Buying vintage is the obvious sustainable and affordable solution to getting your hands on an iconic Louis Vuitton bag. But with so many bogus bags on the market, which websites can you trust?
Rebag is a premier destination for vintage and gently-loved Louis Vuitton bags (Photo: Rebag)
Founded in Paris in 1854, Louis Vuitton has become a staple for the style-conscious. Renowned for its high-quality craftsmanship and classic design, the brand has become the pinnacle of designer luxury and iconic heritage. Since launching its first handbag in the early 20th century, LV bags have graced the perfectly proportioned arms of countless celebs, from Jackie Kennedy to Kate Moss. Thanks to the rise in vintage marketplaces and pre-loved platforms, you no longer need to be an A-lister to afford one of these coveted bags either. We’ve rounded up five of the best places online to buy authentic, fairly-priced Louis Vuitton vintage bags.
Rebag
A premiere destination for gently worn and refurbished designer items, Rebag is a favourite among fashionistas. It’s a candy shop of designer goods, with nearly 5,500 Louis Vuitton bags currently for sale. To ensure authenticity, each bag is examined by an in-house team who inspects, vets and approves items. But where the platform really sets itself apart is in how much data it shares. Buyers can see condition grading and details such as ‘minor darkening’ and its ‘Clair Code’, a tool that enables users to determine the estimated cost of the bag in seconds. Buyers can also filter their search by style, condition, price, material, store availability and colour.
Open for Vintage
Open for Vintage offers a huge range of authenticated Louis Vuitton bags (Photo: Open for Vintage)
This UK-based online marketplace showcases a curated selection of vintage boutiques from across the globe. You’ll find hundreds of vintage and refurbished Louis Vuitton bags on the site, ranging from cross-body to weekend bags. Products are competitively priced and every listing includes details on any minor scratches and faults to avoid any post-purchase disappointment. In the unlikely event that you’re unhappy with your purchase, the platform offers free 14-day returns too.
The Vintage Bar
The Vintage Bar offers a staggering range of more than 14,000 vintage Louis Vuitton bags, so you’re bound to find something that ticks all your boxes. Each item undergoes an extensive authentication process that inspects elements including labels, codes, stitching and symmetry to ensure that each listing is legitimate. As part of the process, buyers receive a Certificate Authenticity, a written and stamped certificate that can be used for re-sale too. You’ll find all of the brand’s most iconic models, including the Speedy, Alma and Neverfull, listed on the site.
Buy at Thevintagebar.com
Vestiare Collective
Vestiare Collective is one of the world’s largest marketplaces for designer goods (Photo: Vestiare Collective)
Vestiare Collective was launched in 2009 and has since grown to a community of over 15 million users in both buying and selling pre-owned items. Every item sold on the site undergoes a rigorous authentication process before being posted to you. Currently, there are thousands of vintage Louis Vuitton bags for sale on the site, but to help make the purchasing process a little less daunting, buyers can shop by condition, material and model. You could also choose to ‘buy in your region’ and filter by trusted and expert sellers only. Badges are assigned to sellers based on the number of items sold, how well they matched their selling description and how many items they have shipped.
Etsy
Etsy is one of the world’s favourite online marketplaces connecting sellers with buyers. The site sells just about everything, but vintage items – specifically bags – are becoming increasingly popular. The platform currently has nearly 4,000 Louis Vuitton bags listed on the site, but not all of these are legitimate. To sniff out the bonafide goods, look for sellers with a high number of five-star reviews. Most sellers will be able to provide a certificate confirming authenticity, as well as highly detailed images. Buyers can filter by price, condition, colour, material and delivery window too.