The Acquisition Report

What I bought, how I'm wearing it, and what I'm loving.

Disclaimer: This post is TOO LONG. I’d recommend opening in your browser or app for the full experience. Additionally, I didn’t link a ton of similar pieces to avoid this becoming a novel, but feel free to reach out with questions and sourcing needs. There are also a few gifted items in this newsletter - these are noted with an asterisk*.

Hello my fashion friends! It’s been a minute since I did a shopping & outfit report. Well, fear not. I’m back. This is a whole lot of a little bit of everything - what I’ve bought, how I’m styling it, and things I’m loving. I think I’ll have to do a part two for general wishlist items/art inspo/etc. I’ve been feeling very inspired lately, and as they say, sharing is caring - I’m guessing (it’s really just a free-for-all until I hit the publish button - my newsletters tend to take on a life of their own) part two will be a little bit shopping wishlist, a whole lot of home updates, and a few art exhibits that everyone should experience, even if just through this tiny screen you are reading on. I imagine it will be more digestible to have an acquisition & styling newsletter separated from a wishlist & general vibe dispatch. Only time will tell.

But this is a long post, so I’ll spare you additional ramblings in favor of pictures and visual aids. Below is everything I’ve acquired over the past few months - I’ve skipped explicitly including pieces I used in my last styling post, but you may see a few repeat offenders. It’s hard to keep track of everything considering how sporadic my styling newsletters are.

My closet looks cute in flat-lay form. Ooh. Ahh. Here is everything as of late, so you can see it all nice and clean and pretty before we dive into the lewks. (I lied, upon reflection & after a bit of editing, I realize it’s missing a few. But they’re styled below regardless.)

Now, to the lewks.

Let’s start with my current favorite:

Vintage Victoria's Secret robe, a white tshirt from a random sample sale, Solmar jeans, Vintage belt, Loeffler Randall sandals

The vintage Victoria’s Secret robe of my dreams. I wrote a bit about it for Hol Harland’s Pleasure Dressing post, but here’s my quote for those who missed it: This robe is completely impractical and also my favorite item in my entire wardrobe at present. Originally, I had this saved on my eBay watchlist for months. But, it was winter and I couldn’t justify spending $200 on Victoria’s Secret. But then, the big event happened. You know the one. The Conner Ives Fall 26 RTW show set off rumblings from London where he sent the most beautiful, succulent, extravagant fur-trimmed silk robe down the runway. Talk of the robe spread like wildfire. Mary Kate Olsen photos were dredged from the archives. And I realized: why was I depriving myself of such joy?

Unfortunately by that point the robe had sold. But that’s never stopped me. I spent weeks tracking it down, and found an inactive listing on Poshmark. I commented and sent and offer, to no avail. But then, when my hope had dwindled to nothing more than a spark, the seller responded. She accepted my $135 offer. I had done it. Yes, the robe may be about 6” too long. Yes, it’s really only practical for about three weeks out of the year - as long as the rain doesn’t interfere. But the feeling of flowing silk (Harry Potter anyone?) and the comforting swaddle of a fur collar make up for these shortcomings.

So I plan to wear this impractical piece to impractical places - my local dive bar, the grocery store, maybe on Amtrak to keep me warm. So yes, while the basics are important, don’t forget about the luxuries and extravagances. They are what you will remember.

On to the next. I will try to keep things brief because this will be looooong otherwise. I wore the above robe for a day out in Hudson, NY. My friend and I ambled into Vintage Clothing Out Of The Past - a storefront within the giant antique warehouse. The lovely Henriette spotted me, took one look at my robe, made a beeline for a nearby rack, and exclaimed, “I have something for you!” Within minutes I had the below two jackets in hand, went to the changing room, and was sold on both. The olive jacket did in fact come with matching pants, but much to my chagrin, they do not fit very well. The below photo is deceiving. Angles. Once my sewing machine no longer solely sews backwards I will be tailoring them.

One with matching pants, one without.

Now, let’s style:

I have worn this outfit thrice over the last month. I love it that much. First, to the Not-A-Normal Market event I was invited to. They have another one in June, and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in New York. Secondly, to visit my sister in Philly. And lastly, to take my mom to the Brooklyn Museum. All fun events, all deserving of a fun look. The jacket is the focal point, so I kept the pants more low-key. These are Solmar* barrel jeans, and I wear them minimum twice a week now (you’ve definitely seen them in many a previous newsletter.) I threw on a vintage Calderon belt to give a hint of gold at the waist, and carried said gold down into the shoes. These are the Loeffler Randall Devon sandals*, and they’re my most worn spring shoe so far. Because spring is playing games with us over here in New York, I needed a light jacket. Enter: vintage Givenchy. I’ve explained the lore behind this jacket in a few past newsletters, so I will spare you here, but I am obsessed with how well the silhouette mirrors the silk jacket underneath. And I topped it off with my Poelle Untitled bag*. A great investment if you’re looking for a timeless-without-being-boring bag. It gives me Jil Sander vibes.

And we have jacket numero dos. I gave my mom a fashion show when she was here this weekend, and she almost cried when I pulled this out. 1. I was obsessed with orange when I was younger, and 2. I wore a kimono for my birthday in 3rd grade, during which I held a globe and walked around a candle nine times. For nine years. Montessori stuff. I wanted to keep this more casual, so I threw on my new satin track pants. These are GAP, shockingly enough. Be warned: one pant leg is approximately 2” shorter on the outseam than the other. That waistband is angled, baby. The downside of GAP Outlet quality control, I guess. Brown and orange are an under appreciated color combo, so I leaned into it. The shoes are satin Zara mules from a few years ago, but they’re held up surprisingly well given the horrors of an NYC sidewalk. And then, to bring the cream from the stripe back in, I added another new addition: a fringe placket Akris Punto button down. Exact option here. I like that despite the look being overall very baggy, the pieces themselves feel clean and elevated.

The top, buttoned to the top, sans jacket, plus new calf hair bag. This bag was my one purchase at the aforementioned Not-A-Normal market, but you can shop it here.

This skirt is one of my favorite new (to me) items. I snagged this Lisa Marie Fernandez skirt on The Real Real, and while it’s about a foot longer on me than on the mannequin, I love it. It is however very sheer, so she’ll be reserved for weekend excursions. I leaned into the 50’s silhouette and threw on my trusty Jacquemus cropped jacket. This look is overall pretty simple, but sometimes it’s better to let the pieces speak for themselves. As a lover of layers and textures, I have to remind myself that sometimes less really is more. These flats are also a TRR purchase - Mansur Gavriel. I’ll be a square toe lover until I die, and I love that these are cut higher on the foot than a lot of rounded toe styles. And I topped it all off with my Firkin bag. However, I did add just a bit of pizzaz - my cherry bag charm. It holds my Excedrin and AirTag. Fashion and function.

And here we have the same skirt, with a different vibe. Much more feminine, much more pink. 2/4 for Loeffler Randall. The top is the pink Merritt Top*, and it’s actually gotten quite a bit of wear over the past few weeks. The shoes are again the Loeffler Randall flats, and to keep things light so to speak, I grabbed my vintage wicker bag. It is surprisingly large and I can fit all of my everyday essentials in there without issue.

Now you might have seen my note about this shirt. Danielle actually posted a note alerting us to the magic of NPR merch, and I knew I needed a ringer tee. Make shopping woke again. (Support the arts.)

I wanted to lean into the 70s of it all, so when these striped Doen pants arrived in the mail, it was like fate had stepped in. Given how questionable The Real Real photos and measurements are, I was unsure if they would accomplish what I wanted. And here we are. Accomplished as hell. I initially styled the look sans-belt with my favorite mesh flats, (I love this raffia version), but I felt too bored. So I changed out the flats for a brown sneaker (Adidas Japan in preloved brown) and added a brown croc belt. And then to keep the cognac brown, I kept the same woven bag - handles count for color inclusion.

This t-shirt was an important purchase for me. So far in my life I haven’t gone out of my way to purchase a good t-shirt. Well, at almost 30, I thought it was time. It was, however, on super sale, so I felt justified. Unfortunately it is sold out in white on the Veronica Beard website, but if you’re patient it might go on sale at Saks. I threw on a few necklaces, added my go-to studded belt (vintage The Limited), and called it a day. The citrine necklace was a Hudson purchase. I am a sucker for citrine, and I am a sucker for an art-deco style necklace. This check both boxes, so I hit tap to pay and walked out of the store one necklace richer.

A very mismatched stack.

Here we have the same shirt. I took my chances with these La Ligne pants on The Real Real - there we no measurements listed, but I thought they just might work out. Turns out, I am in fact short, and these are in fact long. I can wear them with heels, but I bought them for everyday wear. So, sadly, they are getting returned. (If you want them, they’re marked on TRR as an XS and were $95. Feel free to shoot me a message, I am happy to provide measurements.) My loss could be your gain. If not, I’ll be sending them back this week.

The last pair was a miss, but fortunately for me, this pair of pants was a home run. I’ve had these on my eBay watchlist for a year. They are De La Vali, and I’m actually not sure if they exist anywhere else in the world. (I think they may have been a Farfetch exclusive?) I’ve searched high and low, and was only able to find this exact pair. I was hesitant to buy because they were shipping from Ukraine, and well, we have tariffs all around us now. My reservations were unsubstantiated, as they were delivered with no additional fees required. I let the pants do (most) of the talking, and threw on a black button down and my go-to black clutch. However, I couldn’t let the pants have all of the fun, so I topped it off with vintage Dolce.& Gabbana leopard heels. I stand by the fact that all animal prints are neutrals, and therefore, can be combined with minimal issue. I’m planning on wearing this look for dinner this week.

The track pants return, but in a much more casual iteration. Brown and grey are a classic combo, and it was cold when I left my house yesterday. However, I couldn’t let the grey touch the brown, so I let my white tee (the same sample sale tee from the Victoria’s Secret robe look - it’s on its last leg) peek out at the hem. So sporty, so chic. (I’m my own #1 fan.) And then, in case you missed the saga over on Notes, I recently acquired this vintage Tom Ford Gucci horse-bit leather bag. The one, the only Taylor Barnett snagged if from The Millennial Decorator a few months back, but posted not too long ago that she wanted to sell it. Well, I slid into her messages at the speed of light and claimed it for myself. And what a great purchase it has been. It’s my new work bag and holds my iPad and laptop if needed.

The bag in all her buttery leather goodness.

Another The Real Real swing, another The Real Real miss. This Halston jumpsuit was on sale for $30. I hemmed and hawed, and eventually gave up on the hemming and hawing and hit the checkout button. In my mind, if the jumpsuit didn’t work out, I could cut off the pants and make a tunic top. However, the construction has other ideas and this would be incredibly complicated. Notice the platform heels? Yeah, it’s about a foot too long. I may attempt to hem it because, I mean, it was Halston for $30. I’ll also have to figure out a different shirt situation for real life, but I kind of love the bra for a night out.

I’ve always said the best way to get a deal is to shop during the off seasons. I stopped at Chelsea Flea a few weeks back, and this massive wool coat caught my eye. The seller wasn’t moving a whole lot of coats given the fact that everyone is in spring shopping mode, so I got this for a deal. ($100, which is incredible in my humble opinion for an Italian made wool coat.) I also just wanted to include the below photo, and thought context as to why my shoulders look so massive would be helpful.

I was invited to a Lafayette 148 event, during which the lovely Jenny Kroik had a live painting station set up. So, after 10 years of friendship, my friend and I finally, technically, have a photo together.

This look was mainly for the bag. I wanted to keep the base simple, but never boring. So, I added some dimension by layering a striped button down (vintage Ralph Lauren via Yesterday’s News in BK) over a turtleneck, letting the neckline and sleeves peek out from beneath. The white jeans are my go-to Solmar* jeans, which I did have to cuff twice. The brown sneakers return, and a tiny belt just felt fitting. It’s a mustard croc, but I felt the tone was similar enough to the bag to make it work. Of course I need a jacket, so why not a trench? I love all the shades of brown - it lets the green really pop.

The bag in all her pistachio glory.

This is the only photo I have of this sweater. I’m not sure why, since I love it a lot. But, like I said above, I never let the season stop me from shopping for good pieces. I picked this up at Unearth Vintage a few weeks ago, and the base of the outfit is the same as above. Sometimes just one piece can change an entire look. I believe it is handmade - no tag and a somewhat uneven stitch pattern. But the color and price convinced me.

Now, let’s get into the smaller details.

Yes, my bangs need a trim.

After nearly six months, the necklace I have been hyping up is finally MINE! My very talented friend Ella (message her if you want one!) wore this necklace way back in October, and I demanded (nicely) that she make me one. (This is huge news - I can finally put together my necklace stacking newsletter! Coming at you next week!!!!) We met up at a concert in Brooklyn this past weekend, and the handoff was complete. I have nothing to say except I love it a whole lot.

Now, a brief pivot. I’m no beauty influencer. I am, however, a proponent of trying new things. So, when Saltyface reached out to send me a few things, I said hell yeah. In my youth summers would yield sun-kissed skin and a freckled nose (and a really abhorrent sports bra tan). Now, I am adult with a job and do not spend my entire summer on the water (I rowed and had many friends with many boats.) However, I wouldn’t mind looking like I spent time on the water. So, I immediately jumped at the idea of a freckle pen*. Apparently I’m behind the times - two of my younger sisters were like um, Kendall, we’ve been doing this for years. (“Like” for emphasis, they’re very Gen Z.) Well, I’m new to the game and a huge fan. I also received a body tanning set (foam & brush), but haven’t tried it yet. I currently look like a Victorian ghost, so it will be making it’s debut shortly.

Additionally, I’m finally embracing sunscreen. The dermatologists might be on to something after all. Well, I didn’t know lip sunscreen (that isn’t an oily glue stick) was even an option, and I have, on more than one occasion, sunburned my lips to the point of looking like I survived a very botched lip filler procedure. Proof below:

I tried to look away so you couldn’t tell, but you still get essence of “did she get stung by a bee?”

I spent the entire morning in St. Lucia icing my mouth. Not the point, I’ve gone off script. Anyway, I’m embracing sunscreen. Who knew lip sunscreen could come in colors? Well, apparently Prequel. They sent me their Lip Visor sunscreen*, which I am wearing with my freckles above. It’s my new summer staple, and is currently living a good life inside my Tom Ford bag.

Another good necklace. Another Unearth Vintage find. I have yet to find this silhouette on my internet dives, but this and this could accomplish the same goal. More on this in the upcoming necklace post.

I bought this on my birthday because I can. I stopped into Consignment Brooklyn to say hi to my sister (she does their socials), and this caught my eye. It’s hard for me to find cuff bracelets that aren’t too big for my wrists, so the elastic thread really sold me. You can shop here for a quarter of what I paid for it. I also find summer jewelry has the potential to lean costumey and kitchy and a little bit souvenir shop, but this feels elevated while still remaining firmly in seashell territory.

We are nearing the end, folks. You may, or may not, remember a previous newsletter in which I expressed my frustration at “summer” perfume scents. They either lean way too floral for my taste, or way too vanilla. Young me would be appalled at that statement, but at my old age, vanilla smells like cake and it eventually gives me a headache. Well, I’ve finally found my summer fragrance. By Rosie Jane’s Matilda*. It has a slight fruit-y undertone without smelling like a literal garden. The passionfruit top note with the musky undertones are everything I never knew I was missing. I’ve been wearing it everyday. Rosie is a very, very subtle scent for the days when I want to feel like I put in effort. You may say, well, Kendall, they say this has rose notes. And I will say, you are correct. However, it mostly smells like a fresh spring day. You know the scent. The morning dew, the fresh blossoms, the early morning sun dancing on your walls. A spring morning in a bottle. I’m officially, after 29 years on this planet, a spring perfume girl.

And lastly, we come to my most favorite recent purchase. I’ve been hemming and hawing over moka pots for some months. I’ve gone from Keurig to Nespresso as I’ve grown. But, I’ve been waking up (a few minutes) earlier, and wanted to introduce more of a slow morning ritual to my routine. And to be completely honest, I want to sound like a more interesting person. Imagine coming to my house and I offer you a Nespresso pod. Now, imagine coming to my house and I sit you down, turn on the stove, and lovingly brew you your own personal cup of espresso. Which sounds better? I’m inclined to say the second option. I love a vintage moka pot, but I also love a sickly chartreuse green. So, I opted for a brand new appliance this time. I ended up going with this Bialetti 3-cup option. It’s the perfect shot size, and I’ve been using it every morning. I do, in fact, feel more interesting.

There was still, however, the question of what grounds to use. Well, it’s like Fabula read my mind. They reached out quite literally on the same day I ordered this newfangled (oldfangled?) device. I quickly said yes, please, send some espresso* my way (code Kendall20 for 20% off if you’re in the market.) I’ve now, over the last month-ish, become quite accomplished in the ways of coffee. That was a lie. But I do think I have learned the ways of the pot, and this coffee is incredible. I’m not just saying that. Despite loving espresso, it has the potential to be too strong. This isn’t that. It has a caramel-y taste that keeps it from being too bitter. So, my interesting person morning routine now includes coffee, freckles, and sunscreen. Am I an adult or what?

And with that, I conclude this newsletter. Much to look at. Thank you for reading, if you made it this far. This was one of my favorite styling posts to put together, and I hope you enjoyed as much as I did.

Until next time,

K

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