Duck Fat vol. 37

As I always say, "Live fast, die swaddled in silk!"

Listen, isn’t follow-through just another way of saying you’re boring?? This week features nary a necklace¹ (whoops), but there’s 20+ patchwork silk jackets, so let’s go glass-half-full here. This week was also going to include a rec for the perfect merino wool sweater² to wear while sweeping dramatically onto a plane in giant sunglasses - but it sold this morning. So instead, you guys get what’s sitting in my cart that I originally didn’t include because I am planning on buying it later today. But maybe I’ll practice restraint and/or one of you will beat me to the punch!

5 second-hand recs:

A. Silk patchwork jacket, XL, $45; B. Leather heeled oxfords, IT37, $40; C. Linen/rayon blend blazer, US22, $82; D. Barfield Collection crocodile clutch, $132; E. The Row Criselle jeans, US12, $127.50; F. Graphic combat boots, IT36.5, $100; G. Nancy Gonzales ponyhair & crocodile bag, $157.50; H. Celine rubber-trim oxfords, IT39, $147.50; I. Celine heeled oxfords, IT38, $97.50 , $ ; J. Silk midi, US8,$124; K. Prada ostrich heeled oxfords, IT38, $157.50 ; L. Printed silk blouse, 3X, $19.50.

1. The Row Criselle jeans, US12, $127.50: OK, this is the sweater swap! Even if I do end up purchasing these by EOD, this is a fun way to talk about thwarting TRR. These don’t look exciting in the listing but that’s to our benefit! TRR jacks up pricing on The Row so intensely despite terrible condition, because…it sells. But black items photograph poorly so they don’t sell as quickly, and you can & should wait until they’re on sale. You can get details by taking screenshots on your phone and jacking up the light balance on the pics, which is how I confirmed these are the Criselle, seen here on Neelam looking gorgeous & relaxed. I’m hesitating a bit as they run large and I am not tall, but also…I am definitely DEAL-dickmetized rn.³

2. Silk patchwork jacket, XL, $45: Another week of DF, another week of me recommending you live on the edge by embracing wear silk outerwear. So sorry for who I am, I just love feeling like a fancy little lad!!! Whatever, the colors are gorgeous. Anyhow, tons of options⁴ on ebay: XL/$30, 3X/$27, S-M/$35.99, M/$88.99, L/$29.91, 2XL/$88.99, L/$24.99, XL/$14.86, S-M/$39.88, M/$18.77, XL/$65, S/$17, L/$34, L/$49.88, cool pink & brown from Anne Carson (L/$29.99 & L/$35.99), and a great Coldwater Creek one in blue & green (XXL for $29.99 or $11.97); great embellished one (M/$39), cool velvet & sequin one (note: this one is not silk, I just like it - 3X, $27.79), & a more polished, preppy option (M, $17.49)

3. Henry Beguelin heeled oxfords, IT37, $40: Sturdy leather block-heel oxfords, perfect for all-day stomping. These ones have been in and out of my cart multiple times this week.⁵ Also good, also Henry Beguelin (IT37.5, $42); and Celine ones in baby blue embossed (IT38, $97.50), white (IT38.5/$105) & black (IT37/$124). Not remotely the same look (a mule! brocade! an actual heel!) and yet somehow the same mood from Ann Demeulemeester (IT36, $105). Not heeled, but TRR has one of my favorite-ever Celine shoes⁶ rn for under $150 (IT37/$105 & IT39/$147.50)??

4. Barfield Collection crocodile clutch, $132: I mean, Lisa Barfield doesn’t do embossed leather AFAIK, so maybe grab this before TRR puts two and two together. Also dying over this insane Nancy Gonzalez ponyhair & crocodile bag for under $160????⁷ Pair with IMMACULATE Prada ostrich heeled loafers (IT38, $157.50). Laughing crying throwing UP?!?!

5. Silk midi, M, $124 (or $125; Similar in XS for $175 and S for $175): This is essentially a knockoff Dries Sampa skirt imo⁸, but crucially, it’s knockoff Dries in 100% silk!⁹ Other colorful, pop-y pieces with a little of that weirdo vibe that Essentiel Antwerp nails, minus their frequent reliance on polyamide: great silk & sequin midi from Tibi¹⁰ (US8, $140); polka-dot combat boots from Marsell (IT36.5 but imo they run big, $100) or opposite yet emotionally coordinating¹¹ bright yellow & red pumps from Celine (IT35.5, $76.50); bright blue linen/rayon blazer (US22, $82) or blue 100% linen blazer (US20, $29.98); yellow silk DVF midi (US10, $93.75). ; purple suede mules from 3.1. Phillip Lim (IT37, $68), perfect to pair with this kitchy asymmetrical silk printed blouse (M, $39); more Tibi in the form of a green silk asymmetrical pleated sundress (US12, $65.25); for the tiny-hipped among us, teal Celine cotton belted trousers (IT38, $53); fun-as-hell printed silk DVF blouse (3X, $19.50); and just for fun, a Gianfranco Ferre statement belt (S, $68).

3 unshoppables:

6. If you need something deeply soothing to deal with whatever is happening outside rn,¹² why not soothe yourself with photos from the restoration of Chateau Laurens (in Frederic Magazine & World of Interiors) - or even better, give 20 minutes to this fantastic tour video on your lunch break.¹³

7. Finally went to see Sinners in IMAX last weekend, and obviously immediately wanted to watch it again.¹⁴ Anyhow, enjoyed the NYT Popcast episode on it, and v. excited to get into the accompanying playlist while I work.

8. If you are spun out on instagram and pinterest, may I gentle suggest scrolling through either of these fantastic Guardian photo galleries of disco nightlife?

1 substack rec:

9. Has to be this fantastic piece about Andre Leon Talley as we get ready for the only exciting monday night of the year! He was such a prince, I need to watch the doc this weekend.

1 outfit I loved this week:

Hard to tell but the necklace is vintage red glass & v. fun!

10. Had to dress thematically after Sinners rearranged my metaphysical guts, so this was me in Full Dracula mode. Yes, I did wear Nosferatu. Alright, maybe next week I’ll include some of the 100 vintage Arizona t-shirt tabs I have open rn - or maybe I’m just saying that to thwart your expectations?!

1. Genuinely forgot I said that, but I did indeed have a whole section on some fantastic 80s collar necklaces. Then at the last minute swapped it out for the croc clutch?? Maybe next week…

2. There are a few others on resale, just not in a color/price combo I deemed worth of a replacement rec - but if you’re really smitten: grey S/$123.33 or $194; grey XS/$219; teal XS/$95; cream L/$250. And in dress-form (which I think are more worth their price tbh), black XXL/$246 & khaki L/$205. They have lots of ridiculously fun designs, but the theme for recs this week was apparently, “brands whose designs I love, but don’t actually wear often because I am too addicted to being a materials snob most of the time.” But here’s a fun 100% cotton white long sleeve from them, a statement cotton t-shirt, an asymmetrical cotton sundress, great cotton tie-die cropped t, the best 100% cotton non-issey scrunchy sweater (cheaper on VC but who knows after all the fees), and one item so insanely good even I don’t even care about the materials tbh. Also these shoes are inSANEly good.

3. I’ve waited my required 48 hrs so the bloodthirst has died down somewhat, but I am likely spending Money today. So here’s a great cotton shirtdress from them (M/$145) instead, which is on sale bcs it’s missing the belt - but imo it looks better that way lol.

4. And a bunch of them are reversible!

5. Have been on the hunt for my platonic ideal of this style since fall 2023 when an infinitely chic lesbian I know (former model turned luxury real estate agent, because NYC) wore a truly great vintage 90s pair with her kicky little suit and stunned everyone in the room into silence. SO. GOOD.

6. That I can never purchase because they are stupid-wide and my feet are…not made that way. But fantastically practical purchase if your feet run wide imo!! & I’m not the only one who thinks so! Those are the boot version, also on TRR - mostly in red, one tan pair, and one black-on-black Olsen special!

7. Do the light-balance trick with this one and weep with me. It’s gorgeous!!

8. These ones aren’t Sampa skirts, but these Dries skirts really capture the vibe. Fair warning, imo Dries skirts run small in the hips. But I am genetically blessed in that dept, so maybe my perspective is skewed.

9. Most of the EA resale I’ve seen are their pieces using lower-quality materials. But these are definitely silk.

10. Tibi designs are so good (and in genuinely interesting but wearable ways!), but materials trump design for me so I run into the same problem as with Essentiel Antwerp. Truly love their styling (and even more than that, the way the deeply cool women of substack wear it all, my GOD!!) - I just can’t commit to paying $$ for second-hand polyamide. But you know I have every one of their silk pieces saved on TRR.

11. IDK, like Mickey & Minnie style or stg?? If you’re not seeing it, I cannot walk you through this.

12. It’s plastic rain.

13. This is what it looked like before. Just one of the most impressive restorations ever!!

14. & I will!