What's on your ultimate wish list?

Every now and then I like to save up and treat myself to a luxury item that has been on my wish list.

There’s nothing more satisfying than that moment where you purchase yourself something that you have been lusting after for ages.

Buying something spenny can be daunting but I’ve really cut out buying fast fashion and instead of buying lots of things I keep my money for one bigger purchase I know I’ll wear forever.

I also have spoken before about how I resell my clothing with Katie at Peach Vintage Clothing and I use that money from selling my clothes to reinvest in my own wardrobe.

One way of buying a luxury piece for less is to buy with someone who deals with reselling luxury items and one of my favourite places for designer reselling is Luxury Exchange, a Cork based company which specialises in luxury handbags but you can also find clothing and jewellery here too.

There are many bonuses to buying preloved designer pieces and as well as saving money, being sustainable and contributing to a circular economy you also are not confined to what’s available in the shops that particular season.

You may have a penchant for 1970s Chanel (who doesn’t) and imagine the joy and satisfaction of finding a vintage designer piece that you’ve been searching for.

It makes your style truly unique and that is something that is difficult to achieve these days.

Preloved shopping means you can also find a dream piece from a brand that is no longer in existence but that you’ve always been a fan of.

One of my favourite things to buy from preloved sellers is jewellery and while snapping a pair of designer earrings for less is amazing, I’m also always on the lookout for vintage costume jewellery. Look around at Italian sellers for the most stunning, unique gems.

Caitriona McGettigan from Luxury Exchange has the following tips if you’re on the hunt for a special designer piece: “Always ask for a discount! It never hurts to ask especially for big purchases or multiple items. While discounts aren’t always guaranteed, many resellers are open to offers, so it’s always worth a try!

“Price check everything! Some resellers list items at inflated prices, hoping buyers won’t compare. Ask for the style name and do a quick Google search to ensure you’re paying a fair price.”

She added: “Buy from trusted, authenticated sellers. Following from my last point, if the price seems way too good, it can be an indication of a potential scam.

“When making larger purchases, always buy from reputable resale businesses. I especially recommend looking out for Entrupy authentication. Entrupy is a third-party authentication system that provides financially backed authenticity certificates for designer bags.

“Only approved businesses can use Entrupy, and the software itself is costly, making it a strong indicator that the reseller is serious about authenticity and providing a trustworthy service,” the Cork retailer explains.

Most of all I would say be patient when searching for your dream designer piece. It can be a slow process tracking down this item you’ve had on your mind for months and months, but it is worth asking a reseller to keep an eye out for a specific piece or setting up alerts on websites like Vestiaire Collective which also offers an authentication service.

It’s so satisfying when you find that piece you’ve been searching for, so enjoy the chase and happy preloved designer hunting!