Duck Fat vol. 72
The newest installment of "Go touch old clothes!!" straight to your inbox
If you’re not interested in touching old clothes right now, may I recommend this piece in The Guardian on how the extreme shortage of public defenders in Oregon is taking a wrecking ball to the lives of those waiting for representation?
Alright, I know you guys were waiting on this update: I did indeed get to see the Louis Eisner show before it closed. Sadly, I did not run into his super cool mom and therefore did not get a chance to woo her. Heartbreaking!!1 But we soldier on!
5 second-hand recs:
The Row Enid wool/cashmere sweater, L, $177: I know, I know, everyone hates The Row now! So fun.2 Whatever, I have loved the Enid since I first saw her bizarre, patchy little face, and to see it for under $200 in my size is making my coal-wizened heart grow.3 I believe in love, etc!! So anyway, this one’s for me.4 And for summer, throwing in their Bolarin top (XS/$117 - 97% cotton/3% elastane5) with a Very Good™ sleeve length and the kind of crispy feel I dream of in a heat wave. I’m bookmarking this one and waiting til it drops under $100, personally.6 PS if you’re looking for some more reasonably-priced sweaters, just stick around til the end!
Etro viscose7 pants (lavender/IT44/$45.50 & aquamarine/IT42/$57): Etro has so much gorgeous stuff that combing through the cheap seats for the hidden gems on TRR is always going to be worth 20 minutes of scrolling while ‘watching’ a TV show your spouse likes that you are deeply uninvested in. And I promised BIGPANTS last post, so how about these dreamy butter-yellow viscose pants (IT42/$46.25)? These are not BIGPANTS per se, but they are a super-wearable cut in a romantic jacquard silk-viscose blend8 (IT46/$42.75). These are not summer-appropriate, but plan ahead and grab some swingy velvet pants for next holiday season (IT46/$38.75)! And these sickie-green trousers would make Muicca Prada eat her heart out (29” waist/$65)! OK, and some rapid-fire deals that have nothing to do with BIGPANTS: gorgeous patterned silk/cotton skirt in red & grey (IT48/$31.25) or 100% silk in pink & green (IT44/$63); fantastic printed shirts (Men’s M/$45.50 - 100% cotton for summer; IT44/$59.50 - the ruffle is WILD; S/$60.75 - this print is hands down my favorite); blazers with personality ( magenta with satin trim/back - IT42/$63; collarless w. perfect ivory trim - IT48/$39); and one lovely paisley velvet scarf that looks satin-backed to me but TRR claims is suede ($63)!9 Alright, let’s all take a breath.
Calf hair bowling bag, $55: A no-brainer. Also into this paneled one with one leather side for easier wear10 as it gets warmer ($71.25). Both pair well with these perfect cap-toe velvet animal print flats (US8/$14).
Purple button-cuff blouse, FR40, $32 (similar in silk/L/$42): Uh-oh, she’s posting viscose on main again!!! Whatever, this top is so gorgeous - the INSANE buttons on the cuff have a deep hold on me, please click through and check the side view. Non-viscose purple blouses this way: very fun deep purple print shirt with a matching fringe tie (!!!) for maximum drama when you sweep into the office on a grey Monday morning (95% silk/US6/$85); 100% silk button-front blouse in a gentle lavender for the romantics (100% silk/XL/$24); very into the asymmetrical button style on this 100% silk shirt (100% silk/S-M/$40); LOVE the dramarama of this purple and pink paisley (100% silk/Men’s M/$48); love a covered button (100% silk/M/$28); orrrrr try this gorgeous 100% silk button-up (100% silk/ US16/$20). Or go glam AF in this royal purple bejeweled St. John top (P-33” bust/$60)! Different vibe but I am kind of swooning over this cowl-neck velvet top from Adrianna Papell’s old boutique line - the drape, the color, the absolute romance? Truly a top that has the power to make you feel like the lead in a mid-aughts romcom (XL/$39.99)!
Suede bag, $64: Just a very sweet evening pouch in a patterned suede! And should you wish to continue the peach melba parade with more vintage Saks, step right this way. This pleated plisse disco-royalty dress11 needs some repair in the waist, but the rip is on a seam so a bit easier to manage and it’s a steal as a result (XS/$32). Put on the highest platforms you can bust a move in & the most dramatic winged eyeliner you can see through, throw some Donna on the record player,12 and forget your phone exists for the night! Or if peach isn’t your thing, repeat the above recipe with this vintage Saks sequin dress that looks ripped from Studio 54’s hazy heyday (M/$60) & grab a slick little cardholder13 ($19.94). OK, now dance so hard your eyebrows sweat right off your face14 - one Disco Diva™ served piping hot!
3 unshoppables:
Stopped by the New York Historical Society last week for the incredible Sari exhibit15 and it was excellent, but their absolutely insane Tiffany lamp gallery was the real show-stopper for me! I took infinity pictures and did so much googling afterwards, dream afternoon.
And then after you’re tapped out on gorgeous vintage lamps, why not head across town and drop by the International Antiquarian Book Fair next weekend? Truly one of the highlights of my year, cannot wait to go back.
I fucking loved Oddity16 so I am v. excited to see Hokum - and to watch Adam Scott be a complete dick, which he is so good at playing and I feel like gets limited opportunities to do!
1 substack rec:
I’m so sorry for who I am, but who I am is a late 30s woman whose immediate & extended family are riddled with osteoporosis, so it’s 100% this piece on simple & direct ways to help bone density ¯\_(ツ)_/¯17 OK, fine, if you aren’t concerned about your bone health, this interview with Eve Salvail (i.e. my dream girlfriend from the 5th Element18) is a fantastic listen!
1 DuckFit™:
This is actually from ages19 ago because, as you may have noticed, my publishing schedule is in some kind of dreamland hypnosis state rn. What can I say, I got the Freedom app and my screentime is down so far that I no longer know what is happening on this app with any confidence ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But I’ve worn a variation of this outfit many times in the last month, so I’m happy to finally show her off properly despite the circumstances!
Showplace Show-N-Tell
OK, now for the not-so-secret bonus content for anyone who made it to the end: a mini-report from my last trip to the Showplace Tag Sale that I rec here so often. There’s already a million tiktoks and reddit threads about this thing, but they fail to capture the joy - it is indeed as hit or miss as those reddit threads claim,20 but that’s what’s so FUN! I’ve seen the same hideous, stained & ripped, wildly overpriced polyester zip-up vest multiple months in a row, but I also got my blue suede Coach loafers with gorgeous, totally unmarred leather outsoles21 for the same price they tacked on the vest22 the first time I went ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It’s such a digger’s DREAM - and to dig, you need some real dirt!23 If you miss childhood Saturday mornings of waking up early to hit 3-7 tag sales of varying price & interest24 with your mom,25 it’s well worth a trip. Anyhow, read on for last weekend’s gets & some tips from your resident Rack Riffler!
This week’s lucky winner walked away with… a baby-soft made-in-England wool v-neck from Coxmoore for $22,26 Loro Piana linen shirt for $10 (!!!), and this gorgeous, light yet structured, fully lined tuxedo coat/dress that fits like a dream for $30! The linen shirt was priced “$10 - AS IS” because it had some yellowing at the collar and a water mark on the arm27 - all of which came out with a quick hand-wash in the sink and an afternoon blowing in the breeze. I also got some very cute placemats for $4 each and a $5 lampshade for the lamp I just picked up from them last week!28 And now…
Hot Tips for My Fellow Rack Rifflers
I don’t know that the finds here are worth taking a day off from work and I hate crowds, so I usually skip Friday & Saturday29 to arrive at 10AM opening on Sunday instead - there’s never a line on the last day. But if you happen to have a coinciding Friday off, it definitely pays dividends - best picks by far!
There’s no dressing room (just shared mirrors propped up in very public spaces) so if you’re going for clothing, either wear something you feel comfortable changing out of in front of a crowd or be very familiar with your size, how materials fall, and how you like pieces to fit. My real hot tip is to wear bulky jeans, shoes with complicated laces, and a jacket+sweater+shirt when you want to, say, discourage yourself from buying yet another blazer and/or pair of pants - just make it too annoying to try things on!30
Don’t skip the throw pillows31 - or the big glass case32 with higher-end jewelry & bags. I got two stellar Ralph belts from there for $40-$70 each - the gold-tone one is sterling silver!!
Be prepared to walk away empty-handed - it happens! Just enjoy the vibes. And then be prepared to walk away with multiple bags of wild deals on the one time you were, “just stopping by super quick!” between brunch and a movie.33
Always chat up the women working the clothing section - they have incredible tips on cleaning/storage and the best stories. This weekend, my friend and I got the lowdown on the incredible 103YO34 former Atlantic City showgirl who was the source of all the insane bejeweled, be-feathered, be-sequined gowns below.35 She performed with Tony Bennet, added a lot of DIY leopard trim to her clothing, and is the proud owner of a stack of rhinestone-covered walking sticks!
Hilarious as it is considering that this newsletter exists almost entirely to share online clothing links, I always prefer the the tactile joy & community of IRL resale. So if you get a chance, I hope you take some time this weekend to go touch old clothes!36
Show was tiny but so good! The specific painting I was vv excited about beforehand was so much bigger than I realized, 100% wanted to step into it. Also found out that it was from the open house for a curator at the Met he was friendly with who had passed away. Also this skull-studded room is apparently his aunt’s studio? All the women in his family are so compelling.
For me! Looking forward to cheaper resale pricing as their star fades & the hype train derails [prayer hand emoji]. Everyone (rightfully) complains about their pricing, but I’m just a normie-ass pleb on a nonprofit salary who thinks all luxury pricing is delusional ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And I’m generally looking at this shit a decade later when the cost is only medium delusional - just like me!
If this was the red version, lowkey might not have made it to the newsletter even though I am BANNED from buying sweaters due to a population SWELL in my closet lol. Meanwhile, I will be keeping an eye on this one despite it definitely not being my size and a shrunken silhouette…a girl can dream! JK my arms would hulk out of this thing immediately [laughs in overhead press].
Don’t make me tap the sign… I should just have this gif in my bio by now, huh?
This blouse ($198/US8) is too expensive rn for me to bother including as a main rec but it’s a shirt I’ve posted before in a smaller size that had already sold at the time so I have to include here somehow. And it’s really gorgeous - 100% silk & 100% not boring from their Fall 2013 show (look 14). If you zoom in you can see the black portion has a different pattern than the white sleeve. There’s so much texture and fun design elements put together in a really striking but wearable way imo. Miss this era. Anyway, this will sell long before it comes down to a price I consider personally worth it, but if you’re living a different lifestyle than me, I do think it’s a legitimately cool investment. & if you’re living a VERY different lifestyle than me, you can get the black & white Sideby bag for $507.50 that was in the same look on the runway [flying-away money emoji x infinity]. And if you like this blouse but want to keep your budget in a sane place, what about this gorgeous cobalt blue silk Etro blouse in a great paisley jacquard (IT40/$68.25)?
I’ve already laid out my viscose opinions on here but to rehash: fucking love it for summer!! I know it’s not for everyone, but I love buying it second-hand. Just be careful when washing as viscose can shrink (esp. older fabrications), though I’ve found it stretches out pretty quickly from wearing around the house when it happens to me. Reddit recs using a steamer to stretch it out, which I haven’t tried bcs I hate steamers and irons and love being a wrinkly bitch ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Definitely prefer to hand-wash my viscose items though, and then just plan for a ‘wear this at home for a few rounds to stretch it out,’ period if it shrinks a bit, which is not for everyone. But as a sweaty girl, it’s worth it for lightweight breathability in humidity!
The sizing measurements on these are definitely wrong (oh, so the hips are narrower than the waist? hmmmm…), which means you can for sure return these despite being final sale! Oh TRR, never change.
Call that a callback!
No need to feel like Thomas Moore in his hair shirt as the temps blaze! Can you tell I finally read Wolf Hall?
I know someone is saying this is actually Elaine in The Love Witch and I hear you, but for me it’s v. clearly this Diana Ross look so deeply, despite being totally different fabric. Add your own greenery.
No lie, I was playing this album while editing on the balcony and a dove landed next to me. The power of Donna Summer orgasming!
Pretty sure this is technically for photos, but tbh I do not care, it’s a gorgeous color and a good-ass deal to boot. Throw some cash, a business card to slip to a hottie at the bar, and your shiniest red lipstick into those photo slots and break it DOWN with nary a care!!
If you don’t have asscrack sweat, you are NOT doing enough. Make Donna proud, babygirl!
SO good, but just ended last Sunday [single tear].
My bday treat last year was to see this with a bunch of girlfriends who also love horror movies and eat a burger. Dream date!
I screenshotted multiple things from this to send to friends and family, because that’s the kind of fun content you get from me having your number!
INSANE star power to be that memorable in a movie littered with incredibly hot women in insanely gorgeous clothing!! The interview actually talks about filming that scene :)))
[11 days]
And not as “bountiful land of milk and honey” as the tiktoks imply imo.
In-box, with Coach tissue paper still shoved in the toes lol.
If I am remembering correctly, $30? Maybe less. They’re for sure at pennies-per-wear by now.
PRIME ‘Always Be Riffling’ territory!!
I assume everyone who would be into this newsletter also intimately knows the feeling of being hype about a tag sale after seeing signs all week and showing up at 8AM, only to find a wobbly card table scattered with chipped Precious Moments figurines and some used toothbrushes…
My mom is much cooler than me. She is a master haggler in it solely for love of the game - one time she got a car at a tag sale! It was a sick-ass black Volvo station wagon with a sun roof & to this day remains the only car I felt completely safe driving, because it was a v. literal tank that could not be destroyed. By the end of it’s long and ignominious life, we had to prop the trunk up with a broom and the sun roof leaked went you went through the car wash. A truly well-loved car… loved right into the ground.
That I’ve already worn out after a quick handwash and a few days of drying on the rack - check back next post for the DuckFit™ lol. And since I promised more sweater recs: grey argyle/L/$19.20; charcoal argyle/L/$43.75; yellow & greg argyle/XL/$20; bright red v-neck/46/$39.99; shawl-collar cardigan/21.5” chest/$34.99. Also throwing in this sweater vest even though it’s acrylic because my friend went to St. Andrews at the same time as ole’ Kate & Will - but only because he grew up on a farm nearby, and would make fun of all the posh kids - & this with a ripped t-shirt would be his exact move (XL/$47.83).
I kept waiting to spot a rip, real stain (i.e. not one that would come out with a soak lol), or missing buttons. Nope, she’s perfect!
Truly crazy as the tag sale shade has a bulb clip attachment, so now I don’t need to bother buying a saddle & harp separately! The guy working the cash box specifically said they have great shades every month if you’re in need.
When it is often HELLA crowded.
This does not always work for me, but it can help if I’m in a rush!
These move around - last week they were all on the far left side at the back, but I’ve also seen them stacked dead center as a division between clothing and home goods.
Midway back on the right-hand side.
Showing up to the movies with a lampshade in tow is the new black!
And still (hi-)kicking!
And MANY more not pictured!! This would have been a wallet-incinerating motherload find for college-era ET who weighed significantly less and had no real job to speak of, but did regularly show up to 9AM classes in full-on vintage 60s & 70s looks. I often wore a vintage airline hostess uniform (with pointless snap-clip belt!) with leggings and slouchy boots (and the biggest sunglasses possible ofc) around this time as a go-to Look™.
I love your show and tell, such great finds! It just feels very special to see things that I know I can’t just google and order one.
Loved this, ET. I may be having a very meta-morning, but this quote feels so ridiculously profound rn, "It’s such a digger’s DREAM - and to dig, you need some real dirt!" 💞