With sky-high restaurants that are just made to be photographed, supercars available for rent, and malls filled to the brim with designer goods, the UAE is a place that caters to those who like to show off.
But even if the shops at Fashion Avenue at The Dubai Mall is well, well, well out of your price range, you can still live the high life without the mega prices by buying designer goods from one of these spots.
No one will know where you bought it from, after all (although we imagine you’ll definitely end up showing off all your bargains, too).
Bagatelle Boutique
If designer bags are your weakness, you should check out Bagatelle Boutique. While it may no longer have a physical store, you can still buy pre-loved handbags and other accessories through the Instagram page @bagatelleboutique. You can find all their latest goodies on Instagram stories, as well as on the grid. Plus, they’ll also buy your old designer bags from you if you’re looking to have a clear out (or, more likely, switch it out for something more your style).
instagram.com/bagatelleboutique (055 312 6822).
Bazaara
This peer-to-peer selling platform isn’t exclusively for designer goods, but you can still pick up a bargain if you keep your eyes peeled. Brands we’ve spotted in the past include Chanel, Christian Louboutin and Moschino, and you can look for your favourites in the search bar.
Bazaara, on iOS and Android. bazaara.ae.
Garderobe
Having been around for nearly a decade, Garderobe is a well-loved and trusted option for buying and selling designer goods. All products are authenticated before being sold, and if something fake does slip through the cracks, you can get a full refund. There are tonnes of bags, shoes and clothes at all price points and from designers ranging from Chanel to Valentino, so you’re sure to find something you like. You can shop online, or head to the physical store in Umm Suqeim 2 in Dubai.
Open Sat-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri noon-7pm. Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim 2, garderobe.ae (04 394 2753).
RETOLD
As probably the biggest second hand store in Dubai, you’ll almost certainly have heard of RETOLD. If you haven’t, the boutique in Al Quoz has two floors, with the first floor dedicated to high street goods and the ground floor to designer. It’s absolutely massive, and we could spend literally hours here browsing through all the clothes, shoes, and bags on offer. If you can’t make it down to the store, you can also shop online. We’d recommend heading over to the Instagram page @shopretold, too, as there are regular sales advertised on Instagram stories.
Open Sat-Thu 10am-7pm; Fri 11am-7pm. Al Quoz, shopretold.com (050 524 5721).
The Closet
Another oldie-but-goldie, with nearly a decade of sales under its belt, The Closet is the largest consignment shop in the Middle East, with branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Egypt. Bag addicts will be like kids in a candy store, as there are tonnes of options from brands like Celine, Prada and YSL. The Closet’s focus is on bags, but you’ll also be able to pick up jewellery and other accessories, plus wallets and watches for men.
Dubai: Daily 10am-10pm. Town Centre, Jumeirah 1, theclosetonlineshop.com (055 435 0365).
Abu Dhabi: Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu Fri 10am-midnight. Yas Mall, Yas Island theclosetonlineshop.com (055 435 0365).
Thrift for Good
While Thrift for Good has been selling pre-loved items for a while, it only recently opened a physical store at Golden Mile Galleria on the Palm. Like RETOLD, this spot isn’t specifically for designer goods, but plenty have passed through its doors, and you might be lucky enough to save some serious cash. If you can’t make it down in person, there’s a luxury section on the website. The best part? Everything you buy helps support Gulf for Good, which runs charity projects in nearly 30 countries.
Open daily 10am-10pm. Golden Mile Galleria, Palm Jumeirah, thriftforgood.org (04 569 3086).
