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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
I Went to 6 Destination Weddings Last Year—Here Are My Qualifications for a Perfect Wedding Guest Dress
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Last year, I went to six weddings, and only one of them was in New York where I live. For months, I was gone every other weekend, and I don't think I've ever traveled more in a short span of time in my entire life. I went to Mykonos, the highlands of Iceland, Buenos Aires, Boston, and San Diego. I got really good at packing but even better at the special kind of mental gymnastics needed to justify buying a small collection of special, fancy dresses essentially for one night. At first, six nearly back-to-back weddings and the five trips planned around them sounded beyond stressful. That was until the shopping lover in me realized this just might be my dream come true. I finally had an excuse to buy a handful of designer dresses I had been dreaming of. Is that the best way to think? Definitely not. But I'm a fashion editor who spends so much time admiring and writing about runway and red carpet pieces I have no reason to own—but wish I did—for my day-to-day life. The thought of being able to curate my own selection of exceptional special-occasion dresses that would forever be tethered to incredible memories made me giddy. I can confidently say there are fewer things in my wardrobe that I'm more proud of than my wedding guest dress edit. The first dress I wore was sourced from The RealReal. It was for the only wedding that I attended in New York in late August. I knew it would be hot, and the dress code was less formal, so I opted for a vintage pink Miu Miu dress from the 2000s with a long floral strap made of soft fabric. It only felt right to go all pink with vintage suede Prada pumps. A little pink dress is now superior to an LBD in my opinion, especially for a summer wedding. It's cheeky, cutesy, and easy to accessorize. View Deal View Deal View Deal The next wedding was a formal black-tie affair in Mykonos, Greece. I had actually purchased a vintage Roberto Cavalli gown in Marbella, Spain, two summers before in case an occasion exactly like this came up. It is one of the most beautiful things I've laid my eyes on with a print so ridiculous it just works. Throughout the gown, there are seashells, leopard prints, and pink blossoms. I have eccentric style, and I think a patterned gown like this works great if you want to have a little more fun with a formal look. It also felt perfectly in line with the location. I wanted something that felt like the vacation I was also having. View Deal View Deal View Deal Not all summer destination weddings are in warm locations. My second destination wedding was the weekend after Mykonos and took place in the highlands of Iceland. There was a possibility of snow with lows in the 20s but also the potential of highs in the 50s. I had no idea what to wear, but in times of doubt, there's always Rodarte… right? Right! I opted for a black Rodarte gown I found on sale since that felt best for the colder landscape. It was covered in a velvet floral pattern with an asymmetrical ruffle. I already thought it was perfect and then saw that Charli XCX had worn the same exact dress. The thing that makes Rodarte so special is that it's so ethereal, so you could wear one of its gowns in an unconventional way—which I did with stockings and a fur jacket because I had no choice on the day of—and it still works. There's a quirky whimsy to the brand that makes it perfect to wear to an untraditional affair. View Deal View Deal View Deal By the time I had to head over to San Diego in early October, I knew I wanted to try out a shorter pink dress again. I found the perfect option: another secondhand Miu Miu dress from The RealReal, except this one was from 2013. I had loved this dress on the runway and was so excited to finally own it. Like the first Miu Miu dress I wore at the beginning of my wedding stretch, it had a fun detail that cascaded down the dress. It can best be described as a rosette prize ribbon. While rosettes and prize ribbons feel very much like the new bows and ribbons, I don't think we've reached a saturation point yet. They're an unexpected detail on a wedding guest dress, which is perfect if you're looking for something that'll set you apart. View Deal View Deal View Deal I've written about Siedrés before because I think the Turkish brand is a fashion editor's best-kept secret. Since discovering it a little over a year ago at a fateful press appointment, I've been obsessed. I wore a Siedrés dress to cap off my wedding marathon in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a patterned blue dress with red floral accents and ruffles throughout complete with a matching thin scarf I tossed around my shoulder. It's fun to support a newer brand, and it felt cool to have people ask me where it's from and leave them with knowledge of something they didn't know about before. View Deal View Deal View Deal For a wedding just outside of Boston in October, it was still nice enough to wear a shorter dress with no jacket, but I wanted to step away from pastels since it was still technically fall. I opted for another Rodarte dress I found on sale (the Rodarte gods blessed me not once but twice!) in a bright purple. I feel like most of my friends tend to gravitate toward pastels, but I think going brighter in the color department is even more fun, and everyone should do it more often. View Deal View Deal View Deal
TechCrunch
28-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Meta wants to open more retail stores
In Brief Meta wants to grow its retail footprint, Business Insider reported on Wednesday. As Meta continues to invest in wearables, these stores would ideally help Meta boost the sales of hardware like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the Meta Quest VR headsets. These products may be easier to sell if customers can try them out at a store before buying them. A retail presence could also help Meta stay in competition with Apple's future AR and VR endeavors, even though its Vision Pro headset is too costly for most consumers. And, to answer the question proposed by this headline: yes, we do mean more retail stores. Indeed, Meta has an existing brick-and-mortar retail store, made out of actual atoms and not pixels, which is located in California, not the metaverse. Ahead of this, Bloomberg reported in February that Meta hired the former CEO of The RealReal as its retail VP.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Ultimate Guide To Luxury Vintage Shopping
With prices in the luxury industry showing no sign of slowing down, consumers are increasingly turning to second-hand platforms to find quality luxury vintage items at a reasonable price. Platforms such as Grailed, TheRealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective have been around for a decade, and with a growing number of buyers and sellers, have made vintage luxury shopping more accessible and fun than ever. Knowing where to buy, what to search for, and how to negotiate is key to buying well. BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 02: A general view of the Vestiaire Collective and Toni Garrn Charity ... More Sale Opening on November 2, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo byfor Vestiaire Collective) The resale vintage luxury landscape can broadly be divided between generalist and specialist platforms. Generalist platforms such as Grailed, TheRealReal, or Vestiaire Collective offer womenswear, menswear, and a wide range of accessories, making these the perfect place to start. Other platforms focus on specific product categories. Chrono24, for example, specialises in watches, and Rebag in handbags. Platforms such as Poshmark, in the US, or Vinted, in Europe, that were once focusing on more mass market or premium brands, are now offering a broader luxury offering. Finally, traditional and online auction platforms are also great places to consider. Legacy players such as Christie's and Sotheby's have auctions often specialised by brand (e.g. Hermes) or collectible luxury items (handbags, watches…). Online auction houses have followed suit, with eBay offering premium listing for luxury items. One of the largest online auction platforms in the world, Catawiki, has also seen a surge in the sale of luxury fashion and accessories items. According to Cyrille Coiffet, Vice President at Catawiki,'luxury items, including fashion and its accessories, already account for half of the turnover of Catawiki, and have grown significantly over 2024'. Most platforms adopt a consumer-to-consumer model, with authentication happening digitally. Some platforms, such as TheRealReal, adopt a consignment model, meaning risks of incorrect description or buying counterfeit items are dramatically reduced. Knowing what you are buying on a resale / vintage shopping platform is key. Many sellers, especially individual sellers, may not know much information about what they are selling, including when they bought an item, what season it belongs to, etc. This means that, especially when buying from an individual seller, buyers who know may have the upper hand when looking for archival pieces. Expert buyers will set up notifications to be notified when new pieces from a favourite designer or style are added. The more specific, the better - an alert on 'Dior' will generate a lot of irrelevant results, whereas an alert for 'Dior Homme Hedi Slimane' already helps you to search by gender and era of the famous luxury brand. Get accustomed to setting up alerts for relisted items. Given that peer-to-peer selling means no returns, you may be the next buyer if an item is being relisted. A relisted item may mean the seller does not want it because of a sizing or color issue, in which case they may want to get rid of it promptly and be open to losing a bit of money in the process. Pictures of clothes labels can be a buyer's best friend. Old and barely readable labels indicate an item worn many times, despite what a seller may claim. It is also a way to check that the brand indicated by the seller on the platform corresponds to the brand on the label. Mistakes – intentional or not - do happen, so it is best to double-check. For expert buyers, labels can reveal much more information. Collectors of Hedi Slimane pieces, for instance, know that collections from his Dior Homme tenure (2000-2007) and Saint Laurent (2012-2016) can be identified by the numbers on the wash tag. Dior Homme labels from that period start with two digits that indicate the year (06) then the collection (H for fall winter, E for summer). Saint Laurent labels start with the year (e.g. 2015) followed by the code 53 (menswear) or 73 (womenswear) and other digits indicating the model and colour code. Rick Owens names each collection, and the name of the collection is printed on the item. Knowing your size is also key. Once you get accustomed to online vintage shopping, you will become an expert at knowing your size. Take a few of your favourite items that fit you perfectly, from your favourite t-shirt to jeans. That way, you will be able to request measurements of any item you want to buy and know immediately if they are likely to fit. Bear in mind most sellers do not allow returns, so it is essential to be sure the item will fit. The best thing to do if an item doesn't fit is to relist it immediately – most platforms allow you to do this hassle-free. Next, get to know the seller and ask questions. Sellers with dozens of items for sale and a strong record of sales tend to be professional sellers. These can be your local vintage clothing shop or a fashion buyer selling a surplus. Others that have a small selling history and only a handful of items for sale at a time tend to be occasional sellers and wardrobe clearers. Occasional sellers can be of two kinds. Some do not know the value of the items they are selling and can offer bargains. Others are convinced that their item is the most coveted one and ask for an exorbitant price – stay put unless you car bargain down. Some sellers will try to bypass the official sales channel process – to save the transaction fee – and invite buyers to complete the transaction outside. You may see a note in an item description suggesting that contacts on a social media platform can lead to discounts. Not only does it mean you will have few ways of getting your money back if something goes wrong, but it should also be a warning sign that something else may be going on (e.g. authenticity issues). Pricing second-hand pieces is notoriously difficult. Part of it comes from the fact that, apart from pieces that are still produced yet always in demand and out of stock – think the most in-demand bags from brands such as Hermes or Chanel – second-hand fashion items are plentiful. Highly thought-of items tend to include cult collections from iconic designers, at top luxury brands - Hedi Slimane, Marc Jacobs, Martin Margiela, or Jil Sander, with prices that can be close to original prices or slightly higher. 'If you know, you know' is the mantra for such pieces and sellers, whether professional or individual, price these accordingly. Some designers have cult status and can warrant high resale prices. Even then, it is hard to resell for more than 50-60% of the original price. Most of the time, paying 15 to 30% of the retail price is all you should expect to pay. The luxury t-shirt you saw in a shop for several hundred dollars a few years ago is, on average, not likely to reach more than 10 to 30% of its original price. Just like in any good marketplace, prices are almost always negotiable. Consumer research points to the negotiation process as being part of the fun that defines vintage shopping. As a buyer, making an offer signals two things: that you are keen to buy, and where you stand in terms of the price offered by the seller. Platforms usually have a limit on how much you can lowball – that is, how low can an offer be compared to the original listed price. Send an offer for the bare minimum, and you signal you're a thrifter. If you're offering close to the maximum amount, you're a serious buyer and recognise an item's value. Making an offer as a seller is also common, and some platforms allow sellers to do this in an automated way – for instance by sending a price offer, usually 10 or 15% off. Sellers sending offers may be willing to signal they are open to negotiation – so you may try your luck and make a counteroffer, at a lower price. As a seller, setting realistic expectations is crucial—only rare items with significant demand might appreciate over time. Transparency is also key: clearly disclose any flaws or issues, as attempting to conceal imperfections typically leads to dissatisfied buyers and potential disputes. Platforms are quick to side with buyers, and sellers can be penalised for repeatedly failing to describe an item accurately. Knowing the buyer is important too - if you're an individual seller, you can look at the experience of the buyer, either its rating or number of transactions. Research on consumer experience with second-hand items shows that expectation management is key to ensure satisfaction. If professional authentication or consignment is not available to accurately assess your item's condition and value, it is wise to conservatively describe your items; for instance, listing an excellent condition item as "very good" helps manage buyer expectations positively. The sole exception should be items genuinely new with tags. Occasionally, sellers may experiment with higher pricing to gauge market response, but this approach should be cautiously applied. Ultimately, buying luxury vintage and archival pieces is the best way to shop luxury at an affordable price, discover the quality of products, and create a unique wardrobe and style. And for many, the hunt for rare pieces and price negotiation just adds to the fun.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
These 4 side gigs could make you wealthy during a recession — so easy, you won't even need to leave your home
A recession might be right around the corner — and it might be time to stop doomscrolling and start hustling. If your paycheck suddenly pulls a disappearing act, a lucrative side hustle could be the difference between living large and living on instant noodles. J.P. Morgan is putting the odds of a recession in 2025 at 60%, and if you're not ready, your bank account might be the first casualty. 3 Freelance writers earn a median of $83,000 a year. N F/ – Advertisement You can't fix the economy, but you can protect the contents of your wallet. Here are four side hustles, per GOBankingRates, that could rake in serious dough and keep you afloat if your day job becomes history. Freelance write If you've got a way with words — and a laptop — you could turn your writing skills into serious coin. Freelance writers shockingly make a median of $83,000 a year, according to Glassdoor. Not too shabby for a job you can do in pajamas. The trick? Find your niche. Whether it's fashion advice, food guides for your city, copywriting for health companies, or ghostwriting someone's romance novel, there's always a market for talented writers. Advertisement The wages will start low unless you're already a published writer, but as your clips stack up, so will your rates. Resell clothing Ditch every idea you had of thrift stores because they can make you cold, hard cash. If you have a good eye for trends or spotting designer clothes in the bargain bin, you can use your fashion sense for cash by reselling secondhand clothes, shoes, and accessories. Your local thrift store or a neighbor's garage sale might be hiding a goldmine; all you have to do is dig. 3 One reseller revealed that she makes $12,000 a month. ChayTee – Advertisement Poshmark, Depop, eBay, The Real Real, and Facebook Marketplace are your new runways and will give millions of people the ability to see what you're selling. Reseller Kelsey Mikula pulls in $12,000 a month reselling clothes she finds at the Salvation Army. Earnings can even go up from there, depending on what you specialize in reselling. Once you find your niche — maybe it's flipping vintage windbreakers or rare sneakers — the profits will pile up. Sell printables Got a flair for fonts and a borderline obsession with planners? Time to turn that Type-A energy into passive income. Advertisement From wall art and party invites to daily planners and to-do lists, digital printables are hot sellers on sites like Etsy and Canva. Once you make it, people can buy it — and pay you — an infinite number of times. 3 Printables can make you money consistently throughout the year. Haas/ – Printable pro Rachel Jimenez, told Business Insider that she rakes in around $9,500 a month selling seasonal templates and planners. People will always be looking for cute back-to-school planners come September, and she'll profit Rent out a room in your home Got an extra room collecting dust? It could be your ticket to extra income. If you don't mind sharing your space with a stranger, renting it out on Airbnb, Craigslist, or can bring in steady cash. Just clean up, snap some flattering photos, and make your space guest-ready. From cozy apartments to backyard guesthouses, travelers are always looking for a spot for a short stay. Your earnings will depend on your zip code and the space you have to rent. A spare room in Charlotte might fetch $50 a night — but in Los Angeles, you're looking at closer to $100. As your five-star reviews pile up, so can your rates.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
REAL Q1 Earnings Call: Supply Initiatives and Direct Channel Drive Margin Improvement
Secondhand luxury marketplace The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 11.3% year on year to $160 million. The company expects next quarter's revenue to be around $159 million, close to analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP loss of $0.08 per share was in line with analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy REAL? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $160 million vs analyst estimates of $159.8 million (11.3% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: -$0.08 vs analyst estimates of -$0.08 (in line) Adjusted EBITDA: $4.11 million vs analyst estimates of $3.98 million (2.6% margin, relatively in line) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $652.5 million at the midpoint EBITDA guidance for the full year is $25 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $29.7 million Operating Margin: -8%, up from -12.5% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$32.98 million, down from $22.91 million in the previous quarter Active Buyers : 985,000, up 601,000 year on year Market Capitalization: $824.5 million The RealReal's first quarter results were driven by new supply initiatives and operational improvements, as management focused on building a more profitable business model. CEO Rati Levesque highlighted the company's 'growth playbook'—a combination of sales, marketing, and retail strategies—to acquire new consignors and unlock high-value inventory. Notably, the introduction of AI-driven programs such as Athena and new service offerings like Get Paid Now contributed to increased operational efficiency and enhanced gross margin performance. Looking ahead, management reconfirmed full-year revenue guidance and emphasized the resilience of its business model against macroeconomic uncertainty and tariffs. CFO Ajay Gopal noted that the company's supply is sourced domestically, insulating it from tariff impacts, and suggested that higher primary market prices may even drive more buyers and sellers to the platform. Levesque stated, 'We believe the RealReal has a stronger, more profitable, and more sustainable business model today than ever before,' but also acknowledged the need for continued execution on its core strategic pillars. Management's remarks on the call centered on supply growth, operational efficiency, and new business initiatives. They outlined several key drivers behind the quarter's margin improvements and the company's approach to future opportunities and risks. AI-enabled process improvements: The Athena AI intake process reduced product processing times by about 20%, supporting faster inventory turnover and improved fulfillment center efficiency. Get Paid Now expansion: The Get Paid Now program, which allows select consignors to receive upfront payments for high-value items, continued to scale. Management said this channel is now 'significantly more profitable' and expected to maintain gross margins near 20%. Retail and referral channel impact: A quarter of new consignors came through retail stores, while enhanced referral partnerships with stylists and closet organizers now drive over $1 million in incremental supply monthly. Diversification of supply channels: The drop ship initiative, initially piloted in watches and expanded to handbags, is intended to broaden access to high-value supply from business-to-business partners, with early traction reported in both categories. Technology-driven pricing: RealReal's proprietary pricing algorithms, which integrate near real-time data from buyer engagement and primary market trends, are increasingly automating pricing and discounting decisions to optimize sell-through and margins. Management's outlook for the next quarter and full year stresses the importance of consistent supply growth, operational cost discipline, and the ability to adapt to consumer and macroeconomic shifts. Supply-side resilience: The company's primarily domestic supply base is insulated from tariffs and international disruption, and management expects continued growth in new consignors from both retail and referral channels. Profitability through technology: Ongoing investments in automation and AI, such as Athena and SmartSales, are expected to drive further improvements in operating expenses and gross margin. Macro environment uncertainty: Management acknowledged that unpredictable consumer demand and discretionary spending could be a headwind, though they believe the resale model's value proposition may attract more buyers and sellers in a high-price environment. Ashley Owens (KeyBanc Capital Markets): Asked about the sustainability of direct channel gross margins; CFO Ajay Gopal explained margins should remain near 20% with little seasonal variation as the business mix stabilizes. Ike Boruchow (Wells Fargo): Inquired if the direct channel's profitability could pressure overall gross margin; management said the impact would be limited due to the channel's relatively small revenue share. Marvin Fong (BTIG): Sought more detail on drivers of average order value (AOV); CEO Rati Levesque cited higher fine jewelry and handbag sales as supporting AOV growth. Bobby Brooks (Northland Capital Markets): Requested specifics on new consignor growth; Levesque attributed gains to retail expansion, referral programs, and technology-enabling targeted outreach and ease of use. Mark Altschwager (Baird): Asked if current buyer and seller trends signal structural shifts; management indicated domestic supply and pricing algorithms provide flexibility, with potential to benefit from shifts in the broader luxury market. In tracking The RealReal's progress, the StockStory team will focus on (1) the scalability and profitability of new supply channels such as Get Paid Now and drop ship, (2) operational efficiency gains from greater AI adoption in fulfillment and pricing, and (3) continued growth in new consignors, particularly from retail and referral sources. We will also monitor any signs of changing consumer behavior or margin pressures stemming from shifts in discretionary spending. The RealReal currently trades at a forward EV/EBITDA ratio of 29.2×. Should you double down or take your chips? The answer lies in our free research report. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
