Guide to Online Discount Shopping
Thank God for online discount stores! Now you can bargain-shop online from the comfort of your home or office cubicle. Here are some of the my favorite stores for finding discounts online. Make sure to check out my Coupon & Deals Page for discounts to these stores and more.
Bluefly.com: Bluefly is the best online site for high end designer clothing. Unlike most budget sites, Bluefly.com carries top designers, such as Prada, Fendi, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein, at 30% to 80% off retail prices. The off priced site also has a great selection of shoes from Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahni, Jimmy Choo, Barbara Bui and more for up to 80% off retail price. Bluefly.com dispels the notion that there are no good outlet stores for men. It offers an impressive array of men�s fashions from Hugo Boss, Diesel, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Versace and more. Don�t miss the $30-and-below bargains in the home section.
SmartBargains.com: SmartBargains.com is a great site for end-of-season and overstock items from designers like Tod�s, Fendi, Prada, and Isaac Mizrahi. They also have a substantial plus-size and petite section. The bargain and last-chance sections are great for filling most of your male holiday gift-giving needs: you can find Zegna silk ties for $29.97 and Armani wool suits from $799.99. While there, pick up a little something for yourself, like a Versace nylon tote for $179. The site has teamed up with the brick & mortar off price retailer, Loehmann's, to offer a wider selection of designer fashions.
Ashford.com: This site has the most amazing selection of designer watches in the world�at up to 70% off retail. This is the perfect site to shop for high-end male accessories like Rolex watches. My favorite part of the site is the �Build Your Ring� section. Fellow Fashionistas may find that building their own rings is one of the best ways to goof off at work. Last year alone, I built thirty-six! Ashford.com also sports an impressive selection of precious and semi-precious stone jewelry, including a fabulous pair of garnet chandelier earrings set in yellow gold.
The Snob: One of the first and largest online vintage retailers, The Snob is a Florida-based company with a large collection of vintage Chanel. This store has a comprehensive, searchable, online database of vintage fashions from designers like Versace, gently worn authentic Hermes handbags (including vintage), Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Valentino, Missoni, Malo, Fendi, Jil Sander, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci, Chanel and Prada shoes and bags. All merchandise is authentic and in excellent condition, and some items have never been worn. Check out their large selection of plus-size vintage and consignment items.
YOOX .com: The site looks like it was designed by an Italian club kid, but it has amazing prices on very high end designers like Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Marni. I once found a red Givenchy coat, retail price $3000+, on the site for around $500. A word of caution: the site has a limited stock and items sell fast, so if you see something you like, purchase it ASAP.
eBay!: With the hiring of style guru Constance White, eBay! has started to focus on budget-conscious Fashionistas. Good deals can be found here, especially in the area of vintage fashion. I�ve purchased several items from the online flea market, most recently a vintage hat covered with silk daisies circa 1962. Be very clear of your goals when shopping on eBay, to avoid buying a fake. If your goal is to get a Louis Vuitton monogrammed bag because J.Lo carries one in the ads, then you may not care whether the bag is real or not. However, if your goal is to get a Louis Vuitton bag because you have always wanted such a bag, then it is best to buy it at a reputable seller of the bags, like eluxury.com. Before spending any money on eBay!, check the sellers� ratings and look over buyers� comments. In addition, always use a credit card that has buyer protection. That way, if the item is fake (which happens more often than not), you may be able to get your money back via the credit card you used to purchase the item.
Zappos.com: The ultimate online shoe store has some of the hottest fashions, like Uggs, Charles Jourdan, and Marc Jacob shoes up to 50% off the original in-store prices in it;s clearance section. Zappos.com also offers free shipping, free returns, 110% price protection, on all items, saving you much more dough! What I like most about Zappos.com is that they have styles and sizes to fit everyone, not just people who wear a "standard" size 8.
Overstock.com!: Overstock is like your favorite outlet store, but online. With products ranging from scooters to bras, this store is one of the best places to look for the latest styles at amazingly low prices. We recently found a Steve Madden cropped, fur-hooded jacket for $39.99.
La Redoute: La Redoute is a like the french version of H&M offering high end designs at budget friendly prices. Fashionistas outside France can also find great deals on mass market lines from well known french designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Cacharel. I'm a big fan of the shoes.
Newport News: The quality is questionable, but the style is great. Find Anne Fontaine like wrap white shirts for less than $30 and slouchy suede boots for $49. The site also carries plus size, tall, and petite sizes.
Asos.com: Think Forever 21 meets H&M. This UK based outpost that ships to the US, has a large selection of tops, bottoms, and dresses directly inspired by your favorite celebrities. 90% of the items in the store cost less than $40. Not a bad price for a knock off top similar to one worn by Sienna Miller.
Visit our Online Coupons section for coupons and deals to your favorite online stores. Know a great online discount site that should be on this list? Post it below.
