Re-doing my entire wardrobe shopping just The Real Real.
What I'd buy & why as a personal stylist.
To know me is to know my obsession with The Real Real. On a surface level it makes a ton of sense. I am a lover of vintage, luxury, and one-of-a-kind items. But there’s something deeper to my obsession too.
For one, something about shopping on TRR has a sort of placebo effect on me where I feel like I’m always getting something entirely unique (even if I’m not). I tend to find my sense of self through isolation, and finding clothes that make me feel isolated by way of their “one-of-a-kindness” enhances my Style Point of View all the more.
I’m also a lover of secondhand shopping. It’s the hunt, the thrill, the effort required to discern my own taste within the thousands of metaphorical racks. There’s a nod to my childhood here too- I always received hand-me-downs from my older cousins as the youngest of 4 girls in a large family full of boys. Sifting through heavy duty garbage bags of clothes that no longer fit them was a thrill I looked forward to every season. Shopping on TRR makes me feel present in the zeitgeist of womanhood & reminds me that sharing/ trading can be just as rewarding as creating.
& of course the environmental benefits of secondhand shopping help me to retain a sense of morality while spending.
That being said, if I was challenged with the task of completely renovating my wardrobe - I would do it solely on The Real Real and here’s how it would go down…
Instead of shopping by categories like: basics, statement pieces, and transitional items, or t-shirts, pants, and shoes, I identified some characteristics of ideas that I wish to see realized when looking at my wardrobe. This way of approaching shopping helps me conceptualize the things I actually crave & wear as opposed to checking off the boxes of “must have” items I might not actually need (this is also how I shop for my clients).
I’d shop for my…
POINT OF VIEW PIECES
This is my personal favorite group to shop for. Point of View Pieces are the loud signalers of your personal style - they’re likely the statement pieces of your closet, but can also come in the form of a simple white t-shirt. It all depends on your relationship with your clothes & the messages you want to evoke from the styling of them. They’re the pieces you want to wear everyday that very clearly and succinctly represent your Style Point of View. For me, they are almost always dresses- bright, taffeta, &/or vintage.
CLASSIC W A TWIST
Another important outlier in my closet are items that are classic with something a little bit strange incorporated in the design. Think a white broadcloth button down, but with super over exaggerated sleeves, or a pair of wool trousers that have an asymmetrical waistline. For me, these items come in handy on days when I don’t have as much creative enthusiasm in the tank, but still want to make sure my obscure point of view is represented. As I scoured The Real Real, I looked for items that embody a classic essence but challenge my perspective mainly through silhouette.
GO TO DINNER OUTFIT
This one is key considering going out to eat is probably my favorite activity and one of the only ways I consent to socialization. My go-to get-up is always a little black dress. I’d find something midi-length that can be worn to a casual dinner with flat shoes, or dressed up for an evening at The Ballet. In the summer I’d pair one of these with sandals, a fun necklace, and a crochet clutch. In the winter I’d throw on a pair of colorful tights and a great piece of outerwear. Which brings me to my next point…
OUTERWEAR
This one is pretty straight forward but can mean lots of different things for different people. During the summer months I still incorporate outerwear in the forms of lightweight cashmere ponchos and silk wraps. Outerwear is like the punctuation-piece of an outfit in my opinion. It shapes the story by literally shaping the frame of the body and gives movement & purpose to the rest of the look. That being said, I do love a nice heavy-weight coat, and with Fall on the mind here’s what I cooked up…
Stay tuned for next week’s ‘in good taste’ - we’re diving into all things TRR accessories…
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