One Person’s Sample Sale Regret Is Another Person’s Treasure

And other finds this month.

Dear Readers,

I’m back! Sorry for leaving you hanging there… I just wasn’t shopping as much with all this talk of “tariff dressing” and “the economy.” (Who is she??) I also needed to give my bank account a break and clean out/turn over my closet for summer.

Obviously, things haven’t exactly calmed down… It’s still a very confusing, stressful, and increasingly sweaty time. But after stepping back and more carefully considering my purchases, I’m ready to start scrolling again. (If we’re being really real, I was never going to stop. But I figure, if not now, when?) I started my return to TRR with searches for brands that paused shipping to the US, like Réalisation Par, which is another go-to for weddings. Not only did I find the dress I already wanted, but I found it for a lot less and I didn’t have to worry about returns. The brand has since resumed shipping to the US, but I think I’ll still go to TRR first in the future. Why would I pay retail? Plus, the finder’s high is so much higher.

What else is on my mind? Obviously, this Chanel raincoat… for bags, which just hit the site yesterday, and this frog-shaped JW Anderson clutch that doesn’t need one. This 1997 Thierry Mugler suit is insane. I also can’t stop laughing at how TRR styled this Comme skirt… LOL. Is it a skirt? A cape? Nope, it’s just Comme.

My other saved searches include a Pucci shirt and a Courrèges jumpsuit from the 1970s. (Same owner, perhaps?) And, speaking of Comme, congratulations to whoever snagged this iconic “Lumps and Bumps” dress for $15,000. Worth it!

The forthcoming TV show about Barneys New York reminded me that searching for department store pieces on TRR is an underutilized hack. The prices are great, and the quality is good. I’m not just talking about cashmere sweaters from Barneys, which apparently last a lifetime, but also fur coats from Henri Bendel and Neiman Marcus (summer is the best time to buy winterwear), plus private labels like Raey from MatchesFashion (RIP).

Last but not least, I’m also noticing the Great Sample Sale Trickle Down Effect that inevitably happens roughly twice a year—my favorite RealReal trend. Brands like Prada and The Row both hosted them recently, as evidenced by the many haul videos in my TikTok feed, and I’ve already been able to find a few items from the clips, including a fuzzy blue Prada headband (this one), a sequin scarf (this one), and a bedazzled bucket hat (this one). It’s also pretty obvious when you start seeing multiples of the same thing, like these pants from The Row. (The Row girls are a bit more demure on the Tok.) Today, three Phoebe Philo pieces appeared in my feed, which makes me think there was, in fact, a secret sale for the brand as well. Instead of waiting in line—or worse, paying someone to wait for me—I just wait for the inevitable buyers’ remorse pieces to hit the Editor’s Picks page. One woman’s impulse buy is another woman’s treasure!

That’s it for now… What else are you noticing? Obsessing over? Send me tips therealgirl@therealreal.com.

XOXO,

The RealGirl