Where To Get Your Hands On A Designer Handbag For A Fraction Of The Cost
In the past, it seemed like there were only two ways to purchase designer handbags. You could either save up for ages or you could chance upon a luxury consignment retailer to purchase one at a discounted price. But luxury consignment retailers with great curations aren’t easy to find.
They don’t advertise as heavily, and sometimes the ones with the best selection of merchandise were quaint little vintage shops overseas that not everyone had access to. There’s also the real fear of accidentally purchasing a fake bag as well.
But online shopping has changed the game of the resale market, prompting many of these businesses to go online, giving consumers like you and I a chance to shop globally from like-minded peers. Many of them have special teams dedicated to authenticating the merchandise they receive as well so that buyers will be able to trust their sites. This way you no longer have to travel to Paris in order to hunt for that cute little vintage Chanel backpack you once saw in a vintage store. Now it’s only a few clicks away.
And because we believe sharing is caring, scroll through for a couple of our favourite luxury resale sites, and the bargains we couldn’t believe we found there.
WATCH THIS VIDEO TOO
Looks For Your Life: How To Pick A Functional Bag For Every Occasion
These Personal Shopping Services Will Save Busy Women So Much Time & Energy
The Best Investment Bags For Every Working Woman
Expert Shopping Hacks For When You’re On A Budget
Text: Cheryl Chan/CLEO
Here's what we found: Vintage leather Chanel backpack for $1,607.19 and a pair of (old) Celine heeled sandals for $1,218.
With almost a decade in the luxury resale market, Vestiare Collective is no amateur when it comes to the secondhand business. While the site is already popular in Europe, in the last few years or so, the brand has expanded to Asia and finally opened up its luxury concierge service in Singapore in June. And with such a wide reach, you’re certain to find almost any designer brand (both luxury as well as cult labels) under their stable.
And you can be assured that fakes rarely slip past the team. The site prides itself on trust by only working with experienced authenticators and anyone who works with them has to go through a strict training process at the Vestiaire Academy. In 2012, the team even signed a charter with the French government and luxury house to learn how to properly authenticate luxury goods.
Plus, the team does one final verification check before approving it to get sent out to you, so in the event a fake is found, the item will be sent back to the seller without any charges borne by you.
Here’s what we found: A Loewe small leather Puzzle bag for $2,200 and a wide-sleeved Jacquemus dress for $200.
Founded in 2014, The Fifth Collection is a local e-commerce platform that specializes in luxury vintage fashion. The site has a well-curated selection of designer pieces and boasts one of the most reasonable prices we’ve seen on the market.
And if you’re interested in making money instead of just, well, spending it, you could also book an appointment with the consignment team and they will come to your place to assess the designer items you would like to put up for sale.
Here's what we found: Balenciaga Triple S sneakers for $890 and a Moschino Couture hoodie dress for $190.
Founded in 2011, The RealReal is an American luxury consignment site that started in San Francisco. The site has grown with such popularity that the brand has now expanded beyond just an online presence, with two permanent brick-and-mortar-stores in the United States. Because of the larger market, The RealReal also has a huge volume of items, including streetwear brands like Supreme as well as limited edition designer/high street collaborations.
The site also seems to have more than just secondhand goods, with companies like Kering (the parent company of luxury brands like Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta) offloading unsold merchandise from older seasons onto the site as well. So with enough diligence, you might be able to score yourself some brand new Gucci at a really steep discount. And if discounted Gucci doesn’t tempt you, the site’s seemingly ongoing 20% off discount code might.
But with great volume also comes with problems. The site has been called out by fashion watchdog Diet Prada several times for the mislabeling of the items on their site. So do your research and proceed with caution when shopping on the site.
Here's what we found: A pair of Valentino Rockstud flats for $550 and a Hermès Kelly Double Tour bracelet for $350.
Another locally based luxury consignment retailer, Style Tribute is another peer-to-peer luxury resaler that aims to help women cull their wardrobe and reduce their carbon footprint at the same time. Again, because it is a Singapore-based company, Style Tribute will offer to deliver and pick up your items and issue back full refunds if the item is not to your liking.
And if you’re choosing to sell as well, the site offers two options for you to choose from. You could download the app and upload images of the items you would like to consign. Or, you could just let Style Tribute handle all of that by scheduling a concierge pick up from the team. It’s slightly less of a hassle, but you’ll earn a slightly lower commission rate for the service.
READ MORE:
Black Bags We Love For Their Stylishness And Versatility
You’ll Love These Affordable Jewellery Pieces That Only Look Expensive
11 Spacious Tote Bags That Can Carry All Your Work Documents Stylishly