A Guide To Buying Your First Luxury Piece

Thelma Gauthier

Edited by Ella Querin

If you are about to celebrate an important birthday or have saved money throughout the years, you may want to look into investing in a luxury piece. Whether it be vintage or new, designer goods are always increasing in value. What better way to mark a milestone than by finally purchasing something you’ve had your eye on for years?

Looking beyond ostentatious appearances, I strongly believe that investing in a special luxury piece, preferably an accessory you can wear frequently, is a wise choice for two primary reasons:

Firstly, it’s likely to retain and often increase in value, making it a smart investment for potential resale. The second-hand luxury market is a great place to invest, given that luxury operates in a continuous cycle, as all fashion does. Pieces you adore today are likely to remain trending or make their way back into the mainstream, even a decade from now. There are various propellers of this including iconic models and nowadays online influencers who often become enduring symbols of fashion as they sport vintage pieces.

Secondly, when you invest in luxury items, you are not just paying for the brand name; you’re also paying for authentic quality and craftsmanship. While it’s true that luxury comes at a price, it remains a fair exchange for the enduring quality and expertise that have been hallmarks of these brands for generations.

This article was thought like the ultimate guide: structured into three sections. First, it helps you navigate the second-hand market by providing guidance on where and how to search for fair deals. Second, it offers a set of questions to assist you in pinpointing the ideal accessory for your style. Lastly, it presents various suggestions and ideas to inspire your choices.

Where to shop ?

My top recommendation for scoring a luxury piece is undoubtedly the second-hand market. Not only is it often more affordable, but it also maintains the same (and occasionally, better) quality and may even offer rarer and more unique finds. The advantages are clear, but beware of the pitfalls, particularly the prevalence of counterfeit items. Here are some trusted websites (non-exhaustive) and helpful tips to navigate the market safely.

1. The RealReal offers a wide variety of accessories and clothing, implemented with a thorough authentication process conducted by experts trained to identify genuine products. They ship worldwide and their platform is user-friendly, allowing you to filter by colors, price, and brand. They ensure that the pieces are in good condition, if not pristine.
2. Vestiaire Collective is another excellent option for finding luxury pieces. You can set up email alerts based on your preferences, including price, color, brand, and other criteria. This feature notifies you whenever a new arrival matches your search, making it easier to find your perfect item. Vestiaire also has a price negotiation process, under the “Make an Offer” tab, a client can propose a lower bid, up to 30% off and await the seller’s acceptance or counter-offer. 
3. Vinted is very popular in Europe for all second-hand buying needs. The company has now implemented an authentication process for luxury items, allowing users to purchase designer goods in confidence. However beware of the articles presented without this mention!

Additional Help:

If you are looking at leather, be mindful of the type of leather you are choosing. When considering patent leather, be mindful it is delicate and risks peeling or cracking with use, as it is an additional synthetic coating onto the leather. 

Further, avoid focusing strictly on the luxury brand names; try to do some deep down research on the specificity of the craftsmanship. 

Regarding jewelry, you should stray away from spending hundreds on gold plated, brass or stainless steel. If you have a higher-end budget, explore pieces with higher rates of solid gold, such as 14k, 18k or 24k, which is typically what most jewelry houses will produce their pieces with. Even though they are aesthetic to the eye, Vivienne Westwood, Dior “J’adore” necklaces are costume jewelry, meaning it is not solid gold but rather gold plated or vermeil, which unfortunately is not durable throughout the years and will tarnish. 

My best personal recommendation would be to check out the “bag”, “shoes,” or jewelry Instagram story highlights of French influencer @Mayberthelot. She’s an expert in identifying counterfeit items and is also the head of counterfeit control at Vinted. Her highlights are a treasure trove of information, covering many, many pieces from various luxury houses.

If you are to invest in a luxury or high-end quality piece, you should try to narrow it down so that it represents your style. While trends are always influencing us, some rare gems are on the market and once you have established what you would appreciate the most you have all key answers to your search for the perfect piece.

Here are a few questions : 

• What colors is your wardrobe most composed of and which do you most wear?
• Are you looking for a statement piece or an everyday essential?
• What is of most value to your personal style? A pair of shoes? A piece of jewelry? A handbag? 
• Thinking practicality and timelessness. Will you still reach for this piece in the years to come?

Try to analyze what you would love to have as an additional item at your everyday style.