My Fall In/Out List

While the rest of you are off vacationing in Europe or whatever, I’m at home this August indulging in my preferred form of free self-care: a deep closet cleanout.

If you live in New York, as I do, you know temperatures won’t be going down for a while. But August is still an ideal, quiet time to play dress up (if you have air conditioning) or at least take stock of what you’ve got and who you want to be this upcoming season.

Personally, I fear I’ve become a bit… Boring. I admittedly went a little too hard on the whole “quiet luxury” thing last year—listen, it’s hard to say no to a delicious beige cashmere sweater—and I’m ready to let my RealReal freak flag fly full mast again this fall. I’ve already emotionally let go of my trendy barn jacket and mesh flats (I live in a city, shm) and trade them in for something a little more me now.

Below is a list of what I’m consigning, and what I plan to spend my TRR credits on, instead.

This trend is still going strong, but I think it’s always a good idea to leave the party early. You’ll also get more $$ if you consign trendy items while they’re still hot.

Liana Satenstein’s recent article in the NYTimes about Chanel’s cap-toe flats being “Birkins of the feet” convinced me that I need a pair. She also convinced me that they don’t need to be in pristine condition, which is good because I can’t afford to get them FOTB (fresh out the box). I’m setting my search condition to “good” and sorting from low to high.

Nice but snoooooooze. I can get two much more interesting sweaters for the price of this one.

The Chanel “métiers d’art” show in the subway made me want a half-zip, and the Row made me want a very deep V-neck. Opposites, but variety is the spice of life. (“Half zip sweater” yields some results, but you can also try “Mock neck zip sweater.”) To get a truly deep V-neck, don’t be afraid to size up. (Hot tip: I recently got a great one from Saks Fifth Avenue’s in-house brand on TRR.)

As I said, I got lost in the sauce on this one. Even if I did live the kind of life that might make sense for a garment like this, there’s no need to get a designer version.

If I’m going to breathe new life into my wardrobe this fall, I have to really go for it. Alexander McQueen was never shy, and I want to embrace that energy. The brand bought back its signature, military-inspired jacket for fall, and I want to try to find a vintage version. Heck, maybe I’ll even get a skull scarf.

Now that Pieter Mulier has officially left the brand, I think it’s time for us all to pack up and move on. Gotta save up for his version of Versace, too!

Celine is doing them, Proenza Schouler is doing them, Dries Van Noten is (kinda) doing them. Everyone’s doing them, and I need a pair. Searching “Repetto oxfords” led me to what I was looking for, as did “Martiniano” and “Jamie Haller flats.”

This silhouette was so ubiquitous on my feed this summer that I had to walk away. It was fun while it lasted, though.

I know, I know. But I really mean it this time! I’m not a skinny Prada boy, but the brand’s last menswear show pushed me over the edge. This may be Phoebe Philo’s time to shine, but I’m starting to sense Hedi in the air again… Alexis Jarvis’s post about all the deals in the “skinny pants graveyard” on TRR also reminded me that I’m sure there are some classics just waiting to be uncovered. I mean, look at this D&G pair I just found. I actually gasped. Why am I even showing you??

What are you getting rid of? Who do you want to be this fall? Leave your inspired thoughts in the comments.

XOXO

The RealGirl