Hi! I’m Leah
I’m an Episcopal priest, longtime blogger, freelance writer, avid thrifter, and singer living in Austin, TX with my husband, Daniel, and our two cats.
At my day job, I work as a parish priest, ministering to a small, inclusive congregation connected to a larger, historic campus. I believe the local church can be a place to practice what so many of us preach in social justice spaces: showing up for one another despite our differences, being deeply rooted in our local community, developing muscle memory for repentance and forgiveness, and sustaining hope and love because knowing and loving one another deeply is its own kind of miracle.
As a “woman of the cloth” who wears a clergy collar more often than not, I have been on a journey to rediscover my personal style. Join me as I share outfits, reflections, and stories about my life as a “lady priest” in a context where men are still considered the archetype and women leaders are still judged by the way they look.
Just a note on this blog’s content: The embodied, relational work I do as a full-time church worker engages seriously with the issues of our day. Matters of justice, mercy, and community care are the center of my life and ministry, but I will rarely bring those issues up here, because I’m not trying to be an “internet priest.” You can read a selection of my sermons here.
How It Started
I founded this blog in 2013 under the name StyleWise in an effort to build community and foster education around supply chain ethics and conscious consumerism. As one of the first sustainable fashion bloggers and influencers, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with hundreds of emerging ethical lifestyle brands, get to know a passionate community of like-minded people, and get a crash course in the global supply chain and intersectional ethics. I spoke at conferences and churches, wrote an e-book, and nearly went full-time in 2018.
Of course, as we all know, the influencer and internet landscape has changed a lot since 2013. Having to constantly adapt to new social media platforms, algorithms, and consumer trends became tedious. I am a writer first and foremost and had trouble keeping up on video-driven platforms. I also discerned a call to the priesthood in 2018 and headed off to seminary in 2019. The pandemic threw a wrench in everything this niche had been building. Mass layoffs, deteriorating factory conditions, and less disposable income contributed to a watering-down of ethics across the board. Increasing social instability and partisanship in the U.S. political system has also made lifestyle advocacy less of a priority than direct action at the local level.
I still try to live according to my values, believing that every person has inherent dignity that demands just and compassionate treatment. These days, I still do a lot of thrifting, and limit new purchases to items that meet my minimum standards of natural fibers, reasonable construction quality, and good fit.
What You’ll Find
The 10+ years of StyleWise archives have been retained. You can still search for Ethical Alternatives, sustainable product reviews, old style posts, and dozens of other sustainability and social justice related posts.
My aim in rebranding is to spark some creative interest in this blog again, as I better align the brand to my current lifestyle needs.
New? Start Here
- Find Ethical Alternatives to Your Favorite Brands
- Learn about terms and certifications
- Read about my Core Values
- Reflect on social justice topics
- Check out personal style and product reviews
Style Wise | in the news
Press
- Cup of Jo, A Week of Outfits: Leah Wise
- Yale School of the Environment, The Life(cycle) and Times of a YSE T-Shirt
- Yale Divinity School, YDS ‘Reimagining Church’ initiative helps congregations envision their next chapters
- SHIFT London, _shift talks podcast: The Ethics of Thrift Stores
- Business of Fashion, Beyond Disruption: Everlane’s Next Chapter
- Fashionista, It’s Time to Stop Looking to Brands to Save Us
- Green Dreamer Podcast, How To Thrift Shop Like a Pro and Support the Secondhand Economy to Grow ft. Leah Wise
- Reframe Your Life Podcast, Do you feel good about your clothing purchases? Interview with influencer Leah Wise
- Bustle, 17 Fair Trade Fashion Bloggers You Probably Didn’t Know Existed, But Totally Should
- Christian Examiner, Don’t support human rights violations with your Christmas gifts: 3 ways to shop ethically
- ORIGIN Magazine March 2017, Wellness Influencers
- Society B, The 8 Best Guides for Ethical & Sustainable Living
- Feedspot, Top 75 Sustainable Fashion Blogs
- Savvy Rest, Catching Up with Local Sustainable Fashion Blogger, Leah Wise
- AGAATI, 10 Ethical Fashion Bloggers
Publications
- Christianity Today, Dispatches from Charlottesville: What Happens When Neo-Nazis Are Outside Your Church Doors
- Christianity Today, Buy the Product, Not the Sob Story
- Relevant Magazine, The Cost of Spending Less
- Relevant Magazine, Why I Buy Secondhand
- Rachel Held Evans, “Strength and Dignity Are Her Clothing”: Making Ethical Fashion Choices
A portion of proceeds from StyleWise are donated to the ACLU, the NAACP, First Nations Development Institute, and the Xerces Society on a monthly basis.