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Where to Buy Luxury Clothing Online: The 5 Best Sites for Designer Fashion

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  • Post last modified:18 November 2024

In this article, we’ll explore some of the top luxury fashion websites, highlighting their unique features, customer experiences, and shopping benefits. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or just browsing, this guide will help you find the best sites to buy luxury clothing.

1. Farfetch

About the brand

Farfetch offers a big selection of high-end designer brands, sneakers, and watches.

Farfetch collaborates with independent boutiques and major brands alike in other words Farfetch doesn’t operate like a traditional retailer with its own stock. Instead, it partners with a wide range of third-party sources, including, independent boutiques and major brands like Gucci, Prada, and, Saint Laurent

Farfetch’s model brings together a vast network of boutiques and designers, allowing customers to discover unique, sometimes hard-to-find items from various corners of the world.

Farfetch also focuses on sustainability with its “Positively Farfetch” initiative, highlighting brands that meet strict environmental standards.

Conscious products, for instance, are made from certified materials, use ethical processes, or come from brands rated highly by the ethical rating agency Good On You.

If you’re interested I recommend reading Farfetch’s 2030 plans.

Key Criteria

  • Customer Experience (Good): Farfetch’s platform offers detailed product information, a smooth shopping experience, and good customer support, with a 4.1-star truspilot rating.
  • Selection and Exclusivity (Excellent): Farfetch’s extensive partnerships with boutiques globally give access to exclusive and hard-to-find luxury pieces, from contemporary to vintage.
  • Accessibility (Excellent): With a strong international presence, Farfetch provides global shipping options, though items may have additional fees based on the boutique’s location.
Farfetch Table
CriteriaRating
Customer ExperienceGood
Selection and ExclusivityExcellent
AccessibilityExcellent
Total RatingExcellent

2. Mytheresa

About the brand

Mytheresa is a luxury fashion retailer focused on high-end women’s apparel, shoes, bags, and accessories, with a growing selection for men and children.

Unlike platforms that connect customers to third-party sellers, Mytheresa directly purchases its inventory from luxury brands like Valentino, Gucci, and Balmain. This approach ensures a more reliable selection and consistent quality for shoppers.

Mytheresa is also highly rated for its customer service, with a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot, the highest rating on this list.

Key Criteria

Accessibility (Good): Mytheresa provides global shipping with flexible delivery options, though international orders may have additional import fees, which can vary by country.

Customer Experience (Excellent): Mytheresa offers exceptional customer service, with premium packaging, dedicated customer support, and a smooth online shopping experience.

Selection and Exclusivity (Good): While Mytheresa features an impressive range of established and emerging designers, the selection is limited to curated high-end items, so it may not have as wide a variety as some other luxury sites.

Mytheresa Table
CriteriaRating
Customer ExperienceExcellent
Selection and ExclusivityGood
AccessibilityGood
Total RatingGood

3. 24S

About the brand

24S is an exclusive luxury platform owned by LVMH, offering a curated selection of high-end fashion, accessories, and beauty products. 24S Focuses on both men and women, featuring iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Celine, as well as emerging designers.

Unlike platforms that source from multiple boutiques, 24S operates directly under the LVMH umbrella, which ensures a seamless connection to the luxury brands under LVMH. This setup allows for exclusive access to rare pieces and collections unavailable on other platforms.

24S also focuses on a premium customer experience, offering fast shipping, luxury packaging, and personalized services, such as virtual styling sessions where you can get help making outfits with no obligation to buy.

For those who have spent over €10,000, 24S provides an exceptional Very Important Client (VIC) service. This includes a personal stylist, early access to runway collections, private concierge services, invitations to special events, VAT-free shopping, and unlimited free global delivery.

Key Criteria

  • Customer Experience (Excellent): Exceptional services like VIC, virtual styling, and premium support customer support all elevate the overall customer experience. The platform also has a strong Trustpilot rating of 4.3 stars.
  • Selection and Exclusivity (Excellent): 24S offers a curated selection of luxury brands, including exclusive collaborations and pieces not available on other platforms, making it a great place for customers seeking unique, hard-to-find items.
  • Accessibility (Good): With global shipping options, 24S caters to an international audience, though shipping costs and potential import fees can vary depending on the destination.
24S Table
CriteriaRating
Customer ExperienceExcellent
Selection and ExclusivityExcellent
AccessibilityGood
Total RatingExcellent

4. SSENSE

About the brand

SSENSE is a luxury platform that blends high-end fashion, streetwear, and emerging designers.

They sell iconic brands like Balenciaga, Off-White, and Gucci, and “avant-garde” brands like Rick Owens

SSENSE differentiates itself from other luxury platforms like 24S, Farfetch, and Mytheresa by blending high-end fashion with a heavy focus on streetwear and avant-garde brands.

The platform offers a unique editorial perspective, integrating thought-provoking content and fashion storytelling to inspire its customers.

SSENSE has a program called SSENSE+ that provides exclusive perks. The program is divided into three levels, based on accumulated points(1 point is $1 spent), with the highest tier offering VIP perks like priority order processing and advanced private sale access.

For select top-tier customers, a personalized shopping service is also available by invitation that gives more perks you can read here.

Key Criteria

  • Customer Experience (Excellent): SSENSE provides efficient and good customer support/experience with 4.2 stars on Trustpilot. They also have transparent product descriptions and reliable order fulfillment.
  • Selection and Exclusivity (Good): With a broad range of luxury and contemporary brands, SSENSE stands out for its unique, trend-setting brands. However, it focuses heavily on a more these brands which is a style that may not appeal to all luxury consumers.
  • Accessibility (Excellent): SSENSE offers worldwide shipping with clear import fee policies. Shipping costs are competitive, and the site often has seasonal discounts, making it accessible to a broad luxury audience.
SSENSE Table
CriteriaRating
Customer ExperienceExcellent
Selection and ExclusivityGood
AccessibilityExcellent
Total RatingGood

5. The RealReal

About the brand

The RealReal is a leading luxury consignment(resale) platform specializing in authenticated pre-owned fashion, fine jewelry, watches, and home goods. It provides access to high-end brands like Chanel, Hermès, and Cartier at reduced prices, making luxury more affordable and promoting sustainable shopping.

The RealReal operates on a consignment model, sourcing its inventory directly from sellers who wish to resell their luxury items. Each item is authenticated by in-house experts, ensuring quality and trust for buyers.

You should only consider reselling on The RealReal if you’re confident your item will sell for over $200. Commission rates drop significantly for lower-priced items, making selling anything under this threshold less profitable. Here’s a breakdown of their commission structure:

Sold PriceCommission RateYour Payout
$5.000+ 70%$3.500+
$750 – $4.999 65%$487 to $3.249
$300 – $74960%$180 to $449
$200 – $29955%$110 to $164
$150 – $19945%$67 to $89
$100 – $14930%$30 to $44
$0 – $9920%$0 to $19

For items under $150, the payout can be as low as $30 or less, so higher-value items are the most worthwhile.

Key Criteria

Accessibility (Good): The RealReal is accessible globally, with clear shipping and return policies. However, shipping fees and delivery times may vary based on the item’s location and condition, affecting accessibility for some customers.

Customer Experience (Good): The RealReal offers a straightforward shopping experience with dedicated customer support and a focus on authenticity. However, since items are pre-owned, you may find variations in quality and condition, which can impact the overall experience.

Selection and Exclusivity (Good): The platform offers an impressive selection of luxury brands, including rare and vintage items not readily available on primary retail sites. The exclusive focus on pre-owned goods makes The RealReal a unique resource for luxury items at reduced prices.

The RealReal Table
CriteriaRating
Customer ExperienceGood
Selection and ExclusivityGood
AccessibilityGood
Total RatingGood