Designer Items
Are luxury and designer items worth the hype, and the price?
While I may no longer be working in retail at the moment, I still pride myself on being a conscious shopper. Not to mention, six plus years with Nordstrom taught me a lot, and I’m here to share a little bit of that with you.
Full disclosure, this is not an ad, and I am no longer a Nordstrom employee, however, I will always be a Nordstrom customer. A majority of the following products and are items that were purchased from Nordstrom, or otherwise listed.
Some things you should know before we dive in, First, I RARELY pay full price for anything, especially designer items. With 100% certainty, I can say, almost everything goes on sale at some point.
Second, the best way to find out when something is on sale, is to have a “go-to” person at that store. Whether it’s Nordstrom, or another luxury retailer, make sure you know when the sales are happening, and how to get the items you’re after.
You don’t need to have a physical location near you to shop. Trust the associate! There are incredible tools now available to virtually shop with the help of an associate to ensure you are getting exactly what you need, and who doesn’t love free shipping?!
If there is someone you shop with regularly, utilize their knowledge of stock and products! If not, it’s time to start making friends with your local employees! Be transparent, let them know you love a certain item, and would like to be notified if it goes on sale. It is their job to reach out to customers! My “go-to” girl is Celia, at Nordstrom. She is excellent, and can be reached via DM on instagram @Cel_ya_l8er
Next, don’t be afraid to shop luxury online or second hand. You can often find gorgeous pieces, in excellent condition, for an incredible price!
Here are a few of my favorite online sources for luxury shopping:
Fashionphile- A luxury second hand website, and App that I trust, and highly recommend. They will send you sale notifications, and have a huge selection of product. I’ve purchased a handful of items, and they very accurately describe the condition of each product.
Shopstyle- This app was a hidden gem for me. I use it not only for luxury, but any item I happen to be looking for. Simply type in the item specific item name, or a description of a style, for example “Black knee high boots,” and Shopstyle will curate a page with black knee high boots from hundreds of websites showing you all of your options! Once you find a product you love, it will take you directly to their site! I love how seamless the process is.
Ssense.com- Ssense is a fantastic site, especially for brand new designer items on sale. They have super quick shipping, and their quality and packaging is top notch!
I’ll be giving you guys my honest opinion of items I have purchased, or received as gifts. I’ll include their original retail price, versus the price I actually paid. I’ll also let you know where the item was purchased, and how I got it at that price.
So, let’s get to it!
GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS
Retail: $530
Paid: $185
Purchased at: Nordstrom
Would I pay full price?: No
Comfort: 9/10
Quality: 10/10
Fit: Run big, go down a size
Worth the hype?: If you live an active lifestyle, I highly recommend!
I absolutely love my Golden Goose sneakers! I was able to score this incredible deal at Nordstrom, partly because I worked in the shoe dept. and would see returns as they happened. However, when you let people know what you’re looking for, people keep an eye out for you! Remember, make friends with the sales associates, they’re the first to know about a sale! These were from last season, so they had already been through a designer sale. They were returned, and I immediately scooped them up. They’re pretty comfortable, I could easily wear them for an 8 hour shift on my feet. The scuffed up look isn’t for everyone, but I personally really like the fun, edgy look. My favorite outfit is a white tee, dark skinny jeans, a leather jacket, crossbody bag and my GGDB sneaks!
CELINE MEDIUM PHANTOM LUGGAGE BAG - Baby Grained Calfskin Leather
Retail: $3,400
Paid: $1,035
Purchased at: fashionphile.com
Would I pay full price?: No
Quality: 10/10
Size: Giant!!!
Worth the Hype?: ABSOLUTELY!
This bag is no longer being produced by Celine, so shop second hand, or vintage! AMAZING for travel! This was a dream bag of mine for years, but such an investment piece! The quality of this bag is great, mine happens to have a blue suede lining, which has held up extremely well! I also love that the phantom tote is convertible, and easy to switch up the size. My only negative for this bag, is that it can be a bit heavy. All in all, I am SO glad I got this bag, at an incredibly price from Fashionphile.
GUCCI “TRIP” HIKING BOOT
Retail:
Paid: Gifted
Purchased at: Nordstrom
Would I pay full price?: Yes
Quality: 10/10
Fit: Go down a half size!
Worth the hype?: YES. I am still so surprised by how comfortable these are!
Justin gifted me these boots for the holidays last year, and I couldn’t be more in love with them! Working in shoes, I knew Gucci tends to run a half size big, and a whole size big for men’s shoes. I went down a half size, and these fit perfectly. Again, SO comfortable! 100% would recommend Gucci boots/shoes. Check Fashionphile for amazing prices, typically Gucci items sell out quickly on Nordstrom designer sale.
STELLA MCCARTNEY MINI “FALABELLA” BAG
Retail: $865
Paid: $250
Purchased at: Nordstrom
Would I pay full price?: No
Quality: 10/10
Size: Tiny, but great for a night out!
Worth the hype?: Would only buy this on sale, but I’d say it is definitely worth the hype! Great little crossbody bag, and super durable!
This was such a great deal, I couldn’t pass it up! I regularly search on Nordstrom’s website by typing “Designer Clearance.” At the time, I was working for the company, so I was able to search inventory and purchase the bag myself. However, when something says “sold out” online, always check with your associate at that store. They’ll have access to company wide inventory, and odds are the item is at an irresistible price! Definitely recommend this bag!
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN “IRIZA” PUMP
Retail: $745
Paid: $299
Purchased at: Nordstrom
Would I pay full price?: Yes
Quality: 8/10
Fit: True to Size
Worth the Hype?: Definitely recommend the Iriza style if you are looking for a more comfortable pump from Christian Louboutin!
Yes, Christian Louboutin shoes do go on sale! This is a very important one to connect with your associate about! Twice a year, Nordstrom will have a designer sale, and Christian Louboutin is included! Prices go through a series of markdowns, so be patient! Overall, I love every single pair of Louboutin I own. Are they Comfortable? Not particularly, however, these are my most comfortable pair, by far! Louboutin run narrow, and most people end up going up a half size. Due to the shape of this shoe, I recommend sticking with your true size. Only negative is that the glitter does shed.
VERSACE MEDUSA NECKLACE
Retail: $595
Paid: $295
Purchased at: ssense.com
Would I pay full price?: Yes
Quality: 10/10
Worth the hype?: YES!
Justin gifted me this necklace for my birthday this year, and I am obsessed! I love that it can be layered with other gold necklaces, without looking too heavy. The quality is fantastic, and the length is adjustable at the clasp. Beautiful piece, and I would have purchased this at full price without a doubt!
FENDI “PEARLAND” LOGO SNEAKERS
Retail: $750
Paid: $326
Purchased at: Nordstrom
Would I pay full price?: No
Quality: 6/10
Fit: True to size
Worth the hype?: No. Cute but not comfy!
I’d had my eye on these for months, because I love the color orange, and anything Fendi! I was pretty disappointed with how stiff these sneakers were. I have had them for over six months now, and they still cause blisters if I wear them for even small amounts of walking. However, SUPER cute, and beauty is pain, right?
BALENCIAGA NANO CITY BAG
Retail:
Paid: $580
Purchased at: Nordstrom
Would I pay full price?: Yes
Quality: 10/10
Size: Tiny, but fits everything I need!
Worth the hype?: Absolutely!
For a long time, I went back and forth whether I wanted this bag or not. I loved the style, but I didn’t want a huge bag. The nano happened to be the perfect size for me. I love the embossed lizard finish, this makes the bag very forgiving to any stains and signs of wear. Also, every Balenciaga “City” bag comes with a small mirror, which I love, and use all the time. I HIGHLY recommend this bag, as it can be carried as a crossbody and top handle bag. Like I said, small bag, but easily fits my iphone, sunglasses, keys, wallet, lipstick, etc.
YSL SMALL MONOGRAM DOWNTOWN CABAS TOTE
Retail: $2,650
Paid: $890
Purchased at: Fashionphile.com
Would I pay full price?: Yes
Quality: 9/10
Size: Medium, great every day bag!
Worth the hype?: Yes, I’ve worn this bag a lot.
This was the very first item I ever purchased from Fashionphile. The “Cabas Tote” can be worn both crossbody and top handle. As far as quality, I gave this a 9/10 as the bag isn’t the most durable when it comes to scuffs and imperfections. However, I do love this bag, it is roomy, and VERY lightweight!
These are just a handful of items from my collection, and I am always happy to answer any questions you may have about product, quality, etc! As I mentioned, I am not an expert, however, I do posses experience with luxury goods, and will do my best to help in any way I can.
Hope this helps anyone on the fence about a designer purchase currently, or in the future! Remember to tag @Junk.In.Love on Instagram, I can’t wait to see your luxury finds for less!
