Well hello there! In my latest Fashion Matters Column in Cheshire Living Magazine (October 2025 issue), I share my advice on savvy shopping for luxury fashions. 

Buying famous luxury brands is the epitome savvy shopping, especially when you find them in a charity shop, on eBay or from a pre-loved boutique for a fraction of their retail price. 

Once you have made a few savvy purchases there’s no going back. In fact, dare I say, you may even become a brand snob – and all on a high street budget.

Why should we aim high?

Luxury brands are often timeless, well-made, and cut from better cloth. All of this means that much of what you will buy will last longer and stand the test of time. A friend of mine dressed her children in designer fashions she found on eBay. She would search for everything they needed, choosing both high-end brands she was familiar with and doing a little research on those she wasn’t, and then re-sell everything when they grew out of it. She’d say that beautifully designed and well-made pieces wear well, wash well and look great for years, but when your child is growing fast buying new makes no sense, so while her daughter’s peers were wearing coats from Primark, Lucy would be warmly clad in Ted Baker or a previously unheard-of German brand with super style.

When choosing pre-loved pieces I recommend you look for where the item was made. Pieces made in Italy, Germany, France and the UK are usually excellent quality throughout. Those made in China, well, that decision is up to you.

Then there’s the cut.  French and Italian-made clothing is cut and finished very well with attention to every detail, including the stitching, buttons and accessories, and the finishing.

Plus, there’s the important fact that these items are designed and crafted by people who really take pride in their work and as a result have become the most iconic, lasting names in fashion. These are the pieces the fast fashion houses copy within weeks or even days of them appearing on the catwalk, putting their own spin on colour and shaping, and most certainly on fabric and finish.

         

Brands to look out for

Luxury fashion doesn’t always come with a luxury price tag, there are brands that we might consider ‘entry level’ that still bring all the benefits of fabric, cut and careful manufacturing that don’t break the bank, even when new.

Consider for example Polo Ralph Lauren, Ted Baker and Diesel. These are the brands far beyond fast fashion where pieces will certainly last, and continue to look good, for many a season. Step up a level and you’re looking at Hugo Boss, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors. Take a look at my pyramid below to see how the brands I consider worth seeking out attract the ‘debit card’ v ‘credit card’ (or even second mortgage) prices.

As I have already mentioned, eBay and Vinted are great places to find designer brands at accessible prices, but there is always a risk of being sold a fake. Both offer ways to request your money back, but both need evidence of fraudulent goods, and it can be a hassle.  Always check the seller’s feedback and be suspicious of prices that are too good to be true.  If you’re still unsure, a reputable pre-loved store, like Dress Cheshire, will guarantee you are buying exactly what you think you’re buying.

Love, Christine x