Should You Shop at Fashionphile? Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy
Fashionphile is a re-commerce company for ultra-luxury products founded in 1999. I think its years of experience underscores the company’s high quality! I definitely felt more comfortable there than on other websites that have sprung up in recent years. Fashionphile is also the official re-commerce website for Neiman Marcus—which gives them even more credibility!
But you’re probably wondering what my experience was like and what little details there are about the company and its products! I’ll tell you all about it below!
What I Bought
I’ve shopped at Fashionphile about six times in the past few years and have never been disappointed! I won’t go into all of my purchases here, but rather just a few and the available selection.
My first purchase was the Saint Laurent Small Sac de Jour in gray grained calfskin. It was my first truly luxurious purchase, and I wanted it to be a classic. The supple leather seemed a bit younger, trendier, and less businesslike than other models.
For about a third of the current price at Saint Laurent, I bought a pre-owned bag, including a certificate of authenticity, clochette, lock, keys, slip pocket, and strap—basically everything except the original dust bag—in excellent condition (except for the removable strap—it was a bit frayed, which I knew before I bought it)!
Another advantage of buying pre-owned bags is the opportunity to buy vintage! Everyone talks about how prices have risen and quality has declined at the same time, even for expensive designer pieces. The Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis made its big splash a few years ago. And it didn’t really wow me.
But then I happened upon the vintage Monogram Monceau 28 and immediately knew it would be the perfect monogram bag for me, as I’m not a huge fan of monogram prints. But vintage? Yes! The style is just so classic. It can hold a lot! Plus, it’s quite sturdy, as it’s the classic canvas monogram for luggage. I can carry it without any problems.
Since this bag is almost 30 years old, it didn’t have all the bells and whistles like a strap or a dust bag. However, I bought a leather strap from Etsy and am absolutely happy with it. The only other downside: It smells a bit like my grandmother. I guess that’s to be expected from a 30-year-old bag that isn’t made of leather, but that’s to be expected!
This bag is no longer in production, but I still think it’s beautiful. It’s perfect for a fancy evening, a cocktail party, or a wedding! With the gold hardware (on mine), it looks like jewelry and enhances any outfit!
The Chloé Drew is an affordable option on the secondhand market—I’ve bought several Chloés because they’re so high quality for the resale price. Another advantage of secondhand bags is that you can find rare color samples! I bought a two-tone one in sage green and black and I get compliments on it all the time. It’s definitely harder to find than solid-colored Drews. Mine was in excellent condition and came with the original Chloé dust bag!
What can you find on the website?
Fashionphile offers a huge selection of designers and items. You can find the full list here! But in general, they sell handbags, shoes, jewelry, and watches, as well as accessories like sunglasses, belts, scarves, and phone cases!
They carry designers from Telfar to Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Burberry, Cartier, Saint Laurent, and Chanel. The list is endless. Luxury items are sold here!
Is it real? Are the items authentic?
Fashionphile has each bag inspected by two authenticators who specialize in specific brands. Furthermore—and this is what reassures me most—they offer a lifetime authenticity guarantee. If something later turns out to be fake, they’ll refund you the full purchase price at any time.
Are the prices reasonable?
I find the prices fair, considering the condition and current popularity or desirability of a particular item. I’ve heard of cases where a bag is sold out or discontinued when new, and at the same time is in such high demand that the price is higher than retail—think Telfar, Hermes Birkin, or certain Louis Vuitton models. In this case, it might be better to go to the store if possible. h to buy a new bag.
If you want to avoid the immediate loss of value when buying new, used bags are a good option. Plus, you can see how the value of bags changes over time if resale value is important to you!
There’s also a price reduction system. I believe it happens about every 30 days, but the prices are reduced by 5, 10, 20, and 30% before being sent to Last Call if they still haven’t sold. In Last Call, they are supposed to be reduced by 1% every day until they are sold.
Some strange things about pricing:
If someoneIf someone purchases an item on sale and then returns it, the full list price will reappear. This can be frustrating if you’re watching an item with a particular discount.
If the item never sells, it will likely be removed from the site and eventually relisted at full price.
How I Shop?
Personally, I don’t look for super-trendy bags listed at the highest price on Fashionphile. I look for great bags at great prices – bargains! I buy what I like and what catches my eye – and if it’s from 2013, that’s perfectly fine! Because when you’re looking for classic-looking bags, age doesn’t matter as long as they’re well-cared for.
I filter a lot when browsing on Fashionphile. I’ve noticed that although I find many bags cool and pretty, I’m not willing to spend money on all brands or styles. So I filter by brands I like – Louis Vuitton, Chloé, Saint Laurent, Prada, Loewe, etc. Then I filter by price – I usually have a budget in mind, which I then set as the maximum price. I also filter by condition – I choose “Very Good,” “Excellent,” “New,” and “Suitable for Gifting.” I omit “Good” and “Satisfactory” because they’re usually too worn for me.
A good tip: Sort by the oldest listings, as the oldest listings are usually the cheapest! If you’re looking for a specific bag or find one you like, always access all listings by searching for the name. Then compare what’s included (some may be missing a strap, others may have an important authenticity card), the condition, and other details about wear and tear.
Example: My medium Chloé Owen bag was the cheapest after discounts and had the authenticity card and strap in very good condition. The $100 more expensive bag didn’t appear to be any better in photos or in the description; I’d even say worse, as it had a stain on the lining inside. Another bag, probably $200-$300 more, didn’t even have the strap, but was rated as excellent. So do your research to find the best deals and the most original extras!
Shipping and delivery? What’s included? Items are shipped quickly from the flagship stores – usually the next business day. They arrive in discreet brown boxes and require a signature upon delivery!
Inside the box, the items are wrapped in plain newspaper and come in a dust bag with the Fashionphile logo. If an item has an original dust bag or authenticity card, it’s usually inside the bag. The bags can also be stuffed with bubble wrap to retain their shape.
And how could I forget the confetti? Inside the box are small circles of pink and gray confetti, which is fun, but also a bit messy in my opinion. Last but not least, each box contains a Fashionphile nail file – I assume that’s a play on the name, and it’s always nice to have more than one!
Can I return items?
Yes! And that’s one of the main reasons I prefer Fashionphile to other resale sites (I think Yoogi’s Closet also accepts returns and has a good reputation for authenticity, FYI!). I believe the return period used to be 30 days, but now it’s reduced to 15. You still have two weeks to decide whether you like something or not.
To return, the Fashionphile authenticity card must still be attached to the bag! I always wait until after the return date to cut and use the bag in case I change my mind! Also, don’t forget to include any dust bags, authenticity cards, straps, etc. that came with the bag!
**I’ve loved every single bag I’ve received and have never returned one. But I’m glad this option exists! The photos are really great and show the imperfections (if any), so you won’t be surprised when you receive the bag.**
Unfortunately, return shipping isn’t free. It currently costs $14.99 and will be deducted from your refund. Frequent returns, such as purchasing 10 or more items within 6 months and a return rate of 70% or more, will incur a 10% restocking fee.
If you miss the return deadline, you can still get a partial refund by submitting the item through the Refresh (buyback) program.
Buyback Program (Refresh Program)
If you want to sell a bag you purchased from Fashionphile and have worn within a year, you can use the buyback program. The buyback program buys back bags up to a certain percentage, depending on the time since purchase and the overall condition.
Because Fashionphile tracks your purchases, you can easily select “Resale” in your account and receive an offer! For more information on how to receive your money, see the “Selling to Fashionphile” section below.
The buyback rates were reduced across the board by approximately 10% on September 12, 2023, which is a shame. The current rates are: “0-3 months: 65% of the purchase price; 4-6 months: 60% of the purchase price; 7-12 months: 55% of the purchase price.”
Excludes shoes and sunglasses, as well as items with excessive wear—that’s fine. However, items purchased for less than $400 are also excluded. I’m not sure if bags purchased on sale count, for example, if a bag is 20% off due to time spent on the site. I did buy a bag that, after an additional 10% discount, was under $400—the discount was site-wide, not specific to the bag. In this case, it counted toward the Refresh program, even though I technically bought it for less than $400!
Selling to Fashionphile
I’ve never sold anything to Fashionphile—I like to keep my bags (hopefully forever, assuming I’ve chosen well)! However, Fashionphile buys bags directly, which is very convenient. Instead of asking for payment until the bag is sold, you get payment upfront.
There are several ways to sell to Fashionphile: You can submit photos and information for an online quote within 3-5 days, schedule a virtual call with a quote in real time or shortly after, arrange a personal in-store visit, or use the exclusive service available only in Manhattan and Florida, where Fashionphile comes directly to your home.
If you’re happy with the quote, you’ll receive free and insured shipping. Once your return is received and authenticated by Fashionphile, you can pay with credit, a Neiman Marcus gift card, direct deposit/ACH, check, PayPal, or wire transfer. And if you choose credit or a Neiman Marcus gift card, you’ll receive an additional 10%. This is a great option if you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe and buy new bags, shoes, or clothing!
Reservation or Installment Purchase
Got your eye on a bag but can’t buy it right away? Take advantage of Fashionphile’s reservation program, also known as the Installment Purchase program. It lets you pay with 0% interest over 60 days. A 25% deposit is required to secure your installment plan. A 10% restocking fee will be charged for order cancellations, returns after receipt, or non-payment of the full amount within 60 days! A bag can only be reserved after it has been available on the website for 5 days.
Can I shop in person?
Yes! Fashionphile has two flagship stores—one in San Diego (Carlsburg) and one in New York City (Chelsea). Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome!
Parting Thoughts
Let me know if you have any questions or comments about shopping at Fashionphile—post them in the comments or on Instagram! If you enjoyed this Fashionphile shopping guide, I’d love for you to share it!