The Real Real Review + My new Prada Tote

I sold my first pre-loved designer bag in 2012, bought my first pre-loved designer dress in 2013 and starting consigning for friends and family in 2017. It’s safe to say I love the idea of recycling fashion. But until recently I was hesitant to buy gently used fashion items online. Horror stories of fakes and dupes masked as the real deal had me jaded. That is, of course, until I stumbled upon The Real Real.

What is The Real Real?

The Real Real is an online consignment store that sells gently used (sometimes new) luxury items for 50% to 70% off retail price. Inventory includes clothes, shoes, handbags, art pieces, furniture and jewellery. Items range from $200 to $10,000+ and are priced based on condition, demand and style.

For U.S. sellers the process is easy — The Real Real either sends a shipping label free of charge so that you can ship your item to them, or offers White Glove Services, where a team of authenticators come to your home to asses and value your item.

(*Note* Canadian sellers need to ship items from a U.S. PO Box number and the payment for the piece can only be deposited into a U.S. bank account.)

For buyers the process is even easier. Thousands of items are professionally photographed, with an ‘obsessions’ tab to keep track of every piece you like. It’s as simple as favouriting the item, doing your research, and adding to cart.

This past fall I was in search of a tote that I can use for work, and while I had my heart set on the Diorever bag, I fell in love with this simple Prada tote. It fits my laptop perfectly and is super roomy — perfect for those long days downtown when I’m running video shoots for clients!

Is The Real Real legitimate?

Being a trust worthy seller means everything in the consignment world, and The Real Real emphasizes this. They employ a variety of authenticators including art curators, handbag authenticators, gemologists and horologists.

But even still…

The Real Real under hot water

But even with all those experts The Real Real seems to be under hot water. In 2018 Chanel filed a lawsuit claiming that The Real Real isn’t qualified to authenticate Chanel bags and misleads customers with their marketing verbiage. A lot of the fashion community thinks it’s a ploy — a way of Chanel saying they don’t want their items to be available at a discount, ever. Regardless, it brings to light the question of authenticity.

Note: There are way too many fakes circulating on the internet. I’ve seen faux receipts, faux date codes, etc. Please be careful when buying online and only ever use a trusted seller! No one should ever drop over $1,000 on a fake. If the price is too good to be true, it usually is.

So would I buy a Chanel bag on The Real Real? No. But not because of the authenticity — because when you add import duties and tax on a $5,000 handbag, it defeats the purpose of a discount…

Are the discounted items worth it?

Which brings me into the next point. Canadians always get the short end of the stick, don’t we? While some items on The Real Real sell for a great price, others don’t. Depending on how much the item is discounted, you might end up paying full pop once you add duties and import fees. My Prada tote had high import fees, but the overall price was still 50% less than retail which was worth it.

My overall thoughts

I will continue to buy from there, but am cautious about what I buy and I always (and encourage everyone to do so) price check and price match before making purchases. It’s important to understand the full cost associated with your purchase.

Tip: whenever I splurge on fashion I always think about the resale value. Will it be an investment piece and go up in time? If it depreciates, how quickly will it do so and will I get my wear out of it? If you want to enter the luxury fashion market, this is a great way to make educated purchases.