Have you ever seen pictures of celebrities or big time bloggers and hoped that someday you’d be able to be wearing the designer names that they are wearing? I’ve been there but as a recent college grad I never really saw a fancy handbag in my future. But with some savvy shopping and some serious saving, I was able to purchase my first designer handbag this year! I’m going to tell you just how I did it and how you can too!
How to Shop Designer Brands on a Budget
Second-Hand Sites
Second-hand sites are my secret weapon when shopping for big ticket items. Gone are the days of sketchy deals on eBay where you never know if you’re getting scammed or not. These are my top five sites that I will check daily if there is a certain item I’m saving for. While shopping for designer items online might seem scary, these are all websites that I trust because all these sites guarantee authenticity. This to me is key! If I’m saving a couple of hundred dollars, I need to know exactly what I’m getting.
Which brings me to another great thing about these six sites: disclosure. All these second hand sites clearly state and show you pictures of any defect in the item. This could be anything from some small scratches on the leather to a stain inside the lining to scuffs on a heel but these defects will be reflected in the price and you won’t have any surprises upon arrival.
Fashionphile
Fashionphile has quickly become the number one place to go online for the best designer pieces. They specialize in handbags but also have a selection of sunglasses and accessories. If you are in the market for a handbag, I say look here first. They have a great selection of all the popular bags as well as timeless classics. Plus you can every so often get amazing finds on crazy good sale!
Trendlee
I haven’t had any experience with Trendlee but is quickly gaining recognition as the place to shop. They have an extensive curated selection with easy to use filters on their site, so you can find exactly what you are looking for. Bonus, hassle free two-way shipping! They make it clear that you can return an item, no questions asked, if it isn’t exactly what you wanted.
Bag, Borrow, or Steal
What makes Bag, Borrow, and Steal unique among this group is the “Borrow” in their title. Here you can both buy and/or rent designer pieces for a month at a time. This is one great way to test run a piece before putting your hard earned cash on the line or if you have a special event coming up and only need the bag for a short while.
Vestiaire Collection
Much like Trendlee, Vestiaire Collection, is a sight I have yet to try personally (although I’ve window shopped plenty) but I have only heard good reviews. They are very similar to Trendlee but carry a much broader selection of items from handbags to clothing and shoes.
Poshmark
I purchased my Chanel flats and Louboutin pumps through Poshmark for a killing! Like seriously about to 80% off. While most people tend to steer clear of Poshmark for higher end pieces, I’ve had good luck with shoes. They will authenticate products that cost over a certain threshold but many sellers are good about including pictures of authentication cards or serial numbers on their listings.
If you still feel like you want the designer look without the price tag, check out my Designer Alternative series (I do about one a month), which are all full of budget friendly look a likes. Also don’t forget to check out my post No Shopping Challenge post for some saving tips!
