Julia Fox Talks Stoop Sale, Plastic Surgery, Looksmaxxing and Shoplifting

“I’m not a celebrity.”

That is one realization that the artist, actress, model and first-time director Julia Fox would like more people to wake up to. After a two-week closet cleanse, Julia Fox will be selling hundreds of her fashion finds Saturday afternoon in TriBeCa, as part of Drafting x eBay’s stoop sale series.

The ready-made style arbiter is parting with 450 pieces, including some of her favorite designer ones and PR freebies. Shoppers can find the goods at 453 Washington Street from 1 to 5 p.m. and online at eBay. A black Alexander Wang coat that she wore for a shoot with Juergen Teller, an Instinct Brand tank and micro-miniskirt “made from trash,” and a blue velvet coat that Fox wore for a night out with Kanye West in 2022 are up for grabs. A portion of the sales are earmarked for Rosebuds Reading Collective, which uses books as a means of healing.

The Italian-born New Yorker opened up about her stoop-sale haul, looksmaxxing, plastic surgery, shoplifting, her weekly altruistic trips to Rikers, publicity-hungry mommy influencers and her next movie.

WWD: Are you the kind of person who cleans their closet from time to time?

J.F.: Never. I just let stuff pile up. I rewear the same three things, because they happen to be at the top of the pile. That’s how I was getting dressed for many years. There are about 450 items. Some of it is PR gifting stuff. But most of it are designer pieces that I have had for a really long time.

WWD: Do you regret getting rid of anything?

J.F.: Probably the denim bralette that I had DIYed that broke the internet. That started many denim trends and many copycat denim bralettes. It’s difficult to part with, because it was such a moment. All I really did was cut the top off a pair of jeans, turn that upside down and put it over my boobs.

WWD: How long did it take to decide what to part with?

J.F.: It took two weeks to go through everything. Then there is obviously the emotional aspect of having to let go of things that I realized I was holding onto, because they had a sentimental value. I had to ask myself, “Do I really need this? Am I ever going to wear this again?” I was trying very hard not to lead with fear, and it helped knowing in my heart that it was for such a good cause — Rosebuds Reading Collective. I go to Rikers every weekend to lead the writers’ workshop [with incarcerated women].

WWD: Have you done that for a long time?

J.F.: I started in January. I had gone there last year, because they read my book [“Down the Drain”]. That’s how I got involved with the [Rosebuds Reading Collective] program. This year I had a New Year’s resolution to step outside of my comfort zone, and to do new things that make me feel good that are good for my community and for women. There’s talking about doing something and then there’s actually doing something about it.

WWD: What would people be most surprised to learn about the women you are meeting with every week at Rikers?

J.F.: Really, they’re just like — they’re just girls. If they weren’t in jail, we’d be friends on the outside. Sometimes there’s this idea that people in jail are dangerous criminals. A lot of these women’s crimes were committed while they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which could happen to anybody when they’re under the influence. They could make one mistake or one wrong move. When they’re sober and talking to you, they’re just regular girls.

WWD: You said recently that you don’t identify as a celebrity. How do you separate knowing who you are and other people’s perceptions of you from social media or your films?

J.F.: There’s automatic eye roll, whenever a celebrity does anything. To be honest, “celebrity” was never really a title that I identified with. I saw an opportunity and I performed “celebrity” as well as I could, and for as long as I could to make the best of it. I made lots of money. I was able to support myself, buy a house and take care of my child. I’m no longer in that survival mode. It’s kind of like, “OK, I can be myself again.” Obviously, a lot of people are never going to not see me as a celebrity. But I know that I am not performing celebrity anymore, and that’s all I need.

WWD: What about the people, who were skeptical about your views on TikTok about aging being “fully in,” given your age [36] and your physique?

J.F.: It’s clear that I was onto something. Didn’t Bad Bunny just go to the Met Gala in full elderly person aesthetic? We’ve seen a rise of elderly women on the runway and on magazine covers. By elderly, I just mean above 40. It could be 60 or 70 at this point. Look at the success that Pamela Anderson is having after taking off all her makeup. As women, we need to stop building this prison around ourselves. We’ve been taught to believe that aging is this horrible thing, but really, you’re living. You’re alive — that is amazing.

WWD: What about men’s view?

J.F.: It’s funny how women are coming out of this brainwashing, but now the men are entering it with this whole looksmaxxing thing. They’re getting procedures for their hairlines, teeth, jaws or chins, or going to the gym [for hours on end.] It rights itself. The tables always turn. You can never predict what will happen or take off. Women just look better, if they let themselves age. That’s just my opinion. I know a lot of people aren’t going to like it. Listen, I have had plastic surgery so many times. I’m not saying, “Don’t do what you want to do,” or “Don’t fix what you want to fix.” Just make sure that it’s not coming from this place, where you’re not good enough the way you are. You are.

WWD: You spoke at the ACE Awards recently about shoplifting in middle school at a Betsey Johnson store. Do you think the new film about a band of shoplifters, “I Love Boosters” will normalize shoplifting?

J.F.: I haven’t seen it yet. But I’m supposed to go to the New York premiere, so circle back. I think a lot more people do it than they would like to admit. I’ve been known to do a little something here and there at the self-checkout. I think we all have, but obviously from the corporations. If you’re stealing from a mom-and-pop store, that’s absolutely not OK. If you’re going to be a thief, at least be a socially conscious thief.

WWD: Is it true that you were once banned from Bloomingdale’s for shoplifting years ago?

J.F.: Yeah, but I have been back. I did a little campaign for them once. They had me come to an entrance [at the flagship]. When they wanted to check my ID, I remember being so scared that my name might come up in the system. But they did let me in. A lot of time has passed and I love Bloomingdale’s. We’re cool now.

WWD: What’s next for work?

J.F.: I’m directing my first film that I wrote. Right now, the title is “Fairy Boy.” It centers around the really beautiful relationship between two little boys who have grown up in similar but different circumstances. They’re exploring their identities and finding themselves, as they explore New York City. It’s very tragic. But seeing the world through the eyes of a child or teenager everything is exciting, colorful, new and novel. I really wanted to capture the innocence of childhood, even when they’re in an environment that might not be the best for them — and how a child survives in that. That was my experience growing up in New York City.

WWD: What do you think of the trend of some celebrities having their children take more public roles?

J.F.: It’s up to the child. There’s no blanket answer for parenting or child-rearing. Every child is going to tell you what they do and do not want to do. As a mother, I give my [5-year-old] son a lot of agency. I respect his opinion and what he wants to do. I take him into consideration when I make decisions. I inform him of the plan and what we’re going to do, because I wasn’t raised that way. I felt as though I was constantly in fight-or-flight mode, and I didn’t get to enjoy my childhood that much. If my son said, “I want to start a YouTube channel” or whatever it is kids do these days, I would say, “Absolutely. But within reason, there will be boundaries and parental supervision. If that is something you want to do, who am I to say, You can’t do it?” Some children can handle it and others can’t. The only thing that is messed up is those influencer parents, who are making their child perform from morning ‘til night, and they look like they don’t want to do it. To me, that’s child abuse. That’s depressing.

WWD: You do so much in the course of a year, never mind through the years, but some people still link you to Kanye. Do you think that will ever stop?

J.F.: Yes.

WWD: Is there one thing you wish people knew about you, or does that not matter to you?

J.F.: That I’m not a celebrity. Put that as the headline.