keeping it real

my greatest Real Real finds & some picks for you, too!

Hi friends! I am writing to you from gloomy a$$ LA. UGH. I’m escaping to Hawaii later this week, so I can’t complain too much but it has taken me a minute to get inspired and I’m blaming it on the weather. There has been an influx of new subscribers in the past few days, so a special thank you if you’re new here and as always thank you @ everyone who reads this. For today’s newsletter I wanted to visit a topic that is near and dear to my heart, shopping on TheRealReal!

First, some personal history. My obsession with vintage and secondhand clothes first began in high school, when I volunteered at a local charity thrift shop. I will never forget seeing a man drop off a big bag of clothes that was quickly dismissed by other volunteers. I recognized the man’s fancy watch and snuck off to open the bag- full of Lacoste sweaters! It was quite the find at the time, as the preppy look was huge (thanks to Gossip Girl).

My first apartment in L.A. happened to be on the same block as a Goodwill and within four blocks of the Santa Monica Wasteland (which closed during the pandemic, RIP). I filled my apartment with so many fun finds and eventually started my own business, selling the treasures I could no longer fit in my tiny studio. This turned into my sourcing vintage for an LA based clothing brand, which was fun.

I’ve also sold and shopped with TheRealReal since I lived in that tiny studio, and become good friends with my luxury manager (hi Deanna!). Their pricing is sometimes controversial if you’re a seller but pretty wonderful if you’re a buyer. I like to think I get the best of both worlds as I mostly sell shoes and bags (which sell quickly and for pretty good prices) and buy a lot of clothes! The site is somewhat of a secondhand superstore, but there are finds for everyone, I promise. I’ve compiled a list of my best Real Real purchases and found similar items for you, but first here are my tips to make the experience easier.

Shopping on TheRealReal 101

• Go through your closet, look at the pieces you cherish. Is there a common theme? Do you have a piece you want in another color? Make a list. For example, I was gifted a pair of Loewe sunnies by my sister and one saved search later, found the same pair in a sold-out color.

• Think about items from past collections that you may have missed out on. For me it was a Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton graffiti bag and a clutch from the 2012 Prada collection. Create a saved search- I prefer to do this on the app- and be patient! It took me over a year to get a Prada camo canvas tote but it is now one of my most loved bags (found a similar one for you here)

• I love a well-placed logo, but if you don’t, there’s still plenty for you! Look at past season items from Khaite, Toteme, The Row, etc. if your wardrobe skews more minimal. Both of my Khaite cowboy boots were purchased new in box for significantly less than retail.

• Look at the edits- not the new arrivals. Personally, I find it overwhelming and disorganized. If you have a good saved searches list you shouldn’t need to scroll through the endless selection of new arrivals for your dream items. The curated edits, however, are fun! My favorites have been by style icons Chloë Sevigny and Devon Lee Carlson.

• Don’t forget to shop by size and designer but most importantly, condition! Price usually reflects the condition of the item. If you think you’ve found an amazing steal, check this first! “Fair” items are in pretty rough condition and will most likely need some type of repair, so keep that in mind. I try to buy items that are in very good, excellent or pristine condition. However, sometimes it can be worth it to get the exact piece you’ve been eyeing to get a piece in less-than-stellar condition and use some leather conditioner. For example, this Hermes clutch, in good condition, is stunning!

• Know when to hit purchase and check out immediately. Items added to your cart are only held for 20 minutes. If the item you’ve found is really popular (just dreaming here, but a new Margaux tote) best to set a timer or buy ASAP. This handle bag by The Row likely won’t last long.

• Create a “hearts” section to organize your favorites. So many sites have this tool but I find it most useful here. If you’re eyeing something but want to wait, simply heart it and you can check back to see if it gets marked down.

• Speaking of markdowns, items over $1,000 are only marked down after 30 days on the site. Items are typically discounted at 10%, then 20 and so on. Out of season items get discounted faster.

• New arrivals! Drop twice a day, at 10am and 7pm, Eastern. I check my app around 7am (since, duh, I’m on the west coast) if I have the time and maybe once in the late afternoon if I’m really on the hunt for something.

• Lastly, a lot of finding a great find is sheer luck, and this site is no exception. My never worn glitter Chanel boots (pictured above) were only a few hundred dollars and retail on some other sites for upwards of $2,500! I have no idea why they were priced so low, but I’m not asking questions and neither should you when you find something just as fabulous.

  Okay, let’s shop!

  First of all, there’s a ton of Miu Miu dropping frequently right now. I’m not sure if it’s all coming from the same person, but it’s a lovely selection. I’ve purchased a tie-dye logo tee and grey blazer but found this new with tags silk halter for you! I saw this knit set IRL at the L.A. store a few weeks ago and can confirm it’s even prettier in person. Okay, what else? This Kusama era Louis Vuitton speedy is stunning, fairly priced and 20% off. An office friendly, new with tags Khaite dress. I own this Loewe hat myself, here it is for 60% off retail! These Loewe sunnies are excellent. I’ve discussed my affinity for Prada nylon here, and this excellent condition crossbody and is no exception. Here’s a backpack, too! Speaking of black bags, this old Celine is a classic. One thing I’ve held onto for many closet clean-outs is my Sandy Liang fleece- here’s a pale green one (with the flower sleeves! cute). I’ve been wearing my Loewe knit a lot lately (as seen here), this pink version is perfect for Spring/Summer. Belts are one of my most popular linked items on this newsletter and also happen to be one of The Real Real’s most marked- down categories….here’s a red prada, black Khaite (run, don’t walk!), and tan Loewe. My favorite beanie was purchased here (I had it dry cleaned first, for hygiene purposes), and I found another one! I know I’ve already discussed my outerwear obsession (here, in case you missed it), but it is an excellent place to buy coats and jackets. Here is a beautiful trench to get you started. Okay, happy shopping!! & please tell me what you find.

BTW…….

• Shopbop has some excellent new arrivals this week- including but not limited to these jeans, a ladylike leather jacket, a maxi sweater and a beautiful red bag. I bought some new basics from them recently- these overalls (can you tell I’m in my mom era?), a longline leather blazer, deconstructed jacket, and black tee.

• We had a family photoshoot this weekend (our first! only took me 15 months to book!) and I wore this dress. It’s very flattering, but size up!

• More on Valentine’s later this week, but I always find myself reaching for more red during this time of year- I already own two red bags but this one is gorgeous.

• For those that like the neckline of the infamous Interior sweater but not the price, this one is tempting.

I hope this post was as fun for you to shop/read as it was for me to write. Please please share your favorite RealReal (or any secondhand site) finds in the comments below!

xx, Liz

PS- If you liked this letter you might also like this one or this one (hopefully both!)