The After-Christmas Designer Sale: How to Shop Luxury the Smart Way
There are a few days days of out the year that I look towards to, one of them is Christmas, sure, but another? The day after. The chaos fades, the pressure lifts, and suddenly the fashion world gets generous. This is the window where luxury loosens its grip just enough to reward those who know how to shop with intention.
Post-holiday sales aren’t about impulse buying or grabbing whatever’s cheapest. They’re about timing, discernment, and understanding which designers actually play the markdown game. If you’re strategic, this is when wardrobes quietly upgrade.
Department stores are usually the first to blink. Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, and Neiman Marcus begin clearing space for upcoming collections, which means serious discounts on designer ready-to-wear, shoes, and accessories. It’s not unusual to see 30 to 60 percent off on brands that rarely feel accessible during the year. These sales tend to deepen as December turns into January, especially on seasonal items like coats, boots, and knitwear.
Online luxury retailers follow closely behind. Net-a-Porter (personal fav to catch deals) and Farfetch (another fav) are particularly generous during this time, especially if you’re shopping modern, trend-driven designers such as Totême, Proenza Schouler, and Coperni. The key is patience. The best discounts often appear when everyone else assumes the good stuff is gone.
Keep in mind that not all luxury brands behave the same way, and knowing this saves both money and frustration. Designers like Burberry, Ferragamo, Balenciaga, Mansur Gavriel, and Loewe regularly show up in post-holiday sales, especially through department stores. Outerwear, leather accessories, and footwear tend to be where the real value lives. These are the pieces that last beyond a season and still feel relevant next year.
On the other hand, some houses simply don’t participate and never will. Louis Vuitton never discounts, and neither do core Chanel or Hermès collections, although I have seen in the flesh Chanel shoes and accessories discounted at Saks. Regardless, the day after Christmas often brings the first wave of sales, but the sweet spot usually lands a few days later, when prices drop again and stores quietly restock returns. Early January can be surprisingly strong, especially if you’re shopping in person. Some of the best finds never make it online.The most important rule? Buy with intention. Sales don’t turn a bad purchase into a good one. If it doesn’t work with your wardrobe, your lifestyle, or your taste at full price, it won’t magically work just because it’s discounted, and on that note…
xx
Rana