10 best retailers to buy discount designer clothes online
Think buying designer equals lots of money spent? Think again, as there’s an easy way to store luxury “gems” for a fraction of the price.
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These days buying designer clothing can feel more out of reach than ever before thanks to the oh-so-fun combo of the rising cost of living and inflation.
While there's nothing wrong with shopping more affordable brands, it can be nice to invest in key designer pieces that will often be more classic in style as well as lasting longer, too.
It’s also not something you need to break the bank to do — over the years I’ve managed to add a handful of designer bags, accessories and clothing pieces to my wardrobe simply by shopping around.
Here’s my pick of the best places to buy designer clothing online as well as a break down the brands that offer the most value.
BEST PLACES TO BUY DISCOUNTED DESIGNER CLOTHING ONLINE
Editor’s pick: Vestaire Collective
This is top of the list of my absolutely favourite place to shop for anything designer.
Buying from designer consignment websites has to be the best-kept secret of fashionistas the world over and Vestaire Collective is one of the best in the business.
Founded in Paris in 2009, Vestaire Collective is an online marketplace for second-hand designer items, meaning you can both sell and shop everything from vintage Celine to sought-after Zimmermann dresses.
Not only are most products a fraction of the original price, but you also have the opportunity to make an offer to seller if you want to try and get yourself an extra bargain.
Simply register as a user to make your purchase, with Vestaire Collective verifying each piece for authenticity before it arrives to customers meaning you can rest assured you’re getting the real deal.
It’s also the website of choice for the famously well dressed to offload their designer goods, with the likes of Roxy Jacenko selling their unwanted items there, as well as rather credible rumours of Oscar red carpet attendees having secret seller accounts.
I’ve so far made two purchases from Vestaire Collective: a 1980s crossbody Dior bag in the brand’s signature blue canvas and a mini Bottega Veneta handbag similar to the trendy (and pricey) Jodie bag.
Both cost me a fraction of what they would hav brand new and they’re both unique styles that I always get compliments on.
I’m not the only one obsessed with Vestaire Collective — it also gets rave reviews on TikTok too.
“I love vintage shopping,” says influencer @xeniaadonts in one TikTok sharing her Vestaire Collective haul. “My favourite place to thrift is Vestaire Collective, and I’ve found some real gems.”
What to shop: You’ll find a bargain on favourites like Zimmermann and Camilla and Marc, plus Missoni’s range of kaftans and beach cover-ups are surprisingly affordable. You can also find gems like early 2000s Dolce & Gabbana dresses that are in pristine condition as well as a quality trench coat from Burberry.
We love:
Missoni Multicolour Kaftan, Vestaire Collective, $176.53
The Outnet is another place you will want to add to your favourites. Founded in 2009 The Outnet is owned by the same company as Net-A-Porter and in its early years it was where any unsold products from the retailer.
But today 90 per cent of The Outnet’s stock comes straight from the brands themselves, Forbes reports.
Expect more than 350 brands on offer with the majority of items on offer from previous seasons up to 70 per cent off.
Because of this you can expect more trend-based pieces, however, it’s a great place to buy that Zimmermann dress that you had your eye on last year that’s now discounted, or discover lesser known brands.
The Outnet is one of my favourite places to buy accessories from, with their sunglasses collection a definite must to shop. Word of warning though: Stock tends to move quite fast on The Outnet so if you spot something you like (and it’s in your size) buy it!
What to shop:Jimmy Choo’s collection of classic pumps and strappy sandals, French brand Maje’s excellent range of dresses at up to 70 per cent off and accessories from the likes of Balenciaga, Givenchy, Roberto Cavalli and more.
We love:
Zimmermann Bow-detailed ruched washed-silk midi dress, The Outnet, $517 (down from $807)
Since 2007 OZSALE has been giving Aussie shoppers access to a range of homewares, clothing and accessories at up to 80 per cent off.
Deals vary from day to day but you can expect high end brands like Gucci and Burberry as well as more accessible designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Longchamp and more.
With ever-changing deals stock moves quickly, meaning you will want to act fast if you spot something you like in your size.
What to shop:Discounted handbags from brands like Longchamp, Furla and Gucci, dresses by the likes of Reiss, Ted Baker and Gucci plus a great range of designer shoes.
We love:
Longchamp LE PILAGE CUIR Top handle bag S – TERRACOTTA Leather, OZSALE, $525 (down from $910)
eBay has always been a good place to get pre-loved designer clothes and accessories at a great price. A designer handbag is bought on eBay Australia every two minutes and in May the retailer made it even easier to shop for your favourite arm candy.
eBay Australia expanded its authenticity guarantee from sneakers to luxury handbags listed over $350 from 16 brands including Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
Eligible bags are identified by a blue tick and once purchased are sent to eBay’s Sydney authentication facility to be verified, free of charge, before being sent out to customers.
As well as having a great range of preloved designer handbags eBay Australia also stocks second-hand clothes from top brands like Ginger & Smart, Anine Bing and more. It’s also home to some of Australia’s most reputable second-hand designer retailers like GlamCorner Outlet and Luxe. It. Fwd, a popular consignment for pre-owned designer bags.
What to shop: The huge range of former rental dresses from GlamCorner, Luxe. It. Fwd’s swoon-worthy edit of Chanel and eBay’s collection of designer handbags that come with free authentification.
We love:
Camilla and Marc Marquez Maxi Dress, eBay Australia, $199
I like to think of Shopbop as a trendy friend — it’s got all off the coolest designer clothes. It’s the younger sister equivalent of NET-A-PORTER with a focus on great denim, party dresses and mid-tier designer handbags.
Shopbop began as a bricks and mortar store in 1999 but it was launched online in 2000, making it one of the longest-running shopping websites.
It has a sale section all year round with up to 60 per cent off with brands like AGOLDE, Mansur Gavriel, Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant and more featured.
What to shop: Their 60 per cent and over sale section for a bargain, their sale edit of denim featuring brands like Good American and Stella McCartney as well as their discounted range of party dresses.
We love:
Christopher Esber Bandeau Crop Shirt, Shopbop, $157.89 (down from $631.55)
I couldn’t do a list of the best places to buy discounted designer clothing online and not include THE ICONIC. It has probably the best collection of Australian designers in one place, plus speedy delivery and free returns.
To make things even sweeter it also frequently runs promotions so it’s possible to score a discount if you’re happy to wait. My advice? Add what you’re after to your wishlist and check back in once a week to see if you’ve gotten lucky and it’s been discounted.
THE ICONIC also now features Azura Reborn which offers authenticated luxury handbags at great prices.
What to shop: THE ICONIC’s designer sale section, Azura Reborn’s collection of preloved Louis Vuitton and these on-sale Shona Joy dresses.
We love:
Shona Joy Lilou Pin Tuck Cross Back Midi Dress, THE ICONIC, $350 (down from $440)
When it comes to shopping for designer online NET-A-PORTER is up there with offering one of the most enjoyable experiences.
Its website is easy to navigate and with over 800 brands stocked there is plenty of choice of what to buy.
It was founded in 2000 by Natalie Massenet and has grown to become the premier online destination for the best of designer beauty and brands.
While it doesn’t have a sale section all year round it does run sales around events like Black Friday and Single’s Day. These are not to be missed with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it deals on products you’ll likely never see on sale again.
Brands to shop there: There’s so much choice! At the time of publishing NET-A-PORTER is running a sale with discounts on brands like Loewe, Balmain, The Row and more. One of my favourite brands at the moment is Brazilian label FARM Rio for its colourful summer dresses.
We love:
FARM Rio Tiered ruffled printed cotton-voile maxi dress, NET-A-PORTER, $220.57 (down from $367.61)
If you like your designer clothes with a side of pizzazz then YOOX is the place for you. Owned by the same company as NET-A-PORTER YOOX offers a youth-focused shopping experience — think bold prints and colourful, statement clothing.
During YOOX’s sales expect discounts of up to 80 perfect (and sometimes more) on brands like Kenzo, Acne Studios, Sandro and more. But fair warning, their catalogue of brands is huge so expect to have to hunt a bit, although, to be fair, sometimes that’s half the fun.
What to shop: Their fabulous selection of discounted Acne Studios clothing, this stunning Chloe dress that’s an eye-watering 91 per cent off and Marni’s sale section for some quirky yet classic pieces from the iconic Italian fashion house.
We love:
Acne Studios Casual Pants, YOOX, $288.48 (down from $825.28)
Home to more than 650 designer brands MATCHESFASHION is another must-visit destination for luxury shopping. As well as its website it also has three brick and mortar stores, all located in London.
It has a great array of brands with everything from up-and-coming labels to juggernauts like Givenchy and Saint Laurent on offer.
Its sale section has thousands of products up to 70 per cent and MATCHESFASHION also runs promotions throughout the year. This makes it another good website to have a wishlist with, because if you’re happy to wait you may just get lucky enough to get a discount.
What to shop: Their great selection of discounted designer belts featuring brands like Loewe and Givenchy, their sale section of luxury bridal clothing that starts at just $87 or the discounted suiting from the likes of Burberry, Khaite and Proenza Schouler.
We love:
Khaite Daria paint-splatter straight-leg jeans, MATCHESFASHION, $258 (down from $516)
FARFETCH
When you shop at FARFETCH you’re not just shopping at a single destination — instead you’re shopping at 1,400 different high-end boutiques, department stores and brands from 50 countries that choose to sell their products through FARFETCH.
This means that not only will you get an amazing array of products and brands, but pricing is competitive.
You can shop FARFETCH’s sale and preloved sections for further discounts too, with pretty much every brand and product (think a designer ski suit — yes, really) on offer.
What to shop:FARFETCH’s sale handbag section is one of the best places to get a deal on a luxury bag if you don’t want to go second-hand, so we’d suggest starting there.
We love:
Versace Greca border sports bra, FARFETCH, $93 (down from $130)
WHAT ARE THE BEST DESIGNER BRANDS TO BUY?
This might sound obvious but the best designer brand to buy is one that you like. Too often people can feel pressured into to buy a certain brand because of the hype around it so a good question to ask yourself is, would I buy this if it wasn’t designer? If your answer is no, or you’re not sure, it’s probably best to put back.
Because buying designer is more expensive it’s also a good idea to check that the brand aligns with your beliefs — websites like good on you allow you to search most brands and find out where they stand on the environment.
Finally, taking into account the potential resale value is an important consideration. According to Who What Wear the “holy trinity” of Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton are the best handbag brands to invest in.
The RealReal’s 2022 Luxury Consignment Report also found that “high value” Nike runners, Rolex, Bottega Veneta, Chrome Hearts and Hermes had seen the highest leap in resale value that year.
WHAT ARE THE BEST DESIGNER PRODUCTS TO INVEST IN?
Again it’s important to buy something you like, don’t just buy something because of the brand’s buzz. You should try to steer clear of anything too trendy and stick to more classic styles so you can get more wear out of it — think jeans, blazers and little black dresses over prints or certain bold colours.
Also think about what you wear day-to-day and try not to buy something designer for an occasion like a wedding. While it might be beautiful to own an evening gown by your favourite luxe label you’ll probably only wear it a handful of times compared to buying a coat from the same designer.
More Coverage
Want more shopping content? Here’s our edit of the best discounts on THE ICONIC you can shop right now, plus the $50 wide leg pants we love.
Don’t forget to check out the news.com.au Coupons page where you’ll find a host of discounts on THE ICONIC, Myer and more.
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