Find haute couture from the finest French wardrobes

UK SHOPPERS FLOCK TO vestiaire collective TO FIND haute couture from the finest French wardrobes

 

Vestiaire Collective, the pre-owned, luxury, fashion website today celebrates its first six months in the UK by announcing quadruple digit growth in UK members and record sales to UK consumers. The cult French fashion site has grown its base of users in the UK by 1200% since adding English and sterling to the site in March 2012. The site now boasts over 1.2million members and 12.2 million monthly visits globally.

 

The attraction of previously owned designer labels from the finest French wardrobes has attracted British label hunters who are now spending an average of £300 per shop as they rush to snap up the latest from French luxury brands.  Some of the treasures grabbed by UK shoppers in the past six months include a Yves Saint Laurent bag for £1,000, a Shamballa jewels item for £1500 and a men’s IWC watch for £1,100.

 

Across the channel, the fashionable French are clearing out the designer items at a rate of 25,000 items per month. In fact initial statistics for October reveal a 20% increase in items submitted for sale since the UK came online in March. It’s not only the fashionable woman on the street clearing her wardrobe, Vestiaire Collective is also home to French and British celebrities who are actively using the site to empty their wardrobes for the upcoming season.

 

Some of the French ‘bargains’ available today include a Valentino python and sable bag for £4876, about half the original price for the sought after bag. The sale list also includes more than 720 Isabelle Marant shoes, handbags, coats and dresses for up to 70% off. Unlike other pre—owned and vintage fashion sites, Vestiaire Collective checks every item for authenticity, so British shoppers know that what they are buying is absolutely genuine.

 

“We are seeing a wave of interest and excitement about the contents of French wardrobes from our British community,” says Vestiaire Collective’s UK MD Shannon Edwards. “On average British women are spending 30% more than their French counterparts and whilst we are shopping, the French are selling. We have seen more than 400 brands added to the site which are being snapped up here by women who are used to buying vintage and love that classic French style.”

 

Vestiaire Collective was founded by French internet entrepreneur, Sébastien Fabre who alongside five co-founders has developed the business by integrating a strong social community with ecommerce. The site gives consumers a platform to share, discuss and review fashion trends, labels, brands and items, yet closely monitors the buying and selling of goods to ensure that each piece is authentic, in excellent condition and is beautifully presented and delivered to the end consumer. The site manages all financial transactions to ensure that the seller has absolute peace of mind with items that often have a very high ticket value.

 

LAST MINUTE MAN. {Christmas Gift Idea}

SELFRIDGES LAUNCHES SOS SHOPPING SERVICE FOR MEN-ONLY FOLLOWING NEWS THAT 80 PER CENT OF ITS CHRISTMAS EVE SHOPPERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MALE

80 per cent of shoppers at Selfridges on Christmas Eve are expected to be men

He’s only had 365 days to complete it, however Selfridges, the world’s best department store reveals that for yet another year, 80 per cent of its male shoppers have left it to the final hour to purchase Christmas presents for their nearest and dearest.

Selfridges anticipates over 250,000 customers to start their festive shopping on Christmas Eve, and the majority of these to be men who rely on the expertise of sales colleagues to emerge laden with a gift selection that will bring tears of joy (instead of just tears), on Christmas morning.

With this in mind, Selfridges is to introduce a special 30 minute SOS shopping service for those men who are clueless to the art of Christmas present buying. Starting Saturday 18th December, and running until stores close at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve, Selfridges’ Gift Gurus will offer male customers an express 30-minute no fuss service – guaranteed to cater for all their last minute panic Christmas gifts.

The Gift Guru Express service will be available in all Selfridges’ stores nationwide. Customers are asked to go to Selfridges’ information desk, where the closest Gift Guru will be contacted via a radio-link and the 30 minutes starts from then. The service, which was trialled last weekend, was inundated with men wanting to take advantage of wrapping up their Christmas in one swift 30 minute session.

According to scientists, the reason behind men’s last minute panic Christmas shopping, compared to female’s more considered approach, is down to a woman’s love of spending hours browsing in shops while men prefer to be in and out in minutes, reflecting their primitive past when women foraged whilst men hunted and gathered.

Selfridges’ Gift Guru, Ena O’Neill said: “Last minute man does his desperate shopping in the final hours of Christmas Eve. He comes in and asks to be shown the most expensive fragrance and just goes with that. The trick to productive gift buying, even for those who have left it to the final hour is to prepare a list. Don’t be afraid of asking questions, to find out what people actually want, what size they are, and any dislikes. I am always amazed at how many men are petrified of shopping. Last weekend we had many grab-and-run male shoppers who admitted disliking the gift buying experience, but left the store with a a huge smile after their 30 minute, hassle free shopping session.”

Anne Pitcher, Buying & Merchandising Director at Selfridges said; “For some men, shopping at this time of the year can be quite a stressful and daunting experience, especially for those not accustomed to gift buying. Our Gift Guru Express service is targeted at these men specifically, and provides them with a productive and effective service, all keeping within the festive spirit”

Selfridges’ Top Ten Gift Guru Express Gifts (jewellery):

1. Chanel J12 watch in blue from £2,750
2. Boucheron Four Gold Ring, £2,160 without diamonds, £4,390 with diamonds
3. Theo Fennell Skull Ring in silver, from £250
4. Missoni Toy Watch £385
5. Natalia Brilli gold watch bracelet £205
6. Lanvin glass pompom necklace £1,115
7. Yves Saint Lauren arty cuff £595
8. Georg Jenson fusion white gold ear studs £895
9. Hermes Enamel bracelet £375
10. Tiffany Praseolite cocktail ring £635

Selfridges’ Top Ten Gift Guru Express Gifts (beauty):

1. Bare Escentuals make up box £500
2. Benefit Dolls House £400
3. Chanel No 5 soap box set £30
4. Nars Kabuki Box Bowls £95
5. Lancome Exclusive Juicy Tube gift set, £30
6. Bobbi Brown Deluxe Beauty Trunk £350
7. Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Collection £259
8. Vivienne Westwood Naughty Alice 50ml gift set, £50
9. Supersized Chanel No. 5 £800-£3,000
10. Creme de La Mer Globetrotter £950