Site Love: The Real Real
We all have a dream "investment piece" we're willing to spend hundreds—even thousands—on. Whether it's a Chanel purse, a pair of Louboutins or a Burberry trench, you can finally realize your fantasy purchase with the help of luxury resale e-tailer The Real Real. The site offers authenticated, pre-owned designer fashion at up to 90 percent off its retail value. That means you'll never have to worry about buying a fake bag off sketchy sites ever again.
Aside from having an impressive roster of labels including Manolo Blahnik, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Hermès, the San Francisco-based shop boasts a team of authenticators (see those skills in action here), horologists, licensed gemologists and art curators to provide quality high-end clothing and accessories.
You can either shop The Real Real's assortment like any other e-tailer or try daily, themed 72-hour flash sales. Get ahold of discounts such as a Proenza Schouler wool jacket for $325 (estimated retail $1,895), a Helmut Lang knit dress for $125 (from $225) and a Prada A-line skirt for $175 (originally $1,400). Gawk at the shoe selection, too, featuring Alexander Wang pumps for $145 (retail $565) and Jimmy Choo heels for $175 (instead of $730). You better act quick—we literally saw items sell out within minutes of visiting the site.
For those lucky folks with luxury goods to spare, you can consign. You'll earn 60 percent of the item's price and 70 percent when your items reach $7,500 a year in sales. The process is pretty simple, too, with free white-glove pickups, plus provided product styling and photography. The Real Real also recently launched an app called RealBook, which allows buyers and sellers to calculate items' resale value for over 700 brands. Scroll down to see the process all laid out in a video.
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