For those who know me, they know I have a rather large collection of designer handbags. From Céline to Fendi to Valentino and Prada, I have them all. To be honest, I’ve been collecting these designer handbags for over a decade now.
What people do not know is that I rarely pay full price for my bags. I purchase them in some of the most unlikeliest of places. Today, I am going to share with you how I curated my collection.
Fashionphile
I do not remember how I came across Fashionphile, but they are responsible for my Hermes, Celine, Valentino, Prada and Balenciaga purchases. In just a few pictures, I’m going to explain how it was possible. As of this writing, this is their current inventory.
For Gucci, here are a few of their bags and pricing.
Not bad, right?
How about Céline?
One of the reasons why I like to use Fashionphile is not only because of these incredible prices for pre-owned merchandise, but also their guarantee that these designer handbags are authentic. You take a gamble with places like Ebay, Tradesy, etc. when it comes to authenticity. Because, you need to know how to spot the real from the fake. You almost need to be an expert these days. With Fashionphile, they take the guesswork out of it and guarantee the authenticity.
Tips before you buy: 1. Check the “Condition” tab. It will give you a clear understanding of the bag’s real condition. The better the condition of the bag, the higher the price. If you can live with the condition stated, go ahead and buy it. 2. If you find something you love, but can’t buy it now, consider the Layaway option.
My best kept secret: They have a LAST CALL! Some of my amazing finds come from their LAST CALL section. Also hit up their outlet, which is hosted on Ebay. I snagged a Fendi pochette on there for $235.
The Others…
Other places to peruse…if you want to buy a newer bag, but don’t want the price, try Overstock.com. I picked up my favorite Fendi tote bag for $1000. $600 off of the original price. [Warning: They have been known to get a crop of counterfeit bags every now and again. When they discover this, they will reach out to the customer and give them the option of returning it for a full refund…even if you used it.]
The Outnet and Net-a-Porter are excellent places to pick up a discounted couture handbag when they have their semi-annual sales. These sales usually occur in June and December.
Yoox is another go-to spot for all things designer. Check out their sale section.
For those who love vintage (like I do), I tend to get my vintage at places like Housing Works or Goodwill. The best way to shop Goodwill is to put the designer’s name in the search box.
How about you? What are some of your designer handbag collecting secrets?
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