Black Friday is almost upon us, and that means the biggest sales of the year and the start of holiday shopping. I’ll be updating the blog with all of the best Black Friday sales and holiday gift guides all week, but first I wanted to share some of my picks from Farfetch. For those of you that aren’t familiar with Farfetch, it’s an online luxury shopping site. And it honestly seems to carry EVERYTHING. They aggregate brands and product across hundreds of sites around the world to provide the most diverse selection of designer items.
Farfetch has become one of my go-to sites when I’m shopping for higher end designers online. Because I know I’ll find the best selection and price. In anticipation of this week, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite items from the site that I secretly hope are included in their annual Black Friday sale… Click on the image to shop!
If you’re looking to make a big shopping purchase and planning on traveling abroad around the same time, you’re in luck! If you haven’t heard of VAT before, you’ll want to keep reading. We’ll get into what it is, where it applies, and how to get sometimes huge refunds on purchases made abroad. For those of you that aren’t familiar with VAT, it stands for “value-added tax” and is a general tax that is added to goods and services in certain countries, most notably in the European Union.
Essentially, this tax is added to the price of a good when you buy it, and you are able to get it back as a refund if you follow a particular process. The percentage of tax added varies by country. You can find a full list of countries where you can get a VAT refund here. As an American citizen, this is most often utilized when shopping in Europe. Particularly when purchasing luxury goods.
Tips for Shopping Abroad and Claiming Your VAT Refund
+ Purchasing luxury goods abroad and claiming a VAT refund can make a huge difference in price. Be sure to do your research in advance. Look up the price of items you’re interested in at home and abroad. Some brands keep their pricing relatively consistent across various exchange rates, but certain brands still have fairly large price discrepancies based on where you buy the item!
For example, luxury handbags such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel can run for up to $1k less if you buy them abroad (VAT refund in Europe is typically between 12-15%)! As a general rule of thumb, designers are often cheaper in their original country. Shop for Louis Vuitton, Celine, Saint Laurent, Chanel, etc. in Paris, and browse Gucci, Prada, and Missoni in Italy. (I can verify that Missoni in Italy is SO much cheaper than it is in the US. I honestly was so sad I didn’t have more room in my suitcase to bring home all the insane home decor back with me).
At the same time, try not to impulse buy just because you’re abroad and may be getting 12% back. It can be tough to resist temptation, but you’ll be much happier if you splurge on a wishlist item you’ve been dreaming of for a while.
+ Always use a credit card without foreign transaction fees:
You don’t want to save money abroad only to pay some of it back in credit card fees.
+ In a similar vain, it’s always best practice to choose the local currency:
You’ll get a better exchange rate than if you elect to buy items in your home currency.
+ Follow the VAT process closely! This is important:
You don’t just automatically get the tax back when you leave the EU. You have to make sure you get the proper paperwork filled out when you purchase your item and then file it correctly when you leave. Otherwise you won’t get your refund. The process can be a little tricky if you aren’t familiar, but as long as you follow the instructions it should be fairly straight forward.
First, make sure you get the appropriate paperwork. Most luxury stores will take care of this for you. You’ll just need your passport when you make your purchase. Make sure you keep each individual receipt and corresponding paperwork organized.
On the day you leave the EU, you will need to file the paperwork at the last stop (country) before you exit.
Every airport is different, but they will have different counters for you to file your VAT paperwork. Be sure to allot sufficient time for this process. Lines can be extremely long, and the last thing you want is to miss filing your paperwork because you ran out of time. The counters can be before or after security. Look online before you go. It’s best to keep expensive items in your carry on anyway, but make sure you have the items on you when you go to the counter. Sometimes they will ask to see the items and make sure they are new.
Also, different stores process VAT refunds through different vendors, so you may need to account for going to different counters to file paperwork. The two big ones are Global Blue and Premier Tax Free. The counters will stamp your envelopes and then you will select your preferred method of payment. You can choose to get cash (Euros) on the spot or wait for the refund to process on your credit card (this can take 2-3 months).
If you elect to get cash back, you’ll get a little less back than if you wait for the refund on your card. I’ve read stories online of people having terrible experiences with getting their VAT refund back, so if you prefer to get it done then and there and have peace of mind, you may want to get cash back. Then you need to make sure you actually mail the envelopes so they can be formally processed.
Slip dresses have been trending for a while now, but they are continuing to have a moment this season. I love slip dresses for their comfort and versatility, they work for a night out but I’ve also been known to wear them to the office. Even though my office dress code errs on the side of casual, I still like to work in trend focused pieces so I get more bang for my buck.
I’ve really been making more of an effort to buy more quality, timeless pieces this year and it’s made me entirely rethink how I shop for clothes. Regarding slip dresses, they really run the style gamut from very slinky and short to long and classy. It’s up to your personal style but I guarantee you can find one that works for you! Linking some of my favorite slip dresses below as well as some ways I’ve been wearing mine.
Slip Dresses
How to style a slip dress
+ Wear on its own. Slip dresses look great on their own, paired with a wide brimmed hat during the day or your favorite heels at night. It’s an extremely versatile piece that looks great by itself or layered. I especially love this midi version from Cami NYC.
+ Under a big sweater. I love this look for fall – pairing a silk slip dress with a big cozy fall knit. At the end of the day, comfort is always key for me, but that doesn’t mean you have to look like a slouch.
+ Layered with a tee. Fashion girls have been dressing down their slip dresses for a while now, pairing them with a casual white tee for daytime.
+ Paired with faux fur or leather. Especially as the temperatures drop, it helps to throw a faux fur or leather jacket over your favorite slip dress.
Spotted everywhere at NYFW and on the street – leopard print. This fall, leopard is back with a vengeance in so many fabrics and pieces. Forget any previous misconceptions you may have on leopard print – it’s not too loud or out there. In fact, it’s basically a neutral this season, and anyone can wear it. They say a leopard never changes its spots, but I beg to differ. Leopard print has completely won me over this year!
This House of Harlowleopard sweater from Revolve caught me eye and has become a weekday and weekend staple. Because it still feels like summer during the day, I paired it with a denim mini, but you can just as easily wear it with cropped jeans or leather leggings.
See full outfit details below and some of my favorite leopard picks for this season.
Like many people, I often discover new brands and like to shop through Instagram. My obsession with Hot as Hell started when I saw photos of their Queen 4 a Day dress on Instagram a few years ago. Fast forward to today and I have the dress in two colors and several other pieces from their swim and clothing collections.
I just had to share them on the blog because not only do they have the dreamiest and “hahtest” brand. Everything is sustainable and no-fuss, meaning you can bring it anywhere and toss it in the wash whenever. Their line is “easy wear, easy care,” which is exactly up my alley. I took dresses, kimonos, bikinis from Hot as Hell on my recent trip to Europe and it was just a complete lifesaver. If you live in Los Angeles, be sure to check out one of their warehouse sales for discounts.
Take their signature “Queen 4 a Day” dress, which is pretty much everything you could want in a dress. It comes in a variety of colors (how gorgeous is that red?!), and is lightweight, machine washable, and packable. I love that despite how comfortable the dress is, it’s still perfect for day or night – just depends on if you want to dress it up or down. And it comes in a bodysuit version as well, which I’m eyeing right now…
