Once upon a time in a land far, far away (LIC) there existed a whole warehouse full of clothes. Indeed this warehouse wasn’t just filled with ordinary clothes, no. It was filled with the magical, mythical clothesmakers by the names of Marc Jacobs, Thierry Mugler, Chanel, Gucci and much, much more. What is this place, you ask? Well, Housing Works, a New York institution, processes all of its fantabulous donations in this deceptively ordinary building. The resident style maven, Coco, tells us more about why and how she found herself here:

Coco with a Giovanni Ravello

FMMH: How long have you been with Housing Works and why have you stayed so long?
COCO: Ive been here here since 2000, and you know why I’m still here–all of these fabulous clothes. This will grab anyone’s attention. Who would think there was a job like this, where you could just be in your own closet everyday and play.
FMMH: What major designers have you seen come in and out of here?
COCO: Everybody. If they’re not here, they’re nobody. We get everybody from Balenciaga to Blass, Gucci, Halston, Krizia.
FMMH: What about the more contemporary lines?
COCO: We get those too. We get Milly, Zac Posen, Marchesa, We get everything! It’s just amazing the things that people donate.
FMMH: Where do most of the donations come from?
COCO: Customers. Better donations are corporate or come from the showrooms and they donate really fabulous stuff. We get some donors who donate their wardrobe because they can afford to shop the collections and seasons. once the beginning of the next season comes we get a whole wardrobe.

Coco with Pucci

FMMH: What would you say is the most amazing piece you’ve seen come in here?
COCO: The Tom Ford donation was pretty amazing. It was his last collection for Gucci, which is a collector’s dream, knowing that he left at the height of his career and that it was the last collection that he did for Gucci.
FMMH: Did he donate it himself?
COCO: Gucci donated it for him–they were cleaning house and we got a lot of nice pieces.
Also, the Yves Saint Laurent collection that we got from a donor who collected YSL for years. Her daughter donated it all.
FMMH: When you go through these clothes and sort them, how do you decide which Housing Works thrift shop get what? Is it based on event? Location?
COCO: Well, I send clothes out based on events such as Housing Works fall previews, spring previews, holiday previews and sometimes in between they will have editor’s choice events. Aything that will fit any of these events I will send some pieces to.
FMMH: What major editors have you worked with?
COCO: Andre Leon Talley, the New York Post fashion editor, the New York Times fashion editor, Robert Verdi
FMMH: Why is Housing Works associated with upscale and designer clothing?
COCO: I think because of the donations that we get, from corporate donations and the quality that we get
FMMH: What if you job were to cease to exist? What would you do?
COCO: I’d find Mr. Big and marry him. (laughs)

Racks of designer duds

Clothing heaven

$5.80 Forever 21

I promise two things:

1. After this post I will shut the F up about trying to replace the Anna Paxton necklace.

2. This blog is NOT an ode to Forever 21 and I actually rarely go in there, but for some reason I have gone twice this month already.

SO……I found this one for $5.80 and I was little worried that is looked too cheap, because of the velvet on top but once I tried it on I noticed it was barely visible and I ALWAYS wear my hair down so no worries there. Lucky for me I had my fellow blogger in tow and she does not mince words..so if she approves it then I know I am good to go;) The Anna Paxton version is about $230 I believe and it’s a thing of exquisite beauty..but this is a recession baby! I will wear this with a wife beater (duh) and the amazing blazer I scored at the DVF sample sale. What what.

Forever 21 $15.80

While it would be a little farfetched to say that this necklace is a replacement for the Fiona Paxton one we posted a few days ago, we would say it’s cousin of the original (albeit a distant cousin). How excited were we to spot the last one in the store and then to find out it goes for $15.80?! Woo hoo! Don’t worry we won’t hog it all to ourselves, you can get yours at forever21.com.

Just ugly

Because skinny jeans weren’t skinny enough, someone decided that leggings and jeans needed a love child with an identity crisis in the form of jeggings. All the rage in the UK and Australia, Topshop did the US a major disservice by bringing over these (hey, look at me, I’m leggings! No, I’m not, I’m jeans!) jeggings that make women look seriously confused. And they say men have commitment issues. Sorry, but we’ll stick to our regular old black flattering leggings.

Rough IPhone pic of the RL sale

So we hit the sale around 4pm and found most of the merchandise had been picked through by wolves. There was, however, a sea of rainbow-colored cashmere for the taking. Previously $600 cardigans and pullovers were going for a mere $99!! Woot! I scored a purple cashmere cardigan, a red velvet blazer (sounds nuts but I have plans for it) and a sparkly Polo sweater for a measly $169.  The only thing that saddens us is that we had four extra UNUSED invites! Damn those pesky day jobs–nothing should stand between a girl and a good sample sale!

Here are some accessories I am currently lusting after:

This Metalcraft cuff with geometric cutouts is so badass, I can hardly take it.

I want to wear this Fiona Paxton necklace with a wife beater, black shorts, and tall gladiators…..or perhaps this Diesel dress:

Pour La Victoire

This gladiator keeps your feet protected from city grime all while preparing you for battle. Sparta has nothing on Manhattan.

Sigerson Morrison

You’ll be swimming in style in these fish scale-inspired flats, no lessons required.

Makito Vaughn

 Afraid of  heights? Face your fears in these caged wedges.