YouLookFab Forum » Topic: How can you tell?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: How can you tell? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:14:04 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Bijou on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1968253 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 14:37:02 +0000 Bijou 1968253@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The Real Real is a reseller of used pieces. You need to sign up to be a member (which I am not), but I have heard good things about that site. Yoox is new items as are the other sites I mentioned above. Stagiaire Fash on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1968252 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 14:28:25 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1968252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Bijoux, thanks for the list. Are some of those sites resellers of used pieces? As far as I know, the item at Yoox (which is now gone) would have been new. I’m not interested in designer things per se—was looking for red boots on Lyst, which took me to a pair on Yoox that happened to be Armani. Bijou on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1968241 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 14:05:55 +0000 Bijou 1968241@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ There are a number of online sites that I trust to purchase designer items: - YOOX - Farfetch - Net-a-Porter - The Outnet - Matches Fashion I think a number of these are affiliated or owned by the same parent company. They all provide a return service but not free delivery. In my experience all items have been in pristine condition when received and beautifully packaged. However, I would always prefer to buy something that I have actually seen or tried on in person before purchasing as designer sizing can be quite variable. The actual items measurements are usually a far better indication of what size to buy as some designer sizing is very small. For me, I am a JCrew US size 4 and I wear Armani size 40 (if that helps with sizing). Stagiaire Fash on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967815 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 08:10:14 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1967815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you all for the advice and commiseration! Looking at how the model is built is an excellent tip—not sure why I’ve never thought of it. I always had such trouble with things I ordered from Anthropologie, now am wondering just how my favorite model there is built. I’ll have to look next time she pops up. And I’ll get busy finding reviews on other sites. Rachylou, calling Yoox had never occurred to me. Maybe I should try it. Jaime on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967764 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 02:13:45 +0000 Jaime 1967764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Take the cost of return into account, as mentioned above. When possible read all the reviews. Look for the item on other websites for more information. Remember the model may be much taller and built differently than you are. Good luck! rachylou on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967762 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 02:04:56 +0000 rachylou 1967762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A site like Yoox, I feel you can call and discuss concerns and get some answers. But I have to admit, more often than not, doing so has resulted in me deciding against the gamble. cindysmith on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967734 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 23:27:45 +0000 cindysmith 1967734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yoox is trustworthy (in my experience) for those kinds of labels. ladypainter on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967665 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 19:17:24 +0000 ladypainter 1967665@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ For online ordering, it’s customer reviews and whether the retailer has a good reputation. If shopping Amazon, I look at reviews for complaints re: counterfeiting on the sub-contracting vendor’s part. FWIW, I’ve never bought designer items online. The few designer pieces I’ve owned were bought in a B&M shop, whether a department store or the label’s own shop. chouette22 on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967649 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 18:40:11 +0000 chouette22 1967649@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So funny Elizabeth P! Yes, this forum gives the best recommendations! Christina F. on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967639 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 18:10:07 +0000 Christina F. 1967639@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ LOL at Elizabeth P. There are certainly much worse strategies! Elizabeth P on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967635 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:50:49 +0000 Elizabeth P 1967635@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I just buy what Suz buys Suz on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967618 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 16:24:48 +0000 Suz 1967618@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Staysfit gives a brilliant tutorial here. Staysfit -- you could start a separate thread with that advice so others could benefit from it. Copy and paste!  I haven't ordered designer online but I would imagine it's a gamble. For online shopping generally I read reviews, look carefully at the models, get as much info as I can about the specific item.  Kathie on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967601 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 15:02:33 +0000 Kathie 1967601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ For shoes, the one quality I look for is leather lining. It usually does cost more, but I have much better luck with getting a number of years of use out of leather-lined shoes. But, it's just one thing I look for. Anything else, I have to evaluate in person, so I return a lot. I buy mostly from Nordstrom's so that I can return in the store, or from companies that process returns very quickly. Angie on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967590 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 14:51:52 +0000 Angie 1967590@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ SOOOO hard. To some extent, if you have good experiences with the brand - that helps. Otherwise - one big gamble.  Anonymous on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967562 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:42:34 +0000 Anonymous 1967562@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Seconding customer reviews, and Angie recs, but its really hard. I didn't really order clothes online at all til recently, and have definitely been burned. I will order from Nordstrom now, but thats cause i can return irl (hour + drive but in my semi regular travels) and get money back straightaway. Im just not comfortable gambling otherwise. Staysfit on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967561 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:34:43 +0000 Staysfit 1967561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I purchased an Armani Moto jacket this year on Farfetch. It was on sale for more than 50% off and was the only one left. I was lucky they had my size! I checked to make sure it was truly an item in a recent collection before I made the purchase, and I also called the Armani store in New York and spoke with them about the item first. Color does not always translate well online so I wanted to know if the red was really a warm tone like tomato, or cool and pinkish, which is what I had hoped. I also called to get exact item dimensions since the jacket was supposedly shipped to me from Italy. My homework payed off, because the jacket more than meets my expectations. The quality is excellent. The color is spot on for my palette. Everything is perfectly stitched, and the leather quality is amazing. I recommend that you do some homework before ordering, I read all the fine details about the item...it’s composition, it’s dimensions if available, where it’s located, the size of the model wearing it in the pictures, etc. I tend to call and confrim the details if the item is unique...so I might not do this with Boden, who has had good reliability with sizing, but I would with J Crew, and Nordstrom, I have received incorrect sizes, incorrect colors, knitwear with pulls, poorly sewn and matched tops, etc. I am quick to call customer service. I have mostly not had any problems when dealing with an item that is faulty, but it is important to know what works for your style, and body, Purchasing online is a bit of a gamble. I have made some mistakes, and on occasion, the mistake can be costly. There may be no way to know in advance if the item is authentic, but my experience with YOOX and Farfetch have been that the items are authentic. They want to maintain their reputations with the public for supplying designer items. I also try looking for the item on the designers website, Armani regularly has sale items on their website. I like Armani, so I happen to check the website periodically. If you purchase directly from them, you can be more certain it’s authentic. I have done the same with other brands I find fit and are consistently well made, for example J Brand, Rag and Bone, etc. The number of returns I make has gone down as my understanding about my personal style has increased. I have developed a good eye for what looks like it will work for my body and style. I can evaluate how something looks on a model in a picture and if her measurements are provided I can usually guess if the item will work. If you look carefully at models, they come with different body shapes, even thought they often look like rectangular IT types, including plus size models, Some are pears, some hourglass, etc. I look for someone with a similar body type. If you have to make a return, it’s not hard to box up items and send them back, You may lose postage on some, but many have return postage figured into the cost of doing business. I also look for codes and promotions that include free shipping. I assume you have a post office, UPS store, and or Fedex even if the store you prefer is nowhere near your new home. Janet on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967555 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:19:46 +0000 Janet 1967555@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Honestly, I think it’s nearly impossible with online purchases unless you can find reviews from customers. I’ve ordered things from designer labels that quality-wise seem way under a standard I expect, but other times it’s been great. It’s a crap shoot. Minah Lynn on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967550 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:57:04 +0000 Minah Lynn 1967550@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's very tricky to buy online purchases nowadays because of authenticity issues especially on your case that you are buying a designer-labeled brand. Maybe, you can be sure with the quality by checking the ratings out or the feedback from different buyers. Or you can request the seller to send you a real time photo of the item!:) Stagiaire Fash on "How can you tell?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-can-you-tell#post-1967545 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:28:20 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1967545@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My new location means I need to be more certain about online purchases. No more ordering up a slew of tops and dropping over 90% of them off at the store when my son has an early game in that part of town a couple months later. There is an Armani item I’m thinking of getting from Yoox. I’d like to evaluate quality better before placing orders. Obviously, I can look at what the content is, and cannot check the seams on the specific piece I’ll get. What ways do you evaluate quality of shoes or clothing before purchasing something on line?