In the pursuit of designer clothes, The Vault Luxury Resale founder Sue McCarthy and daughters Diana McCarthy Ford and Laura McCarthy Maurice gain admittance to some of the world’s most enviable closets. Some of them are quite large, like the 500-square-foot Parisian dressing room that McCarthy writes about in her book Good, Better, Best. Others, such as the Manhattan closets that she’s invited to shop from every year, are less than grand. “Size doesn’t matter,” says McCarthy, dispelling the perception that to dress stylishly one must have ample space to store loads of luxury wear.
Keep the Classics
“Anybody can go to Pottery Barn and furnish a home, or anybody can go to Gucci and do a closet,” says McCarthy—but to curate beautiful and interesting pieces, she recommends minimizing, simplifying, and only holding on to the classics. “Accessorize statement pieces with the less expensive, trendy items, like a cute little scarf to throw in a pop of color. Wear that twice and get rid of it.”
Shop for “It” Items
What does a well-curated closet comprise? “The little black dress, black Stuart Weitzman boots, your Gucci handbag… These are basic pieces that never go out style,” McCarthy says. Good layering staples, such as T-shirts from James Perse and leggings from Eileen Fisher, are essential. “But you don’t need 10 of them,” she says. “You need two. You have your good black pants, your tank top, and your Chanel jacket, and you’re ready for cocktails. Or you put your Lululemon jacket on, and you’re ready to meet the girls for breakfast.” McCarthy Ford adds: “You need a really good blazer, a solid nude pair of shoes, a good cognac-colored boot, a great strappy heel—and then a statement ring.”
Purge at Will
“You would not believe how small my closet is. IfI bring in something new, I take out something else,” says McCarthy, who also preaches the three-touch rule: “If you’ve touched an item three times in one year and haven’t worn it, then it’s time to get rid of it.” Keep an area, or a bag, in your closet for items [that you plan to] give away “so that at any moment you can say, ‘I’m running to the resale or I’m giving it to charity,’” McCarthy Ford says.
Avoid Pressure to Buy
“Everyone’s trying to sell something,” says McCarthy. “I think you should be true to yourself and what works for you.” McCarthy Ford continues, “The main thing about trends, if you have a small space, is to always shop resale,” she says. “Start there. We have a Veronica Beard plaid jacket that came in here. Plaid is hot; Veronica Beard is hot…You can pay $695 for it [new] or $299 here.”
