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It is perhaps a universal experience, the first day the temperature inches past 65 degrees — a convincing little mirage of spring! — an immediate fantasy, a flicker of a future where you’re warmer, looser, somewhere near water, holding something delightfully cold.
But almost immediately the daydream fades into a mild, familiar dread.
What will you wear? The future of your happiness! your destiny! suddenly seems to hinge on assembling a wardrobe that reflects your imagined vacation self, no doubt shaped by afternoons spent scrolling targeted ads and sneaking glimpses of the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
You open your phone browser, type “summer wear,” and, predictably, you’re delivered straight to an endless scroll of Zara new arrivals.
Under a frenetic trance, you begin adding things to your cart with unnecessary urgency, consumed by the idea that if you buy each of these crappy, synthetic, near-identical pieces, you might feel complete.
The Ultimate It Girl.
The package arrives. You notice the lace top you spent $79.95 on already has a hole forming near the flimsy, plastic adjustable strap. You try on the $49.90 poly-blend capri pants and notice the right leg is surely an inch (or maybe even two?) longer than the left. That $129 Dôen dupe dress you just “had to have” already has two long snags, not to mention a polyester lining that static-clings to your thighs in a way that makes you want to instantly scream. The gold metal ring details on that sexy $59.90 swimsuit? Already scratched, the gold paint peeling off the sides.
Suddenly, you question whether this $900 haul was really worth it.
(It wasn’t.)
While there will always be caveats, grey areas, and a multitude of arguments to be had about fast fashion (we need size inclusivity!), the overall consensus is fairly difficult to ignore — it’s ruining the planet (and you don’t actually need any of it.)
The system is broken etc etc etc…we’ve officially arrived at a peak “everything is garbage” moment.
I cannot stress enough that uniquely, hyper-personal style does not come from scrolling an endless abyss of poorly-made dupes and virally trending pieces or copying your favorite influencer pushing constant new arrivals (maybe it’s….time to unfollow them if you’re feeling the constant urge to buy new….?)
It comes, instead, from noticing what sparks your interest while you’re digging through pages and pages of eBay, or trying out slightly unhinged search terms on The RealReal, or scouring the racks at your local thrift store. (It also comes from being offline, reading a book, trying out a new hobby, going on a walk, watching a new-to-you film, checking out a new restaurant, etc etc etc — so read this, and then go touch grass!)
This is the time of year when a sufficient dose of vitamin D makes us all briefly believe that money is not real!
But perhaps this year, is the year we indulge in some self-reflection around consumption.
If you want to be a Summer Cool Girl (whatever that means to you) but don’t quite know where to begin beyond your usual scroll through Shopbop, H&M, and Zara — let me help you get started.
I promise it will bring more satisfaction and happiness….
(working clockwise-ish, starting top left)
derek lam silk zebra print blouse (fem m, $29.25)
this is your sign to just set a price point on TRR and scroll — you just might find a “going out top” that’s crazy sexy cool (like, with a silk short and a strappy sandal? easy, breezy, beautiful)dries van noten snake sneakers (fem 6, $428)
no one needs to pay retail for “designer” sneakerssterling silver multi-stone bracelet ($110)
back away from the $59.50 garbage fast fashion jewelry and spend a little more on something well made and real silver!
search: sterling silver (filter to pre-owned), taxco, 925 silver cabochon, sterling silver seashell (look at related items and how they’re titled — mess around with those search terms to go deeper)sterling silver starfish pearl drop earrings ($149.99)
gorg gorg gorg!doen black lace cover up dress (fem 1, $185)
this is definitely on the mannequin backwards lol but i feel falls under ye olde “you can dress it up or dress it down”sterling silver pearl cluster ring (size 6, $40)
better than anything Zara will offer you in this categoryblack straw wide brim witch hat ($49.24, ships from UK)
a witchy beach hat? might need this for myself….baroque pearl bracelet ($15!)
”baroque pearl” (toggle to pre-owned) is a great search term in jewelryrené caovilla black embellished sandal heels (fem 9, $516)
rené caovilla knows how to make a sexy summer shoewhite glass bead necklace ($19.95)
”glass beads” (try with and without “vintage”) is another good jewelry search rabbit holegucci black oversized cat eye sunglasses ($183.75)
sunglasses make the look on vacation (and beyond) — set a price point on TRR and scroll!vintage woven hat with glasses brim ($425)
collector alert!!!!!! this hat is highly sought after, very collectible, and very cool (the brim are your sunglasses) search: 1950s, 1960s summer hat on etsy for a curated collection of findsvintage bloomingdales black raw silk pants with waist embellishment (fem 6, $40)
i LOVE a cute little vintage-esque pedal pusher pant and there are so many well-priced ones on eBay (and even more in my next dispatch!)real seashell sterling silver earrings ($150)
someone is selling these on 1stdibs for like, $1800 so….
dôen ivory lace mini dress (fem l, $248)
pages and pages of older Dôen finds exist on TRR, just search price low-high and see what happensvalentino rockstud sunglasses ($335)
a vampire approved shape if you ask mejanessa leone straw sun hat ($247.50, new with tags)
over $100 off the retail pricevintage australia ringer tee (masc s, $29.99)
no summer look is complete without a worn-in vintage teechetta b black silk sequin top (fem 6, $13.49 on sale)
silk and sequins for under $20…..salvatore ferragamo pvc leather trim tote ($148)
she’s so weird and coolmiriam haskell colorful stone burst earrings ($64.99)
miriam haskell is very collectible — these are screwback, but I bet they would be easy to turn into post earrings with a trip to a jeweler? i love these colorstalbots polka dot silk pants (fem 8, $19.95)
if these were Bode they would be $900+silvia tcherassi black woven bucket bag ($132)
FUNle monde beryl mesh flats (fem 10, $279)
these are a steal if you’re a size 10! never worn! good color!silk black floral top (fem m, $38)
cute and silk and under $40 — this is a great brand to search, too
jenni kayne black wool cashmere cardigan (fem m, $233.25)
i love a cozy cardigan for spring/summer that can be a beach cover up, tied around my neck/waist for when the ocean breeze kicks in, etc etcsaint laurent heart shaped lace up sandal (fem 7, $510)
white beaded shell necklace ($19)
there is a sea (no pun intended) of these all over the internet — don’t let lucia zolea make you believe they’re worth $300+….anine bing black woven boho purse ($360, new with tags)
good good good shapehalston black and cream polka dot dress (fem l, $124)
sonia rykiel polka dot shorts (fem l, $48)
manolo blahnik snakeskin clutch ($395)
workhorse piece if you ask me — goes with everything and adds visual interest/texture to even a simple outfitblack cord baroque pearl necklace ($129.99)
it’s giving sophie buhai vibes (for a fraction of the price)st agni black sandals (fem 9, $265.50)
yves cosette black open back blouse (fem 6p, $39.99)
yves cosette “depeche mode” is a nice rabbit hole to go downblack beaded mother of pearl necklace ($19.80 on sale)
look at the related!ann taylor cream silk beaded flower top (fem l, $24.95)
valentino black satin sandal ankle strap heels (fem 7.5, $367.50)
Well, there you have it.
If you’re like, “Hey! But I want to be a colorful, kooky, mix-and-match summer It Girl” — fear not, that’s coming next week!
She looks a little like this…. (subscribe so you don’t miss out!)
Glenn, you’re the maven of all things cool!😎 Sing it loud! Buy it secondhand! Looking at that shitty Zara slip dress and then seeing 70-year-old vintage slips for less than $10…I don’t think the Zara one will be around in 70 years, or even 70 days.
Gorgeous round-up of want-y things! I encourage everyone to go to a vintage fair (they are everywhere in spring) and see what treasures are out there! 🥰
Thank you for your ability to find such gorgeous pieces!💕🤘
A+ photo caption on that first one ("it’s amazing what good product photography can do for mediocre clothes produced under a multitude of human rights violations" -- perfection)