How many times have you seen a designer item and thought to yourself, ” I love this. I wish I could afford it” or “OMG This is so pretty but I cannot justify paying for this.” I have many times since I was in middle school following the ownership of a Dooney & Bourke courtesy of my mom leading to my handbag addiction. Funny story my friends and I are in eight grade I actually made a pact to split paying for a Coach purse. If you are anything like me, this blog post was written with you in mind. People do not always have the money to spend on high-end purses and even if they do have it, they don’t want to spend their money. Especially in the world of fashion where trends are constantly changing, splurging on an item that will not generate a good return of investment, may not be worth the risk.
SHOPPING TIPS:
I have shared these tricks with my closest friends but if you’re here that means we’re friends and I’ll share with you too!
- Instead of searching for the name of the item specifically, try using descriptive phrases such as “luxury canvas book tote” or “designer canvas bag.” Even “designer inspired LV tote” instead of “Louis Vuitton never full dupe” will head you in the right direction. Don’t be discouraged if the search doesn’t initially yield what you hoped to see. Rest assured those key words or a similar sequence, will lead you in the right direction and related items will appear.
- When you have your mind set on a particular item, search often (even daily if you get obsessed with the hunt like myself). Inspired pieces come and go quickly. For example, I’ve had my heart set on a Dior Book tote for our upcoming summer family trip because it’s conveniently open up top and light to tote around with breaking my arm. (A major factor especially during mom life!) I saved my search for a “designer canvas book tote” on ETSY. Every few days, I would check back to see if more options were available. I was initially nervous to make my purchase and the item was SOLD OUT a few times. I decided to message the seller for the next restock date. I set a calendar reminder and “added to cart” with no hesitation this time. Ask and you shall receive!!
- Still not sold on inspired looks? Don’t mind splurging a little? You can still invest in a real bag without paying full price. There are sites with real pre-loved designer items. Often these come sites come with a promise of authenticity. A couple of years ago, I was able to find my beloved CELINE on Mercari for a fraction of the retail price. One of my most recent purchases was my Zac Posen and it was such a steal of a deal! Check out these sites that promise you the real deal on a steal: FarFetch / The RealReal / MadaLuxe Vault / Rebag / LYST to name a few.
