Pre-Owned Designer Deals: Chanel and Armani

Pictured: Pre-owned Chanel on sale at Ideeli today.

In my constant search for the very best for less, I have to let you all know about some good deals I have recently come across on high-end fashions from two of my favorite design houses.   There are so many  poorly made, cheap celebrity fashion lines flooding the market now, with an endless parade of  budget fashion collections coming to big box stores, that I find the quality in general is deteriorating. In many cases, it is far better to invest my hard earned dollars in what I call “pre-owned”  or from my optimistic view point, “pre-loved”,  high-end designers.  The overall quality is better as are the fabrics.  If you enjoy for quest of luxury for less, do check out online shopping club Ideeli’s sale this weekend on pre-owned Chanel  handbags, jewelry, belts,  dresses and more.  Some of the prices are still quite high, but they are a fraction of the price of Chanel retail.  If you don’t already belong to Ideeli, click here to join using my invite to shop.

Pictured: The Beit T’shuvah Thrift Shop in Culver City, CA.	(picture: M. Hall.)

Another high-end designer that I am continually searching and lusting for is Giorgio Armani. Armani is quite simply exquisite and I find the tailoring exceptional and uniquely flattering. Recently, I found a new source for Vintage Armani. Wait for it….it’s hiding in a non-descript thrift store in Culver City right across the street from Sony Pictures at the Beit T’shuvah Thrift Shop on Washington Boulevard.  If you live in Los Angeles, or are visiting, put this place on your hit list.  This store is full of great designer finds, and many vintage Armanis.  I snapped up a Giorgio Armani black jacket for a mere $35.00 US as well as an elegant Armani Collection black cocktail dress for $30.00.  The condition of both items was pristine, and I wonder if they came from the movie studio across the street.  Check out the picture below of one of the lovely summer vintage Armani jackets from the shop.

Pictured: An Armani jacket on sale for about $30.00  (picture: M. Hall.)

Beit T’shuvah Thrift Shop features a whole designer section full of items from St. John, Armani, Donna Karan and other high-end designers.  If you have the time to shift through the large store inventory, do check it out. It takes time to separate the good stuff from the junk, but it’s very worthwhile.  At the right thrift or vintage shop, your $35.00 can actually buy a wonderful designer piece, rather than a celebrity labeled piece of junk passed off as fashion.