, like, Doechii wearing booty shorts. And she’ll laugh and be like, ‘Rain, if I brought you this little clothing, you’d be like, what are you talking about?’ I do like to feel young and hot, but I don’t like to feel exposed. Like, I’m not going to wear something sheer, but I love a sexy silhouette. I like a hint of sex appeal.

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“I don’t really have a method for finding new designers to wear. I remain curious. I’ll send my stylist things I find online or if Lola [Tung] is wearing something cool, she’ll put me on sometimes. I do love going into random places and just finding something. Recently, I found this matching shorts-and-shirt set and didn’t know the label. It turned out to be Eckhaus Latta, so that’s how I discovered that brand.

“I’m not out here making big purchases often, but I do love those Miu Miu ballet slippers. I like the ballet thing happening right now.

“One of my favorite looks Taylor wears in the show was her prom dress. It was a black two-piece Galvan London set.

“My shopping habits are so impulsive and spontaneous. I’m never having a dedicated shopping day. Most of the time, I’ll be walking somewhere and I see something in a window that I like, or I’m with a friend and we’re just bored. If I see something I’m attracted to, I ask myself, ‘Can I live without this?’ If the answer is no, I’ll probably get it.

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