i haven’t always been a luxury shopper. in fact, i didn’t even realize that black womxn were allowed to own designer items. that may sound wild, but in a world where we’re often told that we aren’t worthy, my previous mindset is pretty common. in fact, i’ve gotten countless DMs from black womxn who say i inspired them to finally get a luxury bag they always wanted or a bomb spa treatment.
so lemme say it louder for the people in the back: YOU ARE WORTHY SIS.
treating myself to luxury items is not about mass consumption, but instead about enjoying high quality and beautifully designed pieces. i tend to embrace more of a luxury minimalism philosophy that challenges me to find fulfillment in a collection that truly spark joy.
in light of this philosophy, i’m quite particular about when, where and how i shop. my season working in luxury retail felt like fashion graduate school because it taught me the five key mistakes to avoid when shopping luxury.
Five Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping Luxury
Only Shopping What’s on the Walls
the first mistake many people make is only shopping what’s on the walls of their local luxury boutiques. for example, it was pretty common for folks to walk into the boutique where i formerly worked and spend an hour scanning the walls. obviously they were searching for something, but would initially deny my offer to help.
this was a huge mistake because a very tiny portion of our inventory was on display. the bag, shoes or accessory that clients were looking for could either be in the stock room or available at another boutique.
only shopping what’s on display will often deny you the item that you’ve been coveting, as well as some of the best pieces that the brand may have to offer. however, this mistake often goes hand in hand with the one below.
Not Building a Relationship with a Sales Associate
i cannot overstate how crucial this mistake can be as you’re building a luxury collection. as i mentioned, very often the items that are on display are a small portion of the brand’s complete inventory. this is especially true if you’re not shopping at a flagship store in new york or los angeles.
sales associates are not only well aware of the current inventory, but also the new items that are being produced. for example, we visited the coach boutique on rodeo drive during our recent trip to LA. our visit coincided with the pillow tabby craze and a sales associate offered to show us the new one that hadn’t yet been released. he pulled the mini lime green version from the back, and we almost passed out. while the lime green one wasn’t for me, he promised that the bag would be coming in more colors.
the associate gave me a call two weeks later on the day that the boutique received the mini pillow tabby in ivory. i pulled the trigger immediately, and literally had it in my hands the very next day. now the bag is completely sold out and selling on resale websites for three times the retail price.
i have soooo many examples both as an employee and consumer of scoring highly coveted pieces that never would have happened without a relationship with a sales associate. today, i have associates with whom i shop at luxury boutiques all over the country, including outlets. not only do they keep me posted on new pieces, but also on the annual or bi-annual sales. you can learn more on this topic in my youtube video about how to shop luxury on a budget.
Only Shopping Logos
lemme just say that i love a good logo piece and don’t have an ounce of shame about it. however, not every piece of luxury fashion we own has to have a logo to be a valuable asset to our wardrobe. in fact, many of the pieces that lack the logo have greater longevity. why? because they aren’t trendy.
whether you’re looking for a new blazer or handbag, opening yourself up to non-logo pieces will expand the universe of available options. don’t deny your wardrobe some of the best pieces that brands have to offer.
Not Shopping Ready-to-Wear
shoes and handbags are luxury brands’ most popular items. as a result, many folks are unaware of the epic designs happening over in the ready-to-wear (clothing) department. also, we tend to think of designer clothing as being ostentatious, gaudy or unwearable. this is very simply not true.
for example, i’m wearing two pieces of designer ready-to-wear in this blog post and while the designs are amazing, they are approachable pieces that i can wear frequently. the shirt is by jacquemus and pants are loewe, two of my favorite designers at the moment. the construction and fabrication are divine which will make my cost per wear pennies by the time they’re retired.
i challenge you to not only expand your luxury collection to include ready-to-wear, but to also determine the designers who fit your aesthetic and body type. designers definitely need to do a much better job of being size inclusive; however, the list of brands who have an expansive size range is growing. overall, luxury fashion isn’t all about the accessories.
Not Shopping to Last
not all luxury items are made the same, and some can be a waste of money. as someone who prides myself on shopping with intention and privileging quality over quantity, there are just some things that i simply cannot encourage buying.
for example, designer hoodies and t-shirts are unnecessary. they’re made from cotton and simply will not last the test of time. plus, the price points are typically super high compared to the uniqueness of the design. a t-shirt is a t-shirt is a t-shirt. obviously, there is some distinction based on cotton source and thread count, but for the most part there’s no innovation. the same is true for hoodies which can cost close to $1,000. how sway???
another category of items that won’t last are plastic slides. these are typically made for the beach or pool, yet many folks wear them on the daily. no shade sis, do you if you really like plastic shoes. however, they won’t stand the test of time. instead of spending hundreds of dollars on plastic, i would highly recommend putting that money towards a longer-lasting material like leather.
i’ll be digging into each of these tips over on instagram in an IGTV video soon. drop down below and let me know if you’ve ever made any mistakes that you regret when shopping luxury!
Yes, everything about this post. Those relationships with SA’s especially are key. You look amazing!