When it comes to one-of-a-kind pieces, high-end vintage purveyor What Goes Around Comes Around is king. Stocking thousands of authentic luxury and old-school vintage finds, it’s garnered a loyal following from celebs like Rihanna and Victoria Beckham (NBD, right?). We caught up with cofounder Seth Weisser to pick his brain on care tips, authenticity, and his all-time favorite pieces. Read on for a peek into this highly coveted collection.
Credit: @whatgoesaroundnyc/Instagram
Rue La La: Celebrities love your selection. How did you build such a loyal and famous consumer base?
Seth Weisser: Since opening our SoHo flagship store in 1993, we’ve built one of the world’s most famous collections of designer luxury accessories and clothing. Today, with our Beverly Hills and Miami stores, we are in prime locations for the jet-setting, high-fashion clients we cater to. Our clientele and celebrity shoppers all want our special pieces, allowing them to make a unique statement.
RLL: How do you authenticate vintage pieces?
SW: With over 24 years in the luxury vintage market, authenticity is the backbone of our business. We have a special team of dedicated specialists to manage a rigorous three-part inspection process, so our clients never have to worry about the integrity of any of our products. We also offer a What Goes Around Comes Around Letter of Authenticity with each bag we sell.
RLL: Do you have an all-time favorite piece, past or present? If so, what is it?
SW: All time?! After 24 years of international buying trips, that’s a very tough question! If I had to choose, I’d say a pair of Levi’s Buckleback jeans from the 1890s that we sold to Levi’s for their company museum in San Francisco. A second was a Rolling Stones “Love You Live” T-shirt, which was designed and autographed by Andy Warhol.
RLL: What is the most over-the-top item someone has offered you?
SW: That’s another hard question! A few special ones that stand out would be a Chanel guitar we sold to one collector for $25,000. Another great item was a special-edition Hermès bicycle, which was bought by artist Cindy Sherman from our East Hampton store.
Credit: @whatgoesaroundnyc/Instagram
RLL: What brand or style earns the best resale value?
SW: Chanel and Hermès products have maintained the best resale value historically. Chanel creates new collections six times a year, so there are many rare and discontinued items that have become more valuable after they’ve sold out. Hermès Birkins and Kellys are well known for consistently appreciating, even more so for rare colors and collections (e.g. the Candy collection).
RLL: What advice do you have for first-time buyers of big-ticket vintage items?
SW: Buy from trusted sources. The “get lucky” mentality is very dangerous in the vintage market. Companies like What Goes Around Comes Around and Rue La La are sure bets, so the consumer doesn’t have to take unnecessary risks.
Credit: @whatgoesaroundnyc/Instagram
RLL: Do you have any insider tips for deciding on a vintage piece?
SW: There are a lot of directions you can go with this type of purchase. The key is to buy something you love from a trusted, reputable company to be sure it will serve you a long time.
RLL: Do you have any tricks for restoring vintage pieces or keeping them in tip-top shape?
SW: Keep your handbags protected in dust bags and stuffed when you’re not using them, so they keep their shape. In general, avoid overusing and overcleaning items. We offer a great leather spa service to clients who buy from us to help repair and restore bags. Unfortunately, Louis Vuitton canvas items are difficult to revise, so just enjoy the patina as you use them.
RLL: Which of today’s It pieces do you predict will be coveted for years to come?
SW: Every year there are select styles that sell out or are discontinued and become quickly coveted – the luxury collectors out there know a great piece when they see it. This year, I see the new Jeff Koons Louis Vuitton collaboration as a highly sought-after collection.
By Brianna Lapolla, Associate Editor
