The Seller Series: Daphne Javitch

At Resee, every one of our vintage pieces comes with a story. Perhaps that 1920s beaded gown had been in the same family for generations; the Céline patchwork leather dress is the very one that appeared in the house’s last Phoebe-Philo designed collection. As for the original Le Smoking tuxedo suit? It was made by Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent for Catherine Deneuve herself. 

This is, in large part, thanks to our unmatched community of consignors. 

Though parting with such sartorial treasures may not be easy, the exceptional personal care we put into ensuring that they will go on to live a second (or, sometimes even, a third, fourth, or fifth) life offers a thrill — one rivaled only by that of the besotted shopper who adds them to her wardrobe. 

But don’t just take it from us. Here, in the Seller Series, our consignors — from industry titans to world-class collectors — open up their archives, revealing the items they gave up (and those perhaps they never will), and, ultimately, why they’ve chosen to place their inestimable trust in Resee. 

Daphne Javitch has been digging through piles of vintage clothes to unearth singular finds—pristine 1930s Italian cotton nightgowns; a wool coat from Yves Saint Laurent’s 1976 Russian collection—since she was only 12 years old. Such a discerning eye and dedication to the hunt, however, is “not an innate gift,” she insists. “I’ve really just been practicing it for so long.”

Though the L.A.-based health coach and founder of Doing Well has recently become known for making holistic wellness achievable and chic, Javitch is, in fact, a fashion industry veteran: after starting off her career as a costume designer, she launched Ten Undies and began designing clothing for Ron Herman in Japan. These days, “My style is really just simple comfort,” she says. “I try to wear my good vintage in my [Instagram] videos, but, at the end of the day, the things that I treasure the most are my old T-shirts, sweatshirts, and jeans.” 

Why are you drawn to vintage? 

“I have been thrifting and going to flea markets and consignment shops since I was 12 years old. I just love the thrill of the hunt. I used to be a costume designer, and I remember my resume had a special skill that said “resourceful on a low budget” because I truly can go to a Salvation Army or [sift through] mountains of clothes and find a treasure. I have the endurance and I have the eye. It’s not an innate gift; I’ve really just been practicing it for so long. I have so much respect and admiration for the quality in which garments were made in the past. And it’s fun in a world where everything is so global and available to be able to have things that are not only unique and individual but also carry history and other people’s stories and experiences.” 

When did you start consigning? 

“I remember being at camp and trading a shirt, so I’ve gifted, traded, sold, and consigned clothes since my teens. Even though I love the hunt and can find good stuff, I have to really contain myself and be careful—I had to take eBay and Etsy off of my phone—because I am a very organized and edited person and don’t like having a stuffed closet. Consigning is a logical way to make space in my closet and also to continue the narrative of these garments. I started consigning with Resee soon after their launch in 2013. The pieces are so beautifully presented. I mean talk about actually not having to hunt at all!” 

What are some of the pieces you’ve consigned? 

“Prada’s Spring 2012 flame shoes stand out because I recently learned my nieces wanted them and I had no idea… So everything from those kinds of iconic recognizable pieces to pristine Italian cotton nightgowns that I found in a flea market. I really love Resee for that: of course, if you’re looking for a very specific designer piece, there’s a high chance of eventually finding it, but they have such good taste and such an eye that they appreciate all special things. It doesn’t have to be Alaia or Hermès.” 

How do you decide when to part with a piece?

“I do a [closet] cleanse several times a year. I did a big one when I moved from the East Coast to the West Coast last year. I have different piles: some are gifts, some are trade, and some are more special designer pieces, which I send to Resee. I’ve made a couple of mistakes in the past, and now I’ve gotten better at [trusting] my gut feeling and knowing when it’s time to let go of something. Aside from one or two things, I never think twice and wish them well.” 

Are there any pieces you regret giving up? 

“The problem is that when I regret something I have such clarity of memory of the piece that it’s torture, but I really only regret one piece: a beautiful 1930s ivory slip with cherry-red piping and a monogram. The piece was in mint condition. At the time, it just wasn’t my style, but I didn’t realize that those pieces would become harder and harder to find. Other than that, I only regret things I didn’t buy.” 

How have you prevented any consignment regrets since then?

“Because I’m such a thrifter I’ve seen over the last 30 years that it has become rarer and rarer to go into a thrift store and be able to find beautiful pieces, like an amazing Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress from the 70s or a perfect Sears catalog type of thing. Now, even if something isn’t my exact style in this moment, I’m able to understand whether it’s a timeless piece and worth selling or not. Sometimes, you’re not going to get what it’s actually worth in terms of its scarcity.” 

What was the hardest piece to part with?

“The hardest things were what was stolen from my house. I found a pristine Yves Saint Laurent Russian-era black wool waisted coat for $200 in a thrift store that I never really got to wear. I think if I’d been able to wear it a couple of times and have that memory in that piece, I’d be less upset. Actually, I’m so lucky because the person who stole didn’t know what they were doing and took only the designer pieces; thank god things that were truly irreplaceable—like sweatshirts and T-shirts and things that do not appear to be of value to other people—were not stolen. I believe in fashion karma; it’s possible I’ll have another encounter with that coat, but it’s very searchable, whereas a vintage T-shirt is not searchable in the same way…” 

What’s something you’d never give up? 

“My style is really just simple comfort. At the end of the day, I’m just a jeans and a T-shirt girl with a crazy collection of vintage clothing. I once didn’t buy an old T-shirt with line drawings of Muhammad Ali, a butterfly, and a bee because it was $200, which I thought was insane. To this day, I still think about that T-shirt—and it was 20 years ago. $200 is insane to spend on a T-shirt, but I know myself and I would have treasured, adored, worn, and loved that T-shirt until it was unwearable. And now that T-shirt would probably be $1000! But there’s a beauty in just seeing something and remembering it, too… We don’t have to own everything.” 

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