The Full Monty on Tess

Over the years, I have always asked people where did you get that shoe, that dress, that bag (hence the "I had to ask" section).  So much so that I wanted to start a wardrobe series that goes further.

First up is Tess Rueth who I met at her home in Brooklyn. 

Fendi heels from the Fendi boutique 

Fendi bag from Barneys

"The Fendi bag is from Barneys and most of my friends think that it's really ostentatious and gross but I really love it. Do you remember in Sex and The City when Carrie gets robbed with this Fendi bag?  Carrie said: 'It's a baguette!' It's this bag! The same color and everything.  I went through a phase where I'd wear it with these purple strappy Yves Saint Laurent shoes and I would wear them with really weird clothes together. It was my go to date outfit."

Sequin dress find at No Relation in the East Village

"I've been wearing vintage clothing and shopping at thrift stores for fun since I was really young.  For example, some of these hard clutches I got when I was around 18 years old and they somehow manage to still be cool."

Bags from a recent holiday in Thailand 

"You know when you get new stuff how you secretly are really obsessed with it? I'm really obsessed with these bags. I got them in Thailand and I can't get enough of them.  These were $30 each."

"This bag was $5 and I just sewed all the coin charms on from eBay.  You buy the charms in bulk and you can cover as many bags as you want."

Custom velvet dress

"I made this velvet dress. I sewed the whole thing by hand. It's really low at the front and totally backless."

Belt find in Morrocco

"This is my all time favorite belt. I had it made in Morrocco but it's so crazy.  I think I traded a pack of gum with the guy who made it."

Christian Dior belt

"I got this belt at a thrift store around the corner. I think it was $2.50"

Click through to see the rest of Tess's finds.

You will NOT believe where she found her wedding dress.