DESIGNER PIECES: 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING

Style

Feb 4

Date

2.4.21

time

12:00 PM

Place

DINING ROOM TABLE

DESIGNER PIECES. WHERE TO START?

This is a question I am asked regularly and it’s a dang good one, if you ask me. As a stylist, one of my greatest joys is seeing clients graduate into higher categories of spending. And honestly, it has nothing to do with the fact that it is xyz brand, but because I know the value and longevity they have just welcomed into their wardrobe. The sentiment of paying more for an item usually proves to be true, but I realize that paying more for everything in our wardrobe is not relative for all. Most of us, myself included, have to be strategic in our wardrobe acquisitions in hopes of maximizing our spend.

When it comes to adding true designer pieces to our wardrobe, sometimes we think the only strategy is saving money for the item. Lord knows we wish designer pieces were on sale…but that is rarely the case. While saving the moo la is important, it isn’t the only detail to zero in on. There are so many other things to think about before you start reducing your weekly SBUX trips and lunches out (for me...Northstar kills my wallet). In experience, I found that buying designer is really about an assessment of what you want long term…do you want something that can be passed down, do you want something that is complimentary of your style beyond this trend moment, are you looking for quality? I encourage you to identify your “Why?” first and allow that to guide YOU, before we give all your money to cult favorites like Chanel and Louboutin. You might find there is a different direction you can go that will allow you to get better value for YOUR RELATIVE!

Ok, you ladies know I like to get wordy. So I am going to keep things concise and share 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING A DESIGNER PURCHASE:

1. ADDRESS YOUR CURRENT SPENDing habits AND STEP UP FROM THERe.

Oftentimes I find that many of us are just ready to make the jump! Though this is an extreme one, but from J.Crew to Chanel. But here’s the thing, there are so many amazing brands in the middle that we are missing when we do that. Also, you won’t fully appreciate the beauty of what a designer brand is until you have tried all the in-betweens. So with that in mind, I encourage you to start progressing to that next level by slowly increasing your price point per spend. Back to our J.Crew example. If that is our sweet spot for a handbag, move to Rebecca Minkoff or Marc Jacobs for your next bag. From that to a Stella McCartney or Mansur Gavriel. And from that, move to Celine. From Celine to Chanel! Building a collection of designer gems is about thoughtfulness. Give yourself time and space to explore!

2. WEAR AND TEAR IS NATURAL. ARE YOU OK WITH THAT OR WILL YOU FREAK THE FREAK OUT?

Wear is an inevitable thing, regardless if you buy mass fashion or designer. If you are the freakout type, I encourage you to be very cautious, because it isn’t a matter of if it will happen, it is a matter of when. Like that one time I slashed my brand new Gucci mules with a dang coffee cup…rather than dying a slow death, I just boxed them up and sent them off for repair. Which brings me to my next point, always consider the cost of repairs for your designer items.

3. WHAT’S POPULAR? Examine that carefully.

Trends are great because they give us a blueprint. But trends that are widely accepted by all can be a little scary, because every corner you turn…you see it. Like the LV Neverfull. When considering a designer purchase, be sure you actually love it beyond the moment of a trend. Examine if there are ways to make it uniquely yours by picking an interesting color or fabrication? Wide accessibility and visibility of a designer piece waters down the value, which is why brands like Chanel and Fendi are having price increases every 5 minutes. Higher value and desirability, because it is not as accessible!

Also, when examining this, give yourself permission to explore other contemporary and designer brands that are not as widely known for similar styles! I call them the underdog brands…and they are beautiful!

4. IS PRE-LOVED AN OPTION FOR ME?

This was a hard thing for me to accept, because I like BRAND BRAND BRAND NEW. But brand new luxury doesn’t often align with my budget. In the world of luxury goods, there are so many incredible resources that allow you to purchase secondhand. One of my favorites is Store5a here in Columbus! I also love Second Chance Consignment, which is here in my city too.

Others include the RealReal, FashionPhile, Rebag, What Goes Around Comes Around. When you open yourself up to pre-loved, you find affording designer items a little more tolerable on the budget. Perhaps it opens the door to purchasing your list of things a bit quicker.

5. DO YOU STAND BEHIND THE BRAND?

A part of buying designer or luxury is buying into the heritage and the story of the brand. With that in mind, I find it important to actually know those details about the brand. Otherwise, we are just buying Gucci to buy Gucci, because all the cool kids are. Through this research, you will glean incredible details that make you appreciate and love the brand even more! Or perhaps you learn something about the brand that you don’t love and it points you in a different direction altogether. Don’t purchase something without regard to the history and heritage...it’s about the experience of buying luxury!

Ok, those are my things! Hope this helps you think a smidge deeper : )