A Brand Worth Thrifting: R & Y Augousti
Plus, a look back at three years of What's Left
I’ve been on the road a lot this month, chatting thrifting IRL at home and remodeling shows around the country, but this newsletter is my home base. It’s where I’ve been extolling the virtues of (and my excitement for) thrifting for three years now. Three years! Wow. I launched my Substack in April 2022, a few months before my book hit stores, and it’s become a huge part of my life since.
It’s where I’ve shared my tips on thrifting, It’s also where I’ve opened up about how I came to love thrifting and design and how I first formulated the idea for my book.
Substack recently re-designed it’s “Leaderboard” — a list of the most subscribed-to and most popular newsletters in various categories — and I am currently in the top 30 design publications on the platform. It’s nice to add feathers to your cap but it’s even better to know your content is resonating.
I have struggled with the word “influencer” for a long time because I think it’s often a pejorative used to diminish women. It makes it seem like people only consume my content because it’s trendy or glossy when, in reality, I’ve been working years to set myself apart as an expert in my field. I want to go beyond influence – to education. I want this newsletter to be a place where we can open a dialogue about where to thrift, how to source antiques, and share expert advice on designing your own home.
Substack is growing by leaps and bounds. I have noticed in recent months dozens of new thrifting newsletters pop up. And look, I do believe there’s room for everyone (and, as someone who invested financially in the platform during its community funding round a couple years ago, I’m thrilled to see the growth here). That being said, there is a sense of competition, because we are all fighting for subscriptions, rather than just follows. It’s one thing to hit “follow” on TikTok or Instagram. It’s another to subscribe and then set aside time to read my letters each and every week. When you subscribe to my content on Substack, you’re giving me your undivided attention, and that is a real gift.
I don’t take that responsibility lightly, and I am passionate about making this the most educational, well-thought-out resource it can be. Over the next couple of months, I have lots more planned — exciting announcements, more fun guests for my Best Thing I Ever Thrifted series, and a live video workshop all about how to thrift (plus, another about how to sell vintage finds).
I want to be your resource and your guide for sourcing incredible pieces of design on the secondhand market and I am eternally grateful for the trust you place in me. Thrifting and interior design are deeply personal for me and I am honored to have a space in your inbox each and every week. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
On that note, this week’s newsletter is the first in a new series: A Brand Worth Thrifting. Once a month, I’ll detail a brand I love and spotlight a few of their vintage pieces as well as their labels or maker’s marks (this is the best way to ensure that, if you see one of these designs while you’re out treasure-hunting, you won’t just pass it by).
Happy anniversary, baby.
xx.
R&Y Augousti is a still-in-production line of furniture and accessories founded in 1989 by husband and wife duo Ria and Yiouri Augousti. The couple is super innovative and they really revived the use of shagreen and other exotic materials in home furnishings (if you’ve ever shopped at Restoration Hardware, you’ll notice a lot of shagreen, and you have the Augoustis to thank for that, as they paved the way).
Their debut collection was designed for the Hotel Crillon in Paris, but if you followed fashion in the 1990s and 2000s, you likely remember them from their apparel and accessories collections, which were sold in stores like Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman. I absolutely lusted over the R&Y Augousti clothing and handbags in the 2000s and you can still find some pieces on The RealReal on occasion!
As they still currently produce furniture, you can absolutely purchase R&Y Augousti pieces brand-new. But they are pricey, as they are made from really incredible exotic materials (in addition to shagreen, they use a lot of shell, parchment, eel and snakeskin, as well as semi-precious stones).
As they started production in the late 1980s, you can occasionally find their pieces on the secondhand market. You just need to know what to look for — namely, those gorgeous materials, and also really unique shapes. (Their boxes, in particular, are works of art, and so useful for storing jewelry, remotes, and the like).
They also have a flagship store, located in the 7th arrondissement in Paris (I’m taking a trip in May and I cannot wait to pop in!).
Odds & Ends
I spoke to Veranda about how to shop a thrift store like a pro.
The new Sezane collection is great. I promptly ordered this polka dotted outfit the day it hit the site. The all-in-one black jumpsuit version is also excellent.
Dieux Skin sent me some products recently and I am really loving the Instant Angel Moisturizer and Deliverance Serum. Good packaging for travel (a tube, rather than a jar) and incredibly rich, so it works well as a night cream.
I love Joyce Lee’s roundup of various takes on an iconic uniform: the slightly oversized button-down shirt with chic basics.
Material Kitchen is hosting a huge birthday sale, with some items up to 40% off. Their knives are good (sharp, chic, with a handy and safe little sheath) and I use mind almost daily. Many of their items are also “guaranteed for life,” so you know they’ll stand the test of time.
Thank you for reading! I am so happy to be a part of your world. Give me a ♥️ if you liked this post (it helps with visibility and lets me know you’d like more of this type of content).
honestly you are the ONLY newsletter I read! So you are 1000% on target when you say it is a big deal to read actual words. :-) Woohoo!
Happy 3 years, Virginia! Congrats on making the "leaderboard", lol. It's a race?? Shagreen is stingray skin, right? Such a cool name.