There’s something about designer duds that make every lover of fashion just a little bit giddy (I’m living proof when strutting down the street with my favorite Furla carryall). And no one knows that better than the pros at Hallandale Beach–based LuxeDH. Purveyors of authentic, pre-loved luxury handbags from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Balenciaga, they told me how they’ve seen it all, from handbag hoarders to handling some of the most coveted pieces in the runway world.

It’s time to make your own pre-loved designer discoveries. Our Handbags by Louis Vuitton & More: Picks by LuxeDH Boutique opens Saturday, April 13, at 11AM ET.

By Abigail Kuzia, Editor

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We drool over them. We dream about them. Leather and coated canvas Louis Vuitton accessories are at the top of every fashion-loving woman’s bucket list (guilty). But how do we pick from the bounty of enviable styles? Break it down to the essentials that will fit inside:

The Messenger: With crossbody style and dapper double-strap closure, this bag has room for everything from laptops and folders to tablets and any other gadget you need to get your work done. Man or woman, this is the bag for the coffee-shop warrior.

The Neverfull: True to its name, there is room for almost anything you need to take you from the office to happy hour without missing a beat. That extra pair of heels is no contest for its wide-set interior. This is the bag for the on-the-go socialite.

The Keepall: Boasting plenty of space for a long-weekend wardrobe that includes two boot options (a girl needs variety), consider overpacking – at least the obvious kind – a thing of the past. This is the bag for the no-shoe-left-behind advocate.

The Speedy: There’s something about a bag that can fit your sunglasses (without crushing them) and a copy of your favorite novel without losing its shape that makes a girl weak in the knees. This is the bag for the die-hard romantic.

The Pochette: Small enough to fit daintily under your arm but big enough to safeguard the must-haves (red lipstick. Never. Leave. Without it.), ladylike elegance is this number’s forte. And in trending emerald green? This is the bag for the informed fashionista.

Our Handbags by Louis Vuitton: Picks by Bella Bag Boutique opens Saturday, February 2, at 11AM ET.

By Abigail Kuzia, Editor

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Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Balenciaga, Hermès – consider these names the fab four of handbag designers. From their sought-after silhouettes to the have-to-have-them labels, Roberto Szerer of LUXEDH talks details. Having trouble seeing your life without one? Snap them up in our From the Reserve: Handbags by Louis Vuitton & More Boutique.

Rue La La: You’ve seen your fair share of designer handbags. How can you tell the real from the knockoffs?
Roberto: Over the years, our authenticators have acquired these skills by looking at thousands and thousands of what is real and what is a knockoff. The authenticity of a handbag is determined by many factors, among them certain aspects of bags like serial numbers, date codes, materials, hardware, and other criteria like patterns of leather, etc. Continue reading “The Fab Four: Roberto Szerer of LUXEDH Talks Designer Handbags” »

The dream job for a self-proclaimed shopaholic? For Linda Lightman, founder of shoplindasstuff.com, it’s making coveted items available to the whole world. From have-to-have-them designers like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Proenza Schouler, our  Rue’s Little Secret: Linda’s Stuff Boutique warrants a total fashion frenzy. Here, I caught up with the e-commerce guru on where her big idea came from and what she loves most about the UPS man.

First off, how did you get started?
12 years ago my kids had old video games that they wanted to sell. We went to the local game store to trade them in for new ones, but we were only getting about $5 for each game that we originally bought for $50 or more. My son suggested putting our old games on eBay instead to see if we could get more money for them. So, we went home and put them online and the sales were amazing. We were getting almost full price for the same games on eBay.

And then that transitioned to clothes and luxury goods?
Yes. I decided to start selling my old clothes on eBay instead of going to the consignment shop like I usually did. Once I ran out of things to sell, I ended up helping my friends sell their old things on eBay and that business grew from word of mouth. Now I partner with stores and retailers to sell merchandise that they are getting rid of or need help selling. The stores wanted to be able to have a fresh new look all the time, and I was able to help them do that while still helping them make a profit off these items.

Tell us about your warehouse.
I was selling everything out of my home, but I ended up having to hire people to take photos of the merchandise and help me run my business. Now I have 85 employees and a 25,000 square foot warehouse.

That’s incredible. What types of items sell the best online?
Handbags and shoes definitely sell the best on our site, but designer clothing, jewelry, and men’s clothing all do really well too. I came to find out that as long as we were selling discerning designer names, then people would buy them. Sometimes people come onto the site looking for something specific, like a classic quilted Chanel handbag, and find a vintage Chanel dress that they didn’t know they needed until that very moment. The best thing about it is that there is something for everyone.

As if I have to ask, what do you love most about what you do?
It’s like Christmas every day. We get hundreds of boxes in the morning, and for a shopaholic like me, it’s unbelievable. We love when UPS comes, because we get to see all the new items coming in and what’s hot now. I love what I do.

Our Rue’s Little Secret: Linda’s Stuff Boutique opens Tuesday, September 25, at 11AM ET.

By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer

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