The RealReal Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Two California Sisters

Tips for successful clothing shopping on The RealReal

I’ve been doing some clothing shopping on The RealReal lately, and I have to tell you- it has been hit and miss. Some items have been major scores- others have gone right back in the box to be returned. As I mentioned in my post on online shopping returns, The RealReal does accept returns on some things. But there’s a tight return window and they will charge you $12.95 for each return. So it’s worth doing your best to choose carefully and thoughtfully up front when clothing shopping on The RealReal.

Fall fashion inspiration from my favorite YouTubers

As my favorite season kicks off, I’ve been looking for ways to refresh my wardrobe. And I’m doing my best to keep in mind a couple of my goals- sustainable fashion and minimizing returns. That’s led me to discover a few really excellent women on YouTube who dispense terrific Fall fashion inspiration.

black spaghetti strap dress in hanger — Photo by Lina Kivaka on Pexels.com

Five useful lessons learned from my online shopping returns

I’m an avid online shopper; I pretty much never go into a real store anymore. It’s just easier, faster, and you have a much bigger selection when shopping online. As a result, I also do a fair amount of online shopping returns. I’m pretty picky, and I keep a close eye on my spending- so it follows that I’m going to return something that I don’t absolutely love. I’ve got a few tips and tricks for those of you who may not be quite as experienced in the world of online shopping returns.

Another great British brand: Yard-o-Led pens

It’s pretty clear to regular readers of this blog that there are two constants in my life- my love of all things British and my stationery obsession. So you can imagine my excitement when discovering Yard-o-Led pens.

Four ways to get ready for RTO-WFH hybrid life

I’m reposting this article from October… Looks like we are finally going back to the office this month (as are many of you.) I’ve updated some of my recommendations based on my preparations over the past couple of weeks. It’s a big transition and I’m doing my best to make it as easy and stress-free as possible!

Much to my dismay, I’ll be heading back to the office in the next few months. But luckily, I’ll be working from home at least 2-3 days a week. So as I start to get ready for RTO (return to office), I’m being thoughtful about what I can do now for my future hybrid life. Like most things in life, doing a bit in advance can really lower your stress.

rectangular white table with rolling chairs inside room — This looks a lot like a conference room that I will sadly be returning to in 2022. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

How to choose kinder, more sustainable fabrics

I’m a vegetarian, and I care a lot about animals. But frankly I haven’t given much thought to how the sheep and goats that provide our wool and cashmere are treated- or the people who care for them and their land. But it’s pretty brutal, and once you’ve seen a couple of videos, you really can’t unsee them. At the same time, I do love a gorgeous cashmere sweater- who doesn’t?? So I have been really happy to see a lot more effort to promote the use of more sustainable fabrics, and better treatment of the animals, people and places that provide it.

I’m a big fan of goats! I love seeing them reduce our fire risk on the hills of California. Let’s do them a solid by giving them the best life possible as they produce our lovely, cozy sweaters.

Lessons to learn about living from an estate sale

I know, I know, what a strange topic to cover in a post! But on a recent Friday afternoon, I saw the familiar sign directing me to an estate sale near my house. I usually ignore those, but I had a bit of spare time, so I stopped in. To be honest, I was hoping the former resident had been a fountain pen enthusiast! Visions of $5 Mont Blancs were swirling in my head. Alas, that was not the case, but as I wandered through the house, some thoughts occurred to me. And I want to share a few lessons from an estate sale with you…

An obvious lesson is that most of the stuff you are holding on to is worthless.

Diving deeper into the business behind the second-hand fashion market

As I’ve started buying and selling from the second-hand fashion market, I’ve gotten more and more interested in the business behind it all. I cam across the video below, which is super interesting. I’ve never shopped at Vestaire Collective (so far, my only forays have been with The RealReal) but I imagine it’s pretty similar across all the second-hand platforms.

Three lessons learned from cleaning out my closet

I just completed a mega closet clean-out as I switched from Summer to Fall clothing. It was a fair amount of work, but very rewarding. I am ready for Fall and all its adventures, with a closet of clothes that I will actually wear. And as I progressed through this multi-day task, I learned a few lessons from cleaning my closet that I hope you can learn from. They may save you money, and they will definitely save you some frustration!

wardrobe interior with shelves near door — This closet (not mine!) reminds me a bit of that closet from the first Sex and The City movie. Remember that one? Photo by Max Vakhtbovych on Pexels.com

It’s a new season! Switching to my Fall closet

There seem to be a lot of chores associated with the changing of the seasons. And autumn is no exception- my list includes a lot of yard work, preparing the backyard furniture for the rainy season, and more. One of the biggest chores is switching to my Fall closet. I must admit that last Fall, I was pretty lazy. I just added a few sweaters to my sweatpants/leggings pile, and I was done. But this year, I’m getting ready for the new normal. And I’m Marie Kondoing all of it!

a white wooden closet of a woman — Ummm, this isn’t my closet! Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels.com