Feb 20, 2018 - Shopping A bunch of my stuff is up on the Real Real, if you’re interested
I’d like to tell you otherwise, but the truth is, I make a lot of shopping mistakes. And I hate being reminded of those mistakes, so I have not-infrequent closet purges. And while the fruits of these purges in the past always ended up at a local resale shop, this time around I decided to do business with The Real Real, an online retailer with seriously quality merch. They make it so simple: if you live in one of the 21 cities in which they have representatives, The Real Real sends somebody to your home to pick up your stuff. It then goes on to be authenticated and priced, at which point some of it might be rejected, but they send it back to you. I have updated this post twice because things sell super-fast on the Real Real, so last I checked, all of these items were available. Still, they could very well be gone by the time you get there. Among the items up for grabs from my closet: these Jil Sander heels, which were simply too high for me to negotiate.
I bought this navy Joseph blazer in a size larger than I typically take—who can recall why, I suppose I was feeling big—and the tags are still in it and it’s pretty perfect.
Just a perfect cotton Ulla Johnson dress that happened to be very unflattering on me: I simply can’t pull off a big skirt.
Remember last spring/summer, when I was really into camo everything? This Nili Lotan tank is collateral damage.
Another gorgeous print on this Zero + Maria Cornejo top. And here’s a pretty special Cornejo sweater too.
This Alexander Wang dress reminds me of an ex, so part with it I must.
I unloaded a little bit of jewelry, notably this cute Aurelie Bidermann cuff. Here and here are two other Bidermann cuffs I parted with.
When I was at Lucky, I bought these Prada heels on a trip to Milan. They were sold out in my size, but I wanted them so much I went for a half size smaller. I even actually wore them a few times because I thought they were so cute, but it was torture, of course. And so I offer them to you.
Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
Ahhh yes… ill-fitting shoes, dresses that remind us of boys… I know ye too well. I’ve often been curious how others dispose of these items. I’ve had some luck selling things on Ebay, but if it’s something I’d get less than, say, $50 for, it seems easier just to give it to Goodwill. Any other suggestions?
Do you have a women’s shelter nearby? Or dressforsuccess.org?
Great idea about the women’s shelter!
My local shelter also takes partially and gently used beauty products. So if you’ve got a smattering of half used shampoo bottles or maybe you’ve gone through a “should I just buy a cheaper red lipstick?” phase before saying screw it, I am just getting the Dior one I wanted in the first place….not that I’ve ever done that. *whistles* Anyway I have tended towards beauty mistakes, and I always sanitize and clean it all up – and bring over a bag of things. 🙂
Poshmark might work for you if you want to sell it.
The Real Real is one of those down-the-rabbit-hole sites. Oy and Egad.
Glad you’re feeling well enough to post!
And thank you for letting us know you make shopping errors just like the rest of us!!
i feel so much better that you too have gone down that ill-advised road –
“sure 7.5 is just a little smaller than 8 right?”
argh!
AND coincidentally that happened to me with Prada heels!!
What is it with Prada, LOL? I spotted a pair of perfect mid-calf, mid-heel platform Prada boots at a consignment store a few years back. $85. Half size smaller than my usual size, but, hey, I could get my feet in! I tried to make them work for two seasons before realizing I was being ridiculous. I searched eBay and other sites for my size, but never found them.
OMG!!!
Shopping Kim’s closet!!! The BEST! I love this!!!
I love The Real Real and Vestiaire Collective for the good good stuff…like YOUR stuff!!!
Awesome!
What IS it with Prada heels, LOL? For two seasons, I endured the most perfect pair of not-too-high-heeled mid-calf platform boots I found for $100 at a consignment store before I said enough is enough. I’ve never found them in my true size . . .
At any rate, I’ve been buying at The Real Real for years, and two years ago started selling my own mistakes as well. The experience has been mostly great. I’ve found some incredible bargains, but do take exception with their shipping policy. $11.95 both ways, so returns can really add up. I’ve learned not to buy anything from them that I don’t already know will fit or that I haven’t seen in person.
You are an inspiration…. I think it’s time to go through my closet! 😉
I need to wake up earlier! Everything’s sold out!
I’ve been ramping up to send a boatload of good clothes and shoes to The Real Real, but it’s a bit complicated since I don’t live in a city where they come and pick up. (And the embarrassing truth is I’d rather spend my time browsing for new treasures than dealing with old ones.) Should the rest of us alert the GOAC community when Real Real has our stuff?
Do it! It doesn’t cost anything to ship items to them for consignment. You just need to fill out the consignment form, and then they’ll email you a label. Put everything in a box, stick the label on, and take to the shipper. It’s pretty easy!
Thanks for the “Nike push.” Yes, I should just do it.
Darn it, missed out on the blazer!
I have shopped The Real Real for years, and started selling there a few years back as well. Great experiences all the way around, with the exception of their shipping/returns policy. $11.95 to ship, $11.95 to return, which can quickly add up and negate any overall savings. So I find it best to shop only those things I know will fit, and that I’ve maybe even tried on elsewhere.
Good for you! Let them find new homes. I need to get rid of things too.
love TheRealREal….just got a deal on a bag…..I call it safe fashion recycling
I have had terrible luck selling anything on TheRealReal and Tradesy. NOTHING has sold! And the one item I purchased, didn’t fit. They don’t accept returns, so I sent it back for them to re-sell for me. 3 months later – Nothing!
I’ve had far better luck selling stuff on eBay. The app makes it easy. I’m able to consistently purge my closet. I have about 27 items posted now.
fhar8123 if someone wants to check it out! 🙂
I’ve had reasonable success with Poshmark. And my friends and I throw swap parties every year. *Everyone* has a few “it’s great, just not on me” items hiding in our closets, giving us guilt.
Kim ,thanks for admitting even style icons make mistakes 🙂
I’ve two pairs of shoes on RealReal and love them. Regarding Prada, I have a pair in my size and still they find them too tight!
I have an Ebay lady who sells my unwanted stuff. She takes 30%, and drops off the unsold items to a charity shop. It works for me. I make shopping mistakes as well, and it was heartening to read I’m not alone. I also have a number of dark horses–items I had my doubts about that have proved to be winners. However, I can’t find a pattern to the surprise successes. I am slowly working out what doesn’t work, sometimes it’s letting go of a style that I loved in the past. Then, in a moment of weakness, I purchase that style again!! ARRGh.
You inspired me. I sent 6 items to the Real Real this morning. I was sending stuff to Material World, but with some luck, this will yield more cash than MW was paying. Hope you are feeling better!
Oh what a shame that the Ulla dress doesn t suit you! It s beautiful! And those shoes are very elegant, could have been my mistake too!
At the risk of being stoned by the envious GOAC crowds…. I got the Prada shoes, and they are *just* what I needed after a long SAHM fashion drought. And they fit like a dream. Kismet? I’m inspired just slipping them on. Thank you! (Oh, and ps, right on Real Real, they are already in my closet, talk about fast service. I’m in metro NY)
You know what would be pleasant? If therealreal.com had mannequins in larger sizes. I wear a size 12 and most of the size 12 clothing hangs off of their mannequins. It would be nice to see the clothes on a mannequin that isn’t a size 2/4. If the situation was reversed and I was a size 2/4 and they only had size 12/14 mannequins I would also be frustrated by seeing the clothes stretched out or barely covering the mannequins.
We know that the clothing industry and luxury lines have diminishing attitudes towards larger sizes. Seeing our size clothing in much smaller mannequins doesn’t help.