Now that I’m a full-time working woman with a part time blogging gig on the side, I’m proud of the few designer pieces I’ve been able to save up for and purchase. My collection now includes a pair of classic Gucci Princetown Mules, a Louis Vuitton Sologne crossbody, a pair of Valentino rockstud mules, and an upcycled Louis Vuitton backpack. I’ve always had a taste for expensive things; just ask my parents. I was drawn to the first jewelry store I ever saw like a magnet and the love for shoes seems to run in my family. Although my parents’ collections don’t quite equate to mine, they definitely share my love of good footwear.
My love of budget shopping and finding a good deal also mixes with my desire for high quality items. My very first designer purchase may have been the Gucci mules I saved for this summer, but my second purchase stayed true to my bargain-hunting ways. I bought my first Louis Vuitton bag secondhand and I get compliments on it every time I take it out for a spin since it’s not as common of a purse.
I’ve purchased my designer items a few different ways. I used a large blog payment to purchase my Gucci mules; I used a little bit of savings with my first paycheck to buy my Valentinos; I used a bit of my investment money to snag my Louis Vuitton Sologne; and I bought my upcycled backpack on layaway.
Places to Buy Designer Secondhand
Now, some people have a real affinity for purchasing things brand new. I get that. But, I also love a good deal. Since designer items can run so expensive when they’re brand new, you can save a pretty penny by buying secondhand. I also understand that there is a bit of risk when buying secondhand. There are so many fakes out there (and some of them are hard to spot), that you definitely want to purchase from a reputable place. Here’s where I shop:
thredUP: I’ve preached about thredUP so many times, I know it’s getting redundant, but it truly is one of my favorite brands. That’s why I’m so excited that they have a whole section of luxury brands! You can read more about thredUP here, here, and here and get a discount and a little something extra to spend when you join using my link!
Fashionphile: This is where I bought my first Louis Vuitton. They also offer 60-day layaway plans for those who don’t want to drop a ton of cash upfront. One of my favorite things about this site is the level of confidence you have in buying your used bag. They have experts authenticators that verify the purse and then they have a 100% money back guarantee for authenticity! Shop a huge selection of vintage designer bags at Fashionphile.com.
The RealReal: The RealReal is another popular option for designer thifters. I’ve only purchased a pair of Chloe booties and a Rebecca Minkoff bag from this site. It’s definitely one to watch, because they often have great sales on some of their more vintage pieces!
Check out more tips for purchasing designer items in this guest post: How to purchase designer handbags on a budget
Shop my Vintage Louis Vuitton:
For my unique pieces: Boho Rococo
Do you have one of those pieces in your closet that elicits compliments from everyone? That’s my backpack from Boho Rococo. I purchased it on a bit of a whim once I got my full-time job and with a 90-day payment plan. I paid in small installments and was so excited to finally get this piece in my hands.
Let me tell you, this piece is even more beautiful in person. I want to carry it everywhere and I get compliments on it every time I leave the house with it. I’m already eyeing my next piece and, trust me, when you see these items, you will be too.
When I pay full price:
I’ll be honest, I always go to Nordstrom. That’s where I bought my pair of Gucci mules, my Valentino mules, and where I plan on purchasing my first pair of Jimmy Choo pumps.
Let me tell you a story:
When I was purchasing my Valentinos, I purchased a nude pair online. When they arrived, I eagerly ripped open the box and was disappointed to see that the shoes were not what I ordered. They were a pair of white block heel sandals, not a nice pair of closed-pointed-toe 3″ thin heels. When I took them to the store, the manager in the salon shoe department informed me that they were not only the right pair of shoes, they were actually fakes.
Now, I make a decent living, but I don’t make enough to blow $1000 and not get anything out of it, so I was understandably pretty upset. I sat in the shoe department for close to two hours while the manager called the warehouse the shoes came from and tried to sort out the situation. Now, I’m still pretty mad at this salesman. He actually accused me of swapping the shoes out myself. I mean, I’m an auditor for Christ’s sake. We are the last people on earth that would commit return fraud; after all, integrity is the cornorstone of the auditing profession. (Bear with me, I did study for my CPA exams for months.)
As a loyal Nordstrom customer, I was absolutely livid. I was ready to never shop at Nordstrom again. However, I called the online help department and they got my all squared away. My return went through but, unfortunately, the color I wanted had sold out in my size by the time the return was processed.
So… I went to the store and looked at the red pair. Originally, I wanted a nude pair but when I saw that the red pair was more of a burgandy rather than a bright red, I was sold. You’ll see those real soon!
(P.S. If you want to make a designer purchase from Nordstrom, make sure to do it now so you can schedule your extra point day before the end of the year!)
Shop my Mules:
