22/05/2026 7:50 am
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Im trying to get ahead of the game for next year and honestly looking at 2026 holiday sales because my sister is getting married in February 2026 and I need to look decent without going totally broke lol. I did some digging and saw that SSENSE and Farfetch are usually the go-to recommendations for luxury markdowns but then I read on some other threads that their inventory gets super picked over and the good brands like Loewe or Max Mara barely go on sale at all or only have weird sizes left by the time the real discounts hit. I also heard Saks might have better spend and get gift card events but those always feel like a trap since you have to spend more to save more?
My situation is basically:
- Budget is about $3500 for a coat and a bag
- Based in NYC so I can do in-person but prefer online deals
- Needs to be timeless stuff not just trendy seasonal junk
- Looking specifically for the late 2025 into early 2026 window
Should I be looking at the European boutiques directly? I heard some people get crazy deals from Mytheresa or Net-a-Porter if they use a VPN or something but I dont know if that still works or if it gets caught in customs. Just wondering which brands actually do deep cuts like 40% off or more for their holiday sales vs the ones that just do like 10% and call it a day... any advice on where to focus my energy?
3 Answers
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22/05/2026 7:50 am
> Looking specifically for the late 2025 into early 2026 window Honestly, $3500 for a top-tier coat and bag is doable but you gotta be real careful with the timing. Max Mara icons like the Max Mara Madame 101801 Icon Coat Wool and Silk basically never hit 40% off in NYC or Saks unless its a weird color. I would suggest looking at the S Max Mara line or even the Max Mara Arona Belted Wool Coat to keep your budget safe for the bag. Make sure to watch the private sales. Personal experience says the Loewe Puzzle Edge Bag Small Grained Calfskin hits 30% off on SSENSE around late December, but neutral shades vanish instantly. Be careful with those Mytheresa VPN tricks tho... customs have gotten way stricter lately and you dont want to get stuck with a surprise 15% import tax bill. Just stay focused on the US sites and you'll be fine...
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22/05/2026 8:25 am
Like someone mentioned, Max Mara icons are the standard, but I actually disagree that they never hit 40% off. In my experience, if you look away from the big US department stores and hit up the Italian boutiques like Italist or Residenza 725, you can find the Max Mara Manuela Icon Coat Camel Hair for nearly half off during the January transition. Over the years, I've noticed the US markup is just insane, so your $3500 will go way further if you buy in Euros. I've tried many different bags too, and while the Puzzle is great, the Toteme T-Lock Bag Grained Leather is a much better value for a timeless look that wont feel dated by your sisters wedding. Its got that same architectural vibe but for a fraction of the cost. The leather quality is actually comparable to the top tier houses without the logo tax. Quick tip: Get a card with no foreign transaction fees and shop the European sites directly. Even with customs, you usually save like 20-30% just on the currency conversion and lower base prices. I did this for my Joseph Cenda Belted Wool-Cashmere Coat and it was a total game changer for my budget. Honestly, skip the Saks gift cards... they're basically just a way to keep you on the hook for more spending later.
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22/05/2026 8:35 am
Ugh, I feel that frustration so much. Trying to snag a deal on high-end stuff before the resellers grab everything is honestly a nightmare. I’ve spent way too many nights refreshing pages just to see out of stock the second I hit checkout, its legit the worst feeling ever. But honestly, I’ve been pretty happy lately just letting the pros handle the tracking for me instead of stressing. It works well for my sanity lol.
- Just search for luxury sale calendars on YouTube, there are people who basically do this for a living.
- Look up some of the fashion deal subreddits too, they usually have master threads for the holiday window.
- Honestly just check the main brand sites for their official sale dates, they usually post a schedule if you dig. I saw a really good video about this a while back that explained the whole cycle perfectly. Its way better than guessing!
