Tips for Shopping Pre-Loved Luxury
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If you’ve been a part of the Dionne Dean family for any amount of time, then you know that I am OBSESSED with the Givenchy ‘Antigona’ and have been since it came onto the scene in 2010. ‘Frugal Fran’ and retail professor that I am, I knew that I wasn’t going to pay the $2500 price tag. I’ve been in this luxury game long enough to know that #1-Givenchy ALWAYS goes on sale and #2-There’s always a fab fashionista looking to clear her wardrobe at seasons end. Which leads me to this post.
I’m going to share a few tips I’ve learned along my journey of shopping luxury preloved. Bags, boots, clothing accessories…you name it, I’ve purchased either via thrift, consignment or online resale site. I hope you’re able to use these tips to create the luxury wardrobe of your dreams!
Do your research- a lot of times people miss the luxury goods at the thrift store because they’re unfamiliar with the style. Vogue Runway is your best friend. Spend a weekend afternoon looking through the shows to see what styles are about to hit the stores the upcoming season. Then check your fave resale site to see if any older models of the bags are on the site. I’ve done this with my Antigona, the Fendi ‘Peekaboo’, Louis Vuitton ‘Speedy’, Loewe ‘Puzzle’ bag, Chloe ‘Marcie’ and more. Brands are always updating bags with new hardware and materials. You may be able to find an older style in like new condition.
Change of direction- A new Creative Director means that styles from the former CD are now obsolete. This is not always the case as Phoebe Philo’s ‘Celine’ is still going strong on resale sites. Many times, however, the new Creative Director is bringing in their own vision and style and decides to do away with their predecessors designs. That being said, fashion mavens may resell their pieces in order to afford the newer styles coming down the pipeline. If you wanted pieces from Alessandro Michele’s time at Gucci or even Tom Ford for that matter, there’s plenty to shop online. I know I have a few pieces from Karl Lagerfeld’s time at Fendi that in my cart.
Know your budget- I have a set amount that I’m willing to pay for my ‘Antigona’ bag or any luxury item for that matter. Opt-in to the newsletter of your favorite resale site for coupons and flash sales. Also shop at times when people are clearing out their closets (i.e. First of the year, Spring cleaning, Fall transition)
Check the comps- One of the reasons I’m always in the stores (other than I’m obsessed with retail and love the energy of stores) is to comparison shop. Check both the brick-and-mortar and online to make sure that you’re really getting a deal. There are times where the outlet mall has better pricing than your favorite online reseller.
Patience is a virtue- One of my superpowers is that I’m extremely patient. I’m also not a trend-driven shopper, so when a luxury piece catches my eye, I give it a few months even years before I decide whether or not it’s something that fits my vibe. Years? Yes…years. Most luxury items start in the thousands. As it relates to shopping in-store, I don’t want to spend $1200 on a pair of shoes in March that have been reduced to $300 in June…and trust me this happens ALL the time. Same goes with preloved luxury. A bag that was HOT in the Fall 2022 is now obsolete. Fast fashion has sped up the fashion calendar. What was hot a few years ago is now selling on online resale sites for sometimes half, if not a quarter of the price.
Well there it is. I’ve given you all the tea. Can’t wait to see what old-new piece you decide to spoil yourself with! ;-)
In style…Dionne
