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The Hollywood-trusted sourcing expert talks eight highly requested items her clients are loving now.
For most people, the words sold out mark the end to a once-hopeful sartorial pursuit. Those same words, particularly when they describe the most in-demand fashion items of the moment, are the basis of personal shopper Gab Waller’s worldwide sourcing business, where she comes to the rescue of stylish celebrities facing fashion emergencies. Her unique position offers an inside look at what trend-forward Hollywood darlings are shopping, so Waller has a keen eye for spotting impending It items before they take off as well.
Hailey Bieber’s crystaled-out Saint Laurent boots, Lori Harvey’s trusty Bottega accessories, and, taking it back to the request that catapulted Waller’s business to Hollywood go-to status, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s rare Phoebe Philo–era Celine logo trench coat, are all among style moments born out of Waller and team’s sourcing talents. The industry insider, who has connections with a number of boutiques and retailers in various cities (Waller says it’s in the corners of these warehouses where you’re bound to find extra stock of seemingly sold-out best sellers), even calls Khloé Kardashian’s daughter, True Thompson, a client. She sourced a vintage Dior oblique fabric to create a custom kid’s dress for True, to match a vintage look sourced for Mom.
Waller’s requests often have a domino effect. She shares a recent find online, or a client tags her, and in comes a flood of more requests for the same item in various sizes via Instagram DM. (The stylist-turned-magic fashion locator encourages any- and everyone to approach her to start their search for what she calls “the item that got away.”) Waller knows exactly which celebs and what kinds of items clients are likely to perk their ears up at most. For instance, “if [Hailey Bieber] wears it,” she tells BAZAAR.com, “I can absolutely guarantee clients will request it.” Tens to hundreds of requests later, a megatrend is born.
If anything is an indicator of what’s worth shopping right now, it’s the queries in Waller’s DMs from A-listers, stylists, and fashion enthusiasts alike. While some are harder to track down than others, the following popular items are a surefire starting point for building a cool-girl-approved closet for the fall.
Dad sandals are the unofficial Hollywood It item, based on Waller’s most-received requests. Hermès’s Chypre Sandal, a hot commodity due, in part, to its practical nature, boasts the impressive title of the most-requested sandal in Gab Waller history. She says vast colorways and the introduction of shearling styles also helped propel the sandal to must-have status. The look isn’t exclusive to Hermès: Waller confirms fashion girls have their hearts set on Fendi’s logo slides as well.
According to Waller, prep is still front and center. “[Chanel’s quilted CC loafers] have been one of our most-requested shoe styles for well over a year now,” she says. À la Bella Hadid or Zoë Kravitz, pair the style with wide-leg plaid trousers or slightly baggy jeans for a cool, off-duty look.
How white tank tops became one of the year’s reigning fashion trends remains a question—not to say we’re at all mad at it. As far as luxury options go, Prada’s fall 2022 iteration is one of the styles behind the hype, and Waller has seen its influence firsthand. “The Prada logo hardware dresses it up just enough for it to be styled back to any number of looks,” she says. Similarly, Waller says Loewe’s ribbed logo top ranks high on her client’s to-buy lists.
You might think, with Hermes’s Chypre Sandals in mind, that the next Hollywood It shoe to make the list would come with a higher heel height. Waller says it’s actually New Balance sneakers that have seen a boom over the last year. (Sure enough, Hailey Bieber, Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kendall Jenner have been spotted in footwear from the sporty brand throughout the past month.) According to Waller, New Balance's 550 sneaker wins the title of most sought after, but other styles from the Rolodex, as well as Adidas’s Samba sneakers, are next in line.
Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Euphoria’s Alexa Demie spent the better half of the year in off-kilter sunglasses styles from Balenciaga, be it gigantic black-out styles, a viral silver cat-eye pair, or daintier frames from the brand. It comes as no surprise many of them have sell-out potential, leading shoppers to Waller in their pursuit of the similar shades.
Nostalgic ’90s and early-2000s fashion’s staying power indicates a sartorial return to the ’80s isn’t far behind. Saint Laurent’s bold-shouldered catsuits are shaping up to be the catalyst. In lieu of LBDs and miniskirts, Waller says they’ve been the most popular ready-to-wear request in recent weeks. “[They] offer such a bold look, but are incredibly easy to wear,” she says.
Perhaps it’s because of Carrie Bradshaw’s return to TV screens with her trusted purple baguette (you know the one): According to Waller, Fendi’s shoulder bags are dotting the streets of Hollywood like it’s 2001. Primed for nights out on the town, Waller says the brand’s sequined styles are enticing fans most.
Luxury swimwear requests are bound to hit Waller’s inbox every summer, but the sourcing aficionado says Chanel swimwear in particular seems to transcend seasons. “[We’ve started to see] these pieces, originally intended for the beach and pool, styled as bralettes and bodysuits,” Waller says. “This versatility is such a draw card for clients looking to get the maximum value from their wardrobes.”