4 Fashion Sites You Should Be Shopping Now
Over the past decade or so, a lot has changed on the e-commerce landscape, both in Japan and around the world. It used to be that there were very few online fashion shopping sites that offered international shipping, and even then the cost of it was so exorbitant that most people I know opted to either wait until they traveled abroad to do their shopping, or to have a friend or relative at home receive and forward on their packages. But in recent years, worldwide shipping has become the norm, and increasingly e-commerce sites are offering this as a free service (bonus!). We all know and love Asos, Shopbop, Luisa Via Roma and Net-A-Porter, but there are countless other smaller online shopping destinations that also deserve our attention. Here are just a few of Savvy's favorites; let us know yours in the comments.
1. Inverted Edge is a new site, having launched less than a year ago, but it has already attracted the attention of fashionistas the world over with its uniquely curated selection and hard-to-find brands. It only sells styles by designers from the Asia-Pacific region, many of which you’ve probably never heard of. But that’s fine, because Inverted Edge does such a great job at choosing the very best brands and items from across the region that you may just find yourself a couple of new favorites. The site offers free global shipping (including taxes and duties) on orders over $50, plus free returns.
2. Reformation has a very rare and groundbreaking business plan for a fashion company: it takes vintage clothing and dead stock fabrics and refashions them into of-the-moment, covetable clothes. Not only is this system an environmentally sustainable one, but it also means that each piece is unique and each style is produced only in very small quantities, so you don’t have to worry about showing up to work in the same dress as your boss (unless she, too, has impeccable taste). In addition to its three physical stores in the U.S., last month Reformation started offering free worldwide shipping on all orders.
3. Being that it is next to impossible for me to buy stylish shoes in my size in Japan, the majority of my footwear comes either from overseas trips or from online shopping sites. Of the latter, by far my favorite is Shoes of Prey. This Australia-based company specializes in gorgeous handmade shoes that you design yourself using its intuitive 3-D design tool on its website. Choose from 12 essential shoe shapes, including ballet flats, stilettos, oxfords and wedges, then customize them with your choice of over 170 different fabrics in all the colors of the rainbow. After placing your order, they’ll be shipped to you free and arrive within four to five weeks. If you don’t love them, you can return them within a year and receive a free remake or a full refund. Those with Japanese ability can also shop from Shoes of Prey’s Japanese site, but beware that while your order will likely arrive sooner than from the Australian site, returns are only accepted within 30 days.
4. Chicwish is a great place to shop for trendy or statement pieces that won’t break the bank. Described as specializing in “retro, indie and unique fashion,” it stocks a wide range of clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories and handbags. Prices average about $50, shipping is free worldwide, and if you “like” the Chicwish Facebook page you can get 30 percent off your first order. This is also a good site for parents of teens, as the styles are young and funky.
