There are few things more indulgent than a good luxury splurge, and treating yourself to a few of the season’s key pieces is a great antidote for the autumn blues. For many of us, this means heading into our closest high-end department store or tapping up a couple of trusted online favourites – but thanks to the new wave of trendy designer clothing websites that are popping up by the day, it’s now easier to get your hands on some quality garments than ever before, and all without leaving the house.
From luxe sportswear to Italian designer handbags, if you don’t know about these sites yet then you definitely should. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to hunt down some incredible fashion finds – all you have to do is head to the checkout.
Gilt
Stocking everything from coveted high-end, designer clothing and makeup to the very plushest of bath towels, Gilt is the home of all things luxury. Providing insider-level access to coveted designer names, it should be your first port of call for glamorous garments and opulent accessories – offering inspired finds for women, men, children and the home, as well as luxury travel and one-of-a-kind experiences.
Kit out your home with some statement pieces or revamp your wardrobe for the new season – and all from the comfort of your own home. Sure, internet shopping is nothing new – but this little gem has the potential to fast become your favourite online store.
Moda Operandi
A pioneer in luxury online shopping, if you haven’t shopped at Moda Operandi yet then you’ll want to get yourself over there immediately. Why? Because this high-end retailer allows customers to pre-order looks directly from designers, straight after their runway shows. That coat you saw at Fashion Week? It’s already in the bag.
A concept conceived of by Magnusdottir back in 2009, the store continues to go from strength to strength, and with its curatorial sales even known to feature vintage Chanel and Hermès bags, it’s only a case of being in the right place at the right time to make a truly special find. Moda Operandi also hosts online trunkshows that let customers secure runway fashion months in advance by placing a 50-percent deposit – offering access to designer pieces that might not ever become available in traditional luxury retail stores.
Vestiaire Collective
Luxury French designer resale store Vestiaire Collective has enjoyed meteoric success in recent years, growing into a global online store boasting over 6 million members. With a carefully curated catalogue of more than 600,000 desirable items, all expertly checked for 100% quality and authenticity, this is the place to bag yourself a really good find. That one-off dress you’ve been searching for since it sold out last year? You might just spot it here.
30,000 new items are submitted by the store’s vast community of sellers every single week, allowing buyers to browse over 3,200 coveted and must have fashion pieces a day. Unique, exciting and full of great fashion finds, Vestiaire is a firm favourite.
Luisa Via Roma
Florence-based Luisa Via Roma is a luxury shopping destination that ships worldwide, launching as a highly exclusive website back in 2000 following the success of its bricks-and-mortar store on Florence’s renowned Via Roma. Following a revamp in 2004, the website is now a treasure trove of lavish brands, from Alexander McQueen to Valentino, and a selection of up-and-coming brands.
In recent years, the seasonal Buy it First project was later launched, offering clients the possibility to buy directly from the runway shows.
E L A
Elena Antoniades Hart, a MADAME FIGARO award-winning women’s fashion designer, and her husband, former city trader and hotelier Ian Hart, founded E L A London in 2012.
E L A was launched as a high-end boutique store that operated for ten years in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge but has now transformed into an entirely online fashion brand. Despite this digital shift, the company is still dedicated to giving each customer a personalised experience through their carefully selected pop-up shops and events across the world. These transient boutiques offer a great chance to interact directly with the company and it’s range of luxury products.
Mytheresa
Founded as the online extension of the high successful Mytheresa store, based in Germany, the first offices of this modern luxury fashion retailer were situated directly above the boutique. However, it wasn’t long before the business expanded, and today it employs over 500 employees to create an unforgettable online luxury shopping experience which offers over 900 new arrivals each week.
An industry leader in the world of online luxury fashion, the styles you will find here are modern and edgy. Clothing, bags, shoes and accessories are all in good supply, with designers such as Balenciaga and Valentino making regular appearances.
What makes Mytheresa so unique? An exceptional curation of products from over 200 of the world’s most covetable fashion brands and exclusive designer collaborations, for starters. Add to that the excellent customer service and speedy worldwide shipping, and it’s set to become a firm favourite.
If you’re tired of the usual haunts and want unique, one-off designer fashion finds to your door, then you won’t be disappointed with this glamorous selection of little-known stores. But, with their names slowly but surely coming to the foreground, it pays to get in there fast – as sooner or later, you’ll have competition.
