3 Keepers & a Regret: Jennifer Galante Han
She bought her first Chanel with Substack money. The card got flagged as fraud.
3 Keepers and a Regret is a recurring series on Retail Therapy on Substack where I ask people I admire to name 3 things they’d fight to keep — bought, inherited, stolen — and 1 thing they regret.
Ya know those truths slowly forming in the back of your mind? Before they’ve had time to solidify, Jennifer Galante Han has already articulated them. If her “The Summer I Stopped Checking” post were a song, I’d be listening on repeat. Hoping to eventually get the message.
My book group recently had a discussion about why we are a “group,” not a club. That a club can be viewed as exclusive or exclusionary. When I came across Jennifer’s The No Stress Club, I joined instantly. I wanted in, no matter what it takes. Any hope at getting rid of my angst? Yes please sign me up now thank you.
She speaks my language: ease and comfort, from the vantage point of an industry insider. She spent two decades doing digital strategy and merchandising for the brands we all buy. She says the quiet parts out loud. That there will always be more.
Jennifer takes action on her ideas. Have you sold anything on The Real Real? I could do a few posts filled with my horror stories of getting screwed. Jennifer’s solution: starting La Volta NYC, a consignment business. I already sent over a list of items I’d like her to consider when she adds jewelry.
Here’s what Jennifer will never consign.
Three Keepers
3 things you’d fight to keep — bought, inherited, stolen
No. 1 — My great grandmother’s cameo brooch
My grandmothers were very practical and most days were spent in the kitchen or tending to children, but my great grandmother had a little more glamour and I still have her cameo brooch. I let my sister borrow it for a NY Fashion week and this question just reminded me that I need it back!!!
No. 2 — Matthieu Blazy for Chanel blazer
My Matthieu Blazy for Chanel black tweed blazer with unreal green buttons. I bought it for myself with my first year earnings of my Substack and consignment business to mark the accomplishment. When they ran my card it flagged as a fraud so I pulled over while driving my teenage girls in NYC to explain to them what a fraud alert is, why I got it (mommy has never made this big of a purchase in her life and not on Chanel’s radar!!!) and what this purchase signified to me.
No. 3 — British military cargo pants
My favorite vintage British military cargo pants that were upcycled by Alex Mill. They are so worn down that I bought back ups from Etsy but I still need to get them altered. I call them my emotional support cargo pants because they are so comfortable and make every outfit better.
One Regret
now the regret
A size too big leopard calf hair ballet flats from Christian Louboutin. I found them on overstock.com via a Pinterest hole and it felt like such an early 2000s throwback crazy find!! They are such a fantastic leopard but they only had a 9.5 so I went for it. They do not fit.
Why I’m Still Shopping
I know anything final sale is against my religion, but I’m always tempted to forget. Just today I had this dilemma with Kule’s going-out-of-business sale. How did I not know about this sooner? I’m subscribed to enough fashion Substacks that I feel I should be in the know. But no! The stripes were gone before I got there.
The City Pants were still available. I figured an 8 would be a safe size. They might be loose but should fit. If I get my more typical 6, it’s quite possible they wouldn’t fit at all, like the rag & bone white jeans I need in a 10. But would I really be OK missing out and never owning something from Kule?
I look around my office and it’s impossible to miss the pile of returns filling the corner. I don’t need more stuff to deal with. I need to remind myself there will always be more.
As for those shoes, Jennifer didn’t pass. I get it. They’re pretty great. And they’re actually almost my size.
Jennifer did something even better: she treated herself to a symbol of her success. Men do it every day. Women don’t. She pulled over the car in NYC to explain her decision, with her daughters as witnesses, fraud alert be damned.
I’m going to figure out what items I need to secure backups for. Then I’m going to invest in some emotional support clothing, for the days Radio is busy at a play date or going to the Beauty Parlor for spa treatments. It’s really for both of us.
Thank you to Jennifer Galante Han of The No Stress Club
When life stops making sense, we shop. More soon.
