This post originally appeared on here in October 2019, but I have updated the links and my favorite designer pieces with more current photos!
OKAY GUYS, LET’S GET RIGHT TO IT.
I have been wanting to write this post for a while, especially because I see so many bloggers out there constantly posting about “dupes.”
When I say “Why I Invest in Luxury Fashion,” I don’t necessarily mean at designer prices. Lots of my designer pieces are consigned from The Real Real, Tradesy, Rebag, Poshmark, eBay and my current favorite, Mercari. What I should really say is that I like to buy quality over quantity. I realized a few years ago that the number of pairs of shoes or bags that I bought was absurd in comparison to how long they lasted me. I was spending hundreds of dollars a year on pieces that simply wouldn’t last. I thought I was being savvy by shopping from fast fashion retailers, but in reality I was spending the same amount of money on all of these crappy items as I would on a few quality, designer pieces. So that’s when I bought my first used Louis Vuitton off of Tradesy and asked for Gucci Slides for my birthday. (pictured below)
Another MAJOR reason to buy quality, luxury items is SUSTAINABILITY. Yes, yes, I know a super trendy topic, but it is the truth. There are tons of bloggers out there convincing you to buy “designer dupes” so it can appear like you are wearing luxury pieces. I am referring to the fake LV bags and GG belts, not pieces that simply look like them. Those are true dupes, but these pieces you can find on Etsy and some small boutiques right now are straight up counterfeit and should be illegal. (DUPE vs COUNTERFEIT)
These counterfeit items are made in overseas factories, where many fast fashion brands use child and slave labor, often contributing to organized crime and terrorism. (don’t believe me? here’s a more info). This is the same thing as buying a knock off on the streets of New York. Just because it’s on Amazon or a small online boutique does not mean that it is legit. Buying these counterfeit bags and accessories, just like supporting poorly made fast fashion brands, is contributing not only to our world’s massive waste problem, but also supporting forced labor. Don’t be one of those people, PLEASE.
SO, I figured I would break down a few of my favorite designer pieces for you and explain how / why I chose to splurge on them. I have explained a few of these in the past, but why not have it all in one place for you to reference if ya need to in the future.
~ Gucci Slides in Black, Red, White ~
I was fortunate enough to get the black Gucci loafers 6 years ago for my birthday. My life changed that day. JK JK that was dramatic, but actually pretty maybe not that big of an exaggeration. After seeing that after years of HEAVY wear (I’m talking almost every day between the months of March-October), they were still in perfectly good condition, I started saving up for another color. Since then I have saved up money from various projects to buy the red, the white and a secondhand velvet fur pair! Honestly, I cannot stress enough how worth it these shoes are. You will wear them all the time and they will last you YEARS. There is a reason for the expensive price tag. If you want to save some money, you can find them on luxury consignment sites like The Real Real.
~Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis ~
OKAY THIS WAS THE FIND OF THE CENTURY. I had been saving up for this bag for a while, saving every photo I saw of it on instagram and MANIFESTING MY HEART OUT. We had SUCH a shitty year last year between our infertility diagnosis and John’s mom’s brain cancer, I was THIS close to just putting a new one on the credit card. I deserved it. One day I was scouring Mercari and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I found a brand new, with tags and all of the authentication documents, Pochette Metis for $400. Manifested it. That was a great day. SO, my advice, alwaysssssss look on the secondhand sites first.
another great way to practice sustainability and also carry designer bags is to rent them! I rented this Chanel bag from Luxury Fashion Rentals
~ Vintage Gucci Crossbody Bags ~
The second Vintage Designer bag that I bought for a total steal was a blue Gucci crossbody! I got it at a really great price, this time on The Real Real, but tbh, it was priced this way for a good reason. The fabric on the inside of the bag is blue blue blue and tends to brush off on my hands when I reach inside. SO, something to be aware of when you find vintage bags for a good price. But again, that just means these used bags been well loved! The second one I found on TRR as well (above) and this one came after a LONG decision process. I was looking to buy a new designer bag and after combing the internet, ordering a few new bags full price, I decided to look at luxury consignment and start to collect Vintage Gucci. Why spend $1,000 when you can spend half that and get a bag that has known a previous life of love and keep the fashion circle of life going?
~ Chanel Dad Sandals ~
I scoured alllll of the apps last summer to get my hands on a pair of Chanel dad sandals. I ended up finding two pairs that I LOVE on Mercari and they are two of my favorite purchases of all time. I literally saved every photo on instagram that I saw and would routinely look through the photos, manifesting my own pair. Finally one day, I snagged ’em.
These are probably my most worn pieces in my closet. I went through a bit of an obsession with designer tees and sweatshirts over the past few years and have collected 2 Gucci Sweatshirts and one Christian Dior. I found these on Mercari as well and they are in constant rotation during the winter. They make a statement but are also super comfortable. I could never see myself paying over $1,000 for a sweatshirt, but these were all under $400.
If you made it down to the bottom here, bless you! How do you guys feel about dupes / counterfeit? Are you trying to kill the planet? JKJKJK….. kinda.
~ PIN FOR LATER ~
SO may good points. I could not agree more! LOL-ing to the never full story, still remember getting the text from you when you realized it!!! XOXO
Cath
Author
NEVER FORGET!
I agree – there’s a fine line between a dupe (an item that looks similar) and an item that is a replica aka counterfeit. Love all of your designer purchases!
Rachel
http://www.hello-her.com
For me, real is aways better. The quality, craftsmanship and design are always superior to dupes or counterfeits. I bought my Gucci bag second hand and I’ve worn it so much! It’s in pristine condition. It’s definitely expensive but I think it’s worth it for more classic staples. Definitely wouldn’t buy trendy items though!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Author
couldn’t agree more!!!
Such a great post – there are so many benefits (the environment, your wallet, etc) to shopping designer consignment pieces!
Author
totally agree!! xx
There’s a lot of discussion about this topic, and I’ve read a couple of excellent articles discussing both sides that I’m grateful for. Now it’s nice to hear your opinion on it. Thanks for sharing your heart!
I love this post! You make a lot of amazing points and I couldn’t have said it better!
Thank you for sharing your opinion, it’s crazy when you break down the numbers if you’re spending more money on “cheap” items instead of waiting and spending money wisely. There are pieces that I don’t spend a lot of money on but the pieces I want to use daily I will.
These are all such great pieces to invest in!
I agree that designer items are all around better uses of your money and better for the planet. I’m trying to move away from supporting fast fashion and this is one of the steps toward that!
-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
Author
totally agree Morgan!! xx
Great post! I definitely agree with quality over quantity. Fast fashion is such a waste. Would rather invest in quality pieces.
Author
RIGHT??? AMEN!
I totally love to buy designer when it’s a piece that I will use/wear on multiple occasions. I particularly like designer bags! They never go out of style, so the investment is worth it.
Author
agree agree agreeeee!
This is such a great post! Quality over quantity 100%!! Invest in items you know you love and will have for a very long time- you deserve it xoxo sarah
Author
AMEN SISTER! xx
Such a great post! I get SO angry when bloggers claim something is a dupe when in fact it’s a counterfeit item. Regardless, it’s not something I want to be promoting! I buy designer when it makes sense and find more affordable options if it doesn’t!
Author
it is SO frustrating! I just had to get this out there! xx
Yes yes yes to all of this! All about quality over quantity and supporting the brand that actually made the style famous.
xo Laura Leigh
http://www.louellareese.com
Author
amen all day, lady!! xx
I am all about getting designer pieces second hand and saving big. I’m impressed that you had a pair of shoes hold up two years of wear without showing it. I tend to scuff all my shoes on the first wear. Plus getting a designer piece for a bargain price makes it so much better!
Chic on the Cheap
Author
well, they definitely show wear but are def okay to wear!! 🙂
I absolutely agree with everything! Designer is something that lasts forever so its worth it to make an investment.
I have completely been feeling the same way about all of my shoes lately. I had so many and each season was replacing them because they never lasted me long at all. I have started to buy in quality over quantity as well. Those vintage Gucci crossbody bags are calling my name!
Denise | Fashion Love Letters
Many of my favorite closet pieces are designer items. You can’t go wrong when you invest in quality!! Plus, it makes me really think whether an item is going to be versatile enough that I’ll use it. And I smile every time I wear those designer pieces! It’s a gift to myself that keeps on giving.
yassss! I love this post! I’m a big fan of designer too, but am always shopping Poshmark or the Real Real for mine too! You can’t go wrong with designer duds and sustainability! I’m also a big fan of RENTING! I’m currently using Rent the Runway for clothes, Rocksbox for jewelry, and Vivrelle for designer bags! I love that I can swap things out and upgrade them as I want 🙂
XO Sahra
Que Sera Sahra