Fashion Stories & Dirty Laundry

A beat after the pandemic, I started curating clothes and selling them for myself and others through a 3rd party platform. I also sold luxury items directly to the larger platforms such as The Real Real (TRR). I sold vintage, gently used, designer, mid-level fashion, some fast fashion, but mostly high-quality pieces.

So I’ve learned a thing or two or three about value and quality. I’ll try to thread some of this drivel together. I’ll button it up, don’t worry.

Many out there think this ‘fashion phase’ has come out of nowhere, but those thoughts are more ill-fitted in terms of my passions and interests.

When I was young, I remember admiring my mom’s 100s of Vogues lined in the guest room shelves. The costumes closets, the Barbie heels, and all the little details in everything small. If I had any Barbies at home, I’d probably still play with them. Fashion shows, of course.

But from enjoying dressing up for events, evenings out with friends, and now my son and his friends stopping by and asking for costume theme help, I’ve always had some hand in creating, enjoying, meditating on fashion. It’s a beautiful art and form of expression.

Never did it as a full-time profession, but had some raw talent. I remember during college and beyond with office mates here and there, people would randomly ask for fashion advice. And I absolutely loved it. With the help of a designer assistant and a handful of volunteers, I executed a 4 designer fashion show. That was so inspiring and then from that, I didn’t do much after that. Got extremely focused on my son and his budding acting career. And no regrets. I can basic sketch and style, I can’t sew more than a button, and I mostly ‘design in my mind’.

I tried a little t-shirt business and scratched the itch in attending events and enjoying dressing up for work. Funny, I found one of my tees on E-bay and bought it back. That was fun. Think ‘Miranda stare’.

Yesterday, I went to a ‘deadstock’ Y2K outlet. It was sweet and sad all at the same time. Looking around all the hip, clothes that were ‘in’ over 25 years ago. There they hung like a museum piece or an older lady that no one’s asking to dance with anymore. I browsed, reflected, and allowed the feelings, music from that time to hit me and remember my denim and my skinny everything while holding some drink someone with no name paid for – maybe with a razor flip phone in my back pocket.

I bought 2 furry vests, one black and one in a stunning blue. Sadly, they were for going for 20 bucks a piece with the OGP at $258. Hard to believe. I saw another lady trying on things and we exchanged ideas. I offered her a few pieces and they did look good on her. Unknown fellow shopper in a Y2K tienda on Figueroa Avenue.

Driving home I reflected on value. What has lasting value and what is ‘truly valuable.’ There is a difference.

As someone who has now sold gorgeous luxury and also vintage pieces, I can honestly state that VERY few things retain value. Granted an archival dress from a 1940s star, well-preserved, yes. Jewels, yes. A Hermes hangbag, yes. And of course, precious family heirlooms and items. But to be honest, the best Cavalli boots fade, Missoni skirts tear, silks get coffee stains. Moth can eat away any fabric and ironically, they like the good stuff. The better the fabric, the more they munch away on it…all of it, fades away like – a flower. It had it’s season.

When TRR showed interest in many of my amazing pieces, and then proceeded to downgrade them to Target prices. I had to talk myself off the ledge. Imagine seeing your 2003 Gold Metallic silk paisley Roberto Cavalli boots going for $75 on their website. I almost lost my mind. Those were a work of art – how could they?! Well, they clearly aren’t a Picasso, that’s why. So there they went.

Back to my car ride from Y2K land, I reflected upon the moth, and many ancients* warning against “storing treasures on earth where moth and rust consume. Moths destroying garments etc…”

So what does that mean? We forgo quality and virtue signal? Not at all. It means that we know what has true value. We value and preserve what we can. We enjoy our items, but also ‘hold them loosely’. We give our items to those in need, and help and not harm the earth more while doing it.

I’m going out tonight. I may wear the cobalt blue faux furry Y2K number. But then again, I have a headache, I think it was the four hours of Creed and Green Day.

xx,

C. Nor

*Matthew 6 & Isaiah 50, Bible