Designer Looks for Less: All About Member Shopping Sites
I love fall fashion. Boots, sweaters, jackets, oh my … it’s a layering paradise! I find myself filling virtual bag after virtual bag with sweaters, printed jeans, booties, scarves and the like. Then, as I hover over the check out button, I am brought back to reality: I am a broke college student attempting to save her pennies for upcoming ventures, like living by myself and studying domestically abroad next semester.
However, not all super cute outfits come with super huge sales tags. What I’ve recently come upon are member sites. Get invited by a friend or connect via Facebook, sign up and become a part of special exclusive sales.
Bluefly is my all-time personal favorite. It contains endless amounts of clothes and accessories at great prices. It may feature last season’s blouse, but there are plenty of gorgeous items that are certainly not outdated! Scroll through $198 chiffon blouses for a far more reasonable $56.79. Check out this adorable Free People knit sweater that you’ll save $63 on!
Another favorite of mine is Belle & Clive. You also get a $25 credit when you refer a friend and they shop. LOVE! Their sales change daily, so you’ll have to act quickly! I love this burgundy crepe top. It retails at $108 but is available here for $49. What about these black skinnies from Romeo and Couture? Instead of paying the full $130, the pants are a much less painful $59.
And you can’t forget Hautelook! This chunky knit by American Vintage can cost $165, but on here, you’re looking at $62. PERFECT for fall! And this trendy American Apparel sweater dress marked down 51% to a mere $32! I would pair this with booties, tights and a cute scarf. Or maybe even a pair of tall boots like these, that are priced down 46% for $59! And I couldn’t resist this BCBGeneration dress. It would be perfect layered with a jean jacket, and the detailing is great. Original price: $168, Hautelook price: $65.
RueLaLa is another amazing member site. The sales change every day, and they go quick, so be sure to keep your eye on upcoming sales that interest you. The other day, I spotted a gorgeous Calvin Klein trench — priced at $79 instead of the $170 retail value. It’s a great feminine shape with a bit of a military look, which is the perfect way to adapt the runway into your daily life. How about this Poleci chiffon top for $64.90? Much easier on the wallet than its original price of $280. This can be dressed up and worn as an interning outfit or worn casually with jeans and boat shoes.
I also belong to Gilt Groupe. This site offers a little bit of everything — you can get food and wine, home goods and vacation trips! They also offer several designer specials. I love the accessories available on the site. Look at this scarf! It will normally cost you $55, but instead it’s $29, much more reasonable. I love scarves and this looks so cute and cozy.
The key to using sites like these is being savvy. Check in periodically, keep the upcoming sales announcements in mind and browse through the choices. It’s easy to differentiate which items are for sale for a reason, and which ones are classic and great but just merely off season! The best part about this is you will acquire pieces made of exceptional quality. You may be saving a couple bucks, but the high quality is not compromised.
Happy shopping!
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