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Lily Allen is no stranger to style reinvention. From her iconic prom-dress-and-trainers fits when she first came onto the scene, to the ingenious costumes of her West End Girl tour wardrobe, she’s known for her looks both on and off the stage. But being a fashion inspiration comes with some downsides — namely, a heaving wardrobe she can barely close. With the intention of finally being able to shut the doors, she has invited friend and Vogue contributing editor Osman Ahmed to be the voice of reason during an epic closet clearout, with the plan to list her pre-loved pieces on eBay.
“When you love clothes, and you love fashion, you know, we go through different phases, and we experiment with our style,” Ahmed shares, surveying some of the pieces Allen has pulled out. “And we look back, and it’s these great moments of our life, but you have to really ask yourself, where am I right now? And I feel like these are previous chapters, maybe.”
“I find it really hard to get rid of anything,” Allen explains. “I get attached to things, and everything’s got a story, and I don’t want to see things go. But there’s quite a high volume of things coming in, and I don’t have enough space for everything. I have my favourites, and I don’t really veer away from them, but there’s all this stuff that exists. They’re good clothes, and people should wear them, and I’m not.”
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“So,” Ahmed tells her, “what we can do is, we can list these on eBay.” Offering free selling and a seamless listing experience, the platform is a favourite for anyone hoping to clear out their wardrobe. “They’re going to go to a new home. Once that’s done, you’re gonna have a bit more space to go shopping.”
“Or just put the stuff that’s in bags, waiting, in my wardrobe!” Allen laughs.
However, the motivation behind her clearout goes beyond the simple desire to make space. “I work with a charity called the Forward Trust. I’m an ambassador for them,” Allen explains. “They’re a charity that helps people struggling with addiction, so that’s where the proceeds will be going: to a good cause.”
Delving into the wardrobe is an exploration of print, texture and colour — in some cases, a lot of colour. “This is a lot, but in a great way,” Ahmed says, pulling out a sequined Chanel cardigan with a pink and orange sunset design — a key piece from the brand’s Cruise 2024 collection.
“I bought her from a vintage store in Vancouver when I was on tour,” Allen explains. “I was a bit younger and my hair was bleached and I used to wear these sort of like pop-y colours in my hair. It’s not very me now. You know? But I do feel like someone will love it.”
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“Yeah. I think someone will really have fun with that,” Ahmed agrees. “And it’s Chanel! Everyone wants to be a Chanel girl. There’s something magic about it.”
Also chosen to be listed on eBay is a cropped jacket from a matching Miu Miu set. “I wore it the full look in Paris, during Fashion Week, and then I’ve never worn the whole thing together again — I have quite a lot of blazers that I go to more than I would go to this one. The skirt, however, I wear all the time.”
“It’s gonna be such a timeless piece,” Ahmed says, “there will be a fashion collector out there who will be desperate to get their hands on it.”
One piece that Allen is reluctant to let go of is a slinky leopard print Balmain dress. “That’s a breakup dress!” she laughs. “She was, you know, back on the scene, back on the market. I was going on a work trip to Los Angeles, and so I needed something for LA nights.”
An Alaïa dress is also put to one side, though not without a little hesitation from Allen. “This is a beautiful dress,” she says wistfully, showing Ahmed the heart-shaped cut-out on the back. “The only reason I’m selling this is because it doesn’t fit. Because I’m often touring in a way for a long time, I’ll buy things, they’ll get delivered, and then I miss the window of returning.” A white lace Saint Laurent dress is also relinquished for a similar reason.
“These are gonna go to some fun loving girls,” Ahmed assures her, “who have a lot to look forward to, and a lot of their own memories to create.”
By the end of the clearout, there is a generous selection of pieces (including some Chanel trainers reminiscent of Allen’s earlier fashion exploits and experimental Miu Miu clogs) destined for eBay. The auctions are set to go live on Wednesday 2 September, and end on Wednesday 9 September — meaning you have a week to place your bids, and get your hands on some of Lily Allen’s own closet. As Ahmed says: “We’re making space for new things to come in, we are raising money for incredible charity, and these are gonna go to a new home where someone’s going to love them. It’s a win-win-win.”
Shop Lily Allen’s pre-loved pieces at ebay.co.uk, or take advantage of eBay’s free selling and find your own items a new home.
