By Aarian Frye & Denise Lyons

New Orleans native Torrance Taylor has been shopping at Buffalo Exchange NOLA since 2006. Just like the iconic city around him, Torrance’s sense of style has evolved into something totally unique and undeniably Southern. Read ahead to learn more about where Torrance finds his fashion inspiration and why he loves Buffalo Exchange!

Suiting Up: Torrance’s Fashion Background 

Torrance was 14 years old when he realized he had a penchant for fashion. Growing up, some of his style icons were George Jefferson, Geoffrey Holder, Slick Rick and the original cast of Dynasty. Today, Torrance describes his style as “modern, ethnic, vintage with a dressier flare.”

What’s on His Fashion Wishlist? 

Presently, Torrance finds himself drawn to houndstooth, camouflage and African wax prints with batik-inspired designs — he’s also excited about the London Fog x Jeremy Scott collaboration, and hopes to add animal-print trench coats into his collection. Although he has a strong love of bold patterns, Torrance says that his favorite outfit is a simple and refined combination of cropped tailored pants and a timeless pewter blazer.

Why He Loves Shopping at Buffalo 

When we asked Torrance about what makes shopping at Buffalo Exchange so special, he tells us that “Buffalo carries things that no other store in New Orleans has. It’s one of the main ways I discover emerging brands.” He also says that it’s “a great way to revamp your closet” and always has a surprise in store: “During the 40th Anniversary Trailer Tour, I found a vintage Neiman Marcus printed jacket that I still wear.”

Torrance’s Number One Style Tip

For anyone working to refine their style, Torrance has this bit of advice: “Celebrate your youth, no matter your age. Establish your personality, and then your personal style. Create your own costumes and outfits that reflect who you are or want to be.” 

Has Torrance’s advanced style has inspired you to elevate your look? Get started on your style journey at your local Buffalo Exchange! With 51 locations across the country, there are boundless ways to express yourself through personal style. Before you go, don’t forget to bring in your closet cleanout — Buffalo Exchange buys clothing for all seasons year round, and those great pieces sitting in your closet could turn into cash or trade.

Each year, Buffalo Exchange teams up with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona to award an artist in Southern Arizona with the Arts Award. Candidates are selected by two separate panels of experts who are familiar with the Southern Arizona Arts scene and judged based on both the candidates’ artistic endeavors and the impact they’ve made in the community. Since 1994, Buffalo Exchange has awarded almost $240,000 to 26 Southern Arizona artists.

Rebecca Block and Kerstin Block with Allison Miller and Bryan Falcón

For the 25th round of recipients in 2019, Buffalo Exchange Founder & President Kerstin Block and her daughter, Vice President Rebecca Block, celebrated by offering two awards of $10,000 – one in performing arts and one in visual arts.“We created the Arts Award because we believe art is essential to the well-being of the community,” says Kerstin. “This year, we’re glad for the chance to honor Allison and Bryan, who both have an incredible impact on the local area.”

Allison Miller with Buffalo Exchange Founder Kerstin Block and CFSA Director of Community Investments Kelly Huber

Meet Allison, a Tucson-Born Muralist
Allison Miller, a muralist and native of Tucson, has spent much of her career giving back to the community through public art projects. She currently coordinates and facilitates murals that are artistically accessible for community members, allowing young artists and other volunteers to contribute. “A lot of it for me is involving people in creating an identity for their specific space,” says Miller, “whether it’s a park or their jogging path. When people are invested in beautification, they keep it that way.” Having worked on dozens of murals, Miller’s art is a familiar sight and an ode to the unique identity of Tucson.

Scoundrel & Scamp Postcard: Images by Tim Fuller, Design by Cat Dog Mouse Media

Scoundrel & Scamp Production of Blood Wedding: Photo by Tim Fuller.

Bryan Falcón with Buffalo Exchange Founder Kerstin Block and CFSA Director of Community Investments Kelly Huber

Meet Bryan Falcón, Founder of Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre
Bryan Falcón, winner of the performing arts award, is the Artistic and Managing Director of the Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, a nonprofit he founded with his wife after becoming enamored with the art scene and diverse culture of Tucson. Bryan believes that theater uplifts society by transporting people to places that they would not otherwise go. “We have a chance to step into somebody else’s skin for a little while and try to understand and, hopefully, walk away with some sort of connection to the heart,” says Bryan.

Allison Miller Mural

It’s reasons like these that Buffalo Exchange has continued this award for the past 25 years. “Art is not something that humans do when they have nothing else to do,” said Spencer Block, Buffalo Exchange co-founder. “Art is an essential part of the human condition. It happens everywhere and in all circumstances.” To learn more about the history of the Arts Award and to see a list of all other artists who’ve been honored over the years, visit the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona’s website!

Happy awards season, everyone! While we certainly love watching our favorite celebs strut the red carpet, there’s another important accolade that comes to mind: the 2019 Buffalo Exchange Arts Award! According to Buffalo Exchange co-founder Spencer Block, art is not “the cherry on top” of life — rather, it is “essential to the well-being of society”. For the past two and a half decades, Buffalo Exchange has supported the creative spirit of Southern Arizona by honoring local artists, and performers with the Arts Award. Read ahead to learn more about the history of the Award and some of our past honorees. 

How the Arts Awards Came to Be

In 1994, Kerstin and Spencer Block founded The Buffalo Exchange Arts Award in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA). Since that time, the Fund has awarded $10,000 a year to one deserving local artist. This has allowed artists to continue their work in the local community.  We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate 25 years of the Arts Award by honoring not just one, but two Southern Arizonans who’ve made a significant impact in the lives of fellow Arizonans through their work. This year’s dual award will go to Allison Miller for Visual Arts and Bryan Falcón for Performing Arts. They’ll both receive $10,000 to continue their excellent work in the community during a ceremony on January 30th, 2020 at the Community Foundation Campus.

Buffalo Exchange Arts Awards Honorees

Dante Celeiro, Community Leader and 2018 Arts Award Recipient

Dante Celeiro is a leader in the LGBTQIA+ community of Tucson. After moving from NYC to the desert over 25 years ago, Dante has worked with the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation and now manages Boys R Us, Arizona’s first gender performance group. Dante also created Fluxx, a non-profit organization that advocates for an open dialogue around queer culture and works to increase visibility of queer arts and culture through exhibitions, performance art and workshops.

Nathanael Gregory Myers, Multi-Discipline Performing Artist and 2017 Arts Award Recipient 

As a multidisciplinary artist, Nathanael has showcased his art throughout a wide array of Tucson venues – most notably through his work with the Museum of Contemporary Art and through performances at Artifact Dance Project and The Rogue Theatre (you can also find some of his paintings hung in galleries across town!). A painter, dancer and musician, Nathanael works to combine romanticism, biology and elements of nature as he explores the mediums of visual and performing arts.

Rachael Rios, Visual Artist and 2016 Arts Award Recipient

The 2016 Buffalo Exchange Emerging Artist in Visual Arts Award went to artist Racheal Rios. Rachael is a native Tucsonan who describes her drawings as a reflection of her relationship with the desert and the things that inhabit it — common elements of her artwork include cactus flowers and various Arizona wildlife such as coyotes, javelinas and jaguars.

Rick Wamer, Visual & Performing Artist and 2015 Arts Award Recipient 

Rick Wamer has been described by Tucson Weekly as “part dancer, part actor, part comedian”. Mentored by the famed French actor and mime Marcel Marceau, Rick is a globally recognized performing artist who inspires and touches the lives of thousands each year. Rick is the co-founder of Embody Learning in Tucson.

Chris Black, Performing Artist and 2014 Arts Award Recipient

Chris Black is a composer and performer from Tucson. Currently playing primarily as a solo double bassist, he is the founder of the alt-classical chamber music concert series ChamberLab.

Heather Green, Visual Artist and 2010 Arts Award Recipient

The 2010 Arts Award was bestowed upon visual artist Heather Green. In Green’s own words, her work examines the “historical and ecological narratives of the Northern Gulf of California and Sonoran Desert.” A Tucson native, Heather currently works in Tempe as Assistant Professor of Book Arts at Arizona State University.

Since its creation in 1994, Buffalo Exchange has awarded over $214,000 to artists in Southern Arizona. As we look forward to the next decade, we’re reminded of a quote from Spencer Block: “Artists are the visionaries. They go where no one has gone and show us the way.” In 2020 and the years beyond, we can count on Buffalo Exchange and the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona to continue to celebrate artists in our community so they may continue their work, and in turn, continue to show us the way into the future.

Every six months, we support new local charities through our Tokens for Bags® program. Instead of giving out bags, we give customers the opportunity to donate five cents (the cost of the bag) to a charity of their choice. Our Tokens for Bags® program has raised over $803,000 for thousands of local charities since 1994, saving over 16.06 million bags from polluting the environment!

Find your local Buffalo Exchange below and check out the charities you can give back to.

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By Marcella Willden & Savy Kroop

The holiday season is here, which means it’s time to take your favorite sweaters out of your closet and rock them at all of the holiday parties! Don’t want to repeat the same look from last year? Buffalo Exchange has your back! Stop into your local Buffalo for tons of cute and cozy options. OR, if you’re you feeling a little crafty, you can try DIY-ing your own holiday sweater. This festive cactus sweater is a fun twist on a traditional holiday sweater that we’re sure will have you looking ON-POINT this season!

What You’ll Need to DIY Your Cactus Holiday Sweaters

The first (and maybe obvious) step is to get a sweater! You can sift through your closet to find one you don’t wear anymore or you can stop by your local Buffalo Exchange to pick one up – like we did! We found these cute, coordinating gray sweaters with statement sleeves for extra festive flair. While we were out-and-about, we stopped into the dollar store to get all of our crafting supplies. In total, we spent about $30 on this project for both sweaters and it only took about 30 minutes from start to finish. We had so much fun DIY-ing these sweaters that I think we found a new holiday tradition!

Supplies:

Sweater, Felt, Pom pom balls, Pipe cleaners, Hot glue gun and glue sticks, Scissors, Marker, Optional: Other crafty supplies like ribbon and glitter

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By Aarian Frye, Photography by Jordan Bowens, Justin Brooks and Fred Attenborough

We recently had the pleasure of talking with Angelica Sundae, a hairstylist by day and electrifying drag performer by night. Angelica has been shopping at Buffalo Exchange for fifteen years, first in Las Vegas and currently at BE Manhattan. Read ahead for a Q+A about Angelica’s one-of-a-kind style, love for Buffalo finds and even a bit of fashion advice fit for a queen!

How would you describe your drag style?

A mix of dark, gothic glamour, Vegas showgirl glitz, and good old-fashioned buffoonery. The idea of being stunningly beautiful and also completely ridiculous is very appealing to me!

What do you like about shopping at Buffalo?

I have ALWAYS had luck finding interesting pieces there and I love that I can put together a really great look that doesn’t drain my bank account.

What type of events/performances do you go all-out for, fashion-wise? 

Holidays (Halloween, New Year’s) as well as for events that I produce, such as my show ”Snack Theater” at Chelsea Music Hall in Manhattan.

What pieces are you currently looking to add to your wardrobe? 

An extravagant robe and opera-length gloves in every color!

What fashion advice would you give to others?

Listen to yourself. If you know your body and you try different silhouettes, you will eventually find not only what looks best on you, but what makes you feel like a confident boss. Confidence is necessary to work any look.

Feeling inspired to add some glitz and glamour into your wardrobe? Take a cue from Angelica Sundae and find fabulous pieces on a budget at your local Buffalo Exchange! Secondhand shopping has never been so chic.

By Aarian Frye

It’s no secret that I have a whole lot of clothes – they live in two closets, dressers and, somehow, always in a pile on the floor. Don’t even get me started on my collection of bags, shoes and accessories! To help me sort through my overflowing wardrobe, I enlisted the help of my boyfriend, Dylan. He picked out my outfits for a week and, as a result, helped me realize that I needed to part with a few of my well-loved pieces and bring them in to Buffalo Exchange to sell!

Day One

What I wore: Free People dress with embroidered sleeves, vintage basket handbag, strappy    Topshop sandals, Universal Threads mules, Forever 21 earrings

Why he picked it: He knew it was my favorite dress and he also knew I never usually end up wearing the strappy sandals or vintage handbag (spoiler alert: both, while very cute, are also very impractical). 

How I felt: I love love LOVE this dress. What I didn’t love were these sandals. After brunch and an afternoon of thrifting, my feet were screaming for comfort. I had to go home and change into these mustard mules. The bag, too, proved to be difficult – it was too delicate for everyday use and, while I love vintage, I am more concerned with function over fashion (at least when it comes to handbags). These ones both went right into the bag for Buffalo Exchange!

Day Two

What I wore: ASOS floral and zebra print blouse, BDG jeans, Dolce Vita sandals, cheetah print earrings, GAP tote 

Why he picked it: I rarely wear jeans and I’ve never worn this blouse. This probably won’t come as a shock, but I often shop for an idealistic future – “Maybe I’ll wear this if I’m at this place at this time and the moon is in this phase.” It’s not realistic and I’m left with an abundance of clothes I never wear – thank goodness I can trade them for store credit Buffalo Exchange! I’d been holding onto this blouse for a special occasion, but Dylan showed me that I don’t need a specific reason to wear an outfit. If I love something, then I should wear it – who knew it could be so simple?

How I felt: I have to admit – I was hesitant to walk into the world in this look. A floral AND zebra print blouse with distressed kickflares, cheetah-print earrings and banded sandals?! At the end of the day, though, this turned out to be one of my favorite looks

Day Three

What I wore: ASOS flower-striped dress, Universal Threads mules, vintage beaded bag, resin cherry earrings

Why he picked it: This was a hot day (here in Tucson, it stays warm a good chunk of the year), so Dylan paired this cotton dress with backless shoes and a minimal bag. A pragmatic choice that led to a super cute, put-together look!

How I felt: This was such a fun outfit and satisfied my craving for color coordination! It was just another day at the office, but the retro floral dress with the side tie reminded me of a sarong I’d wear on a tropical cruise. V refreshing! Also, I have to give Dylan props for the cherry earring selection. I wouldn’t have paired florals with fruit, but it works so well! 

Day Four

What I wore: Urban Outfitters smock-top, Forever 21 light-wash denim skirt, resin circle earrings, ASOS tiger mules, GAP tote 

Why he picked it: Casual Tuesday, anyone? We were in a bit of a rush to get out the door this morning, but this outfit doesn’t show it. A denim skirt paired with a cotton blouse is simple and always stylish. For a bit of fun, Dylan decided to add these tiger print mules I could easily slip on and matching orange and black resin earrings. I was ready for the day in no-time!

How I felt: I love any and all smocking and the denim skirt is a staple of my closet (I have this same skirt in a medium-wash denim). However, my love for fun shoes proved to be incompatible with my achy feet! Although I didn’t have to change footwear mid-day, I think these shoes should go to someone who’ll wear them waaay more frequently, which means they’re going right into the Buffalo Exchange bag!

Day Five

What I wore: Striped apron dress (brand unknown), navy camisole (brand unknown), ASOS gold bamboo earrings, Dolce Vita Sandals, vintage handbag

Why he picked it: Taking some advice from the times I’ve styled him myself, Dylan wanted to try out a fully neutral look without going monochromatic.

How I felt: While it’s true that all neutrals go together, I wasn’t so sure about this one. For some reason, the beaded bag with bamboo handles and two-strap sandals didn’t quite feel right with the look. I’m definitely still going to hold onto this dress, but I usually reserve it for fall when I can layer it over a black turtleneck, tights and booties – picky, I know. I learned that maybe I should stash this piece away with my fall/winter items. Still, I commend Dylan’s concept of tonal dressing!

Day Six

What I wore: Forever 21 zebra-print button down, Target denim skirt, Converse high-tops, vintage woven handbag, Forever 21 marbled resin earrings

Why he picked it: Feeling inspired by the 80s revival, Dylan went for a graphic black and white look with a bold pattern. Then, he added the neon green bag for a pop of color. 

How I felt: This was fun! I have a ton of animal print in my closet, and this button-down is something I routinely pushed back because I wasn’t sure how I wanted to style it. Who would’ve known all I needed was my dependable denim skirt? This is a great outfit to take me from my 9-5 to happy hour!

Day Seven

What I wore: Free People dress with embroidered sleeves (this time in blue!), Universal Threads Mules, retro belt, blue tassel earrings (brand unknown), vintage beaded handbag

Why he picked it: Another thing about me: when I love something, I buy it in every color I can. Knowing this, Dylan wanted to end the week with something familiar but really jazz it up with metallics, beads, tassels and rhinestones. 

How I felt: Great! In retrospect, I feel like I need to invest in a steamer, but wrinkles aside, this is a go-to look! While I was initially unsure of wearing so many sparkly accessories at once, everyone I interacted with today complimented me on how the whole thing came together, to which I gracefully replied, “Thank you, my boyfriend is my stylist.” 

All in all, I feel great about this week of outfits. Even though I was a little nervous at the start, it was such a treat to see what my boyfriend really thought about my clothes — not to mention how nice it was to not have to pick out my own outfit every morning! It also helped me realize which items I really don’t need to hold onto (wonderful as they may be!) Now, I’m taking my reusable tote filled with goodies to sell at Buffalo Exchange. If you’re feeling inspired to have your partner, friend or roommate sort through your closet and pick your looks for a week, I say go for it! You’ll probably end up with some great new outfit ideas and a bag full of items to clean out. Your local Buffalo Exchange buys the best of all seasons year round and your closet cleanout could be worth cash or trade to spend on a wardrobe refresh you’ll really love! 

By Aarian Frye

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — Halloween! As the witching hour approaches, you may find yourself without a costume – that’s where Buffalo Exchange comes in. From our favorite movies to our favorite foods, we’ve compiled some of our favorite costumes from last year to inspire your look this Halloween! Ready to recreate one of these? Just step into your local Buffalo – we’ll help you find everything you need to create your spookiest costume yet!  

Teen Dream

Want a super trendy costume that you can pull together with pieces from your own closet? Live out your teenage dream with looks from your favorite high school comedies! 

A Mean Girls costume is totally fetch – just don’t tell Regina George! Photo from Buffalo Exchange Tempe.

If there’s any time to try out the Romy and Michelle diet of gummy bears, jellybeans and candy corn, it’s Halloween! Photo from Buffalo Exchange Boston (Allston). 

XOXO, you know you love this Gossip Girl group from Buffalo Exchange Brooklyn (Boerum Hill)!

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Every six months, we support new local charities through our Tokens for Bags® program. Instead of giving out bags, we give customers the opportunity to donate five cents (the cost of the bag) to a charity of their choice. Since 1994, we have raised over $778,660 for thousands of local nonprofit organizations through our Tokens for Bags® program, saving 15.5 million bags from polluting the environment.

Find your local Buffalo Exchange below and check out the charities you can give back to.

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Happy summer, everyone! Although the summer solstice is still on the horizon, the festivities have already begun – most notably Pride. Whether you’re strutting your stuff at Pride as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or you’re tagging along as an ally, we’ve compiled a bundle of inspiration for you to take along on your pre-Pride shopping trip!

Pride Flag jumpsuit at NYC Pride 2018

A magnificent butterfly cape from Buffalo Exchange Astoria

Sequins at NYC Pride

Psychedelic Jumpsuit at NYC PrideFull Story