So you want to buy some designer products, but you don't know where to start. Amazon? eBay? In store? For us here at Statement Magazine, we avoid those (especially eBay – too much fake product for real prices). Here's a compilation of our favorites:
1. SSENSE: This is our absolute favorite website for designer purchases because of it's large selection of designers (but not too many where it's overwhelming) and simplistic design. Based in Montreal, this online retailer sells more than 150 luxury brands. P.S. it's pronounced "essence" not "sense".
2. Farfetch: Very similar to SSENSE, this online retailer also features a kids section, in case you want to deck out your child in designer labels. In 2013, the online retailer sold over 400 different brands, making it most likely the most diverse luxury website. Started in Portugal, the company has grow significantly, with offices in more than 6 different countries. A cool feature they have is a vintage section which houses vintage pieces from brands like Chanel, Gucci, and Saint Laurent.
3. Lyst: This site is great for those on a budget because they sell lesser expensive brands such as J. Crew, Levi's, and TOMS. But don't be fooled, they still house brands like Raf Simons, Valentino, and Alexander Wang. So you'll have the whole price spectrum on this site.
4. Matches Fashion: This London-based online retailer has product from more than 400 established and emerging designers around the world. A unique feature on this website is they have personal stylists where you can get 24/7 advice on purchases.
5. Rent the Runway: Okay, so technically this isn't a place to buy designer clothing. But, have you ever had a one-time event you want to dress up for but don't want to spend a fortune on a dress you'll only wear once? That's what RTR is here for. You can rent items right off the runway (hence the name) for a significantly lower prices. Based in NYC, there are physical stores you can go to (two in Manhattan) where you can get a personal shopper to aid you. Online abilities are there as well.
6. Net-A-Porter: Net-A-Porter is similar to many of the sites above, but it has been around since 2000. Net-A-Porter gets lots of press from fashion magazines like Vogue, ELLE, etc. And they offer same day shipping for Manhattan, London, and Hong Kong. The reason why this isn't our go-to site? They don't yet sell Gosha Rubchinskiy (petty, I know – but the key word is yet). But, they do ship orders in classy black boxes wrapped with ribbon – so it's like you are getting a gift when your orders arrive.
7. Tradesy: On a budget? Check out this second-hand designer retailer where you can cop all sorts of designer products for Louis Vuitton to Valentino for significantly less. They even resell Nikon cameras and wedding dresses. The best part? They go through an authentication process to ensure there are only real products, so you don't need to worry about buying a fake LV wallet. You can also sell your old designer products to make some extra money.
What are your favorite luxury retailer sites? Let us know in the comments!
1. SSENSE: This is our absolute favorite website for designer purchases because of it's large selection of designers (but not too many where it's overwhelming) and simplistic design. Based in Montreal, this online retailer sells more than 150 luxury brands. P.S. it's pronounced "essence" not "sense".
2. Farfetch: Very similar to SSENSE, this online retailer also features a kids section, in case you want to deck out your child in designer labels. In 2013, the online retailer sold over 400 different brands, making it most likely the most diverse luxury website. Started in Portugal, the company has grow significantly, with offices in more than 6 different countries. A cool feature they have is a vintage section which houses vintage pieces from brands like Chanel, Gucci, and Saint Laurent.
3. Lyst: This site is great for those on a budget because they sell lesser expensive brands such as J. Crew, Levi's, and TOMS. But don't be fooled, they still house brands like Raf Simons, Valentino, and Alexander Wang. So you'll have the whole price spectrum on this site.
4. Matches Fashion: This London-based online retailer has product from more than 400 established and emerging designers around the world. A unique feature on this website is they have personal stylists where you can get 24/7 advice on purchases.
5. Rent the Runway: Okay, so technically this isn't a place to buy designer clothing. But, have you ever had a one-time event you want to dress up for but don't want to spend a fortune on a dress you'll only wear once? That's what RTR is here for. You can rent items right off the runway (hence the name) for a significantly lower prices. Based in NYC, there are physical stores you can go to (two in Manhattan) where you can get a personal shopper to aid you. Online abilities are there as well.
6. Net-A-Porter: Net-A-Porter is similar to many of the sites above, but it has been around since 2000. Net-A-Porter gets lots of press from fashion magazines like Vogue, ELLE, etc. And they offer same day shipping for Manhattan, London, and Hong Kong. The reason why this isn't our go-to site? They don't yet sell Gosha Rubchinskiy (petty, I know – but the key word is yet). But, they do ship orders in classy black boxes wrapped with ribbon – so it's like you are getting a gift when your orders arrive.
7. Tradesy: On a budget? Check out this second-hand designer retailer where you can cop all sorts of designer products for Louis Vuitton to Valentino for significantly less. They even resell Nikon cameras and wedding dresses. The best part? They go through an authentication process to ensure there are only real products, so you don't need to worry about buying a fake LV wallet. You can also sell your old designer products to make some extra money.
What are your favorite luxury retailer sites? Let us know in the comments!