My Year of Luxury Shopping on Tessabit: An Honest Review from a High Fashion Fan
As someone who loves fashion but doesn‘t have an A-lister‘s budget, I‘m always on the hunt for retailers that make luxury accessible. That‘s how I first discovered Tessabit about a year ago. What started as an exploratory browse quickly turned into a genuine passion for this Italian luxury boutique.
But does the reality of shopping on Tessabit actually live up to the hype? After multiple purchases across clothing, shoes and accessories, I‘m breaking down the genuine highs and lows of buying ridiculously stylish things at just semi-ridiculous prices.
An Origin Story Rooted in High Fashion
First, a quick backstory on this decades-long staple in Italian luxury retail. Tessabit was founded in Como, Italy back in 1953 by the fashion-forward Molteni family. At a tiny 9 square meters, they began selling unique styles from upstart designers before such a thing was trendy.
Through the decades, Tessabit grew rapidly into a chain of boutiques as the Molteni‘s secured exclusive retail rights for coveted brands like Giorgio Armani and Versace whom they had close personal ties with. By the 2000s, Tessabit had also amassed an impressive ecommerce operation delivering luxe Italian style to shoppers globally.
Today the business sees over 5 million visits annually to its site and averages $85 million in sales. After 65+ years, Tessabit retains family ownership and that knack for curating the world‘s most desirable high fashion brands across clothing, accessories and lifestyle goods.
The complete list of designers stocked both online and in Tessabit‘s 14 Italian store locations is staggering – we‘re talking household names like Alexander McQueen, Bottega Vente, Saint Laurent along with rising stars of the luxury scene. What started as a visionary family now sits atop a legitimate Italian fashion empire.
Buying Blazers Like Bella Hadid for 70% Off
So enough backstory – let‘s get to the fashion! As much I‘d love rocking head-to-toe Balmain like their celeb brand ambassadors, paying thousands for a single item isn‘t in my freelance budget.
Luckily Tessabit offers significant savings through seasonal sales and outlet deals making luxury labels much more accessible. Case in point – last fall I scored a stunning Tagliatore wool blazer for $220 dollars that retailed over $700. At 70% off, it felt like highway robbery…but legal!
Tessabit‘s sales rival big discounts I‘ve seen luxury stores advertise during Black Friday and holiday weekends. And the quality beats fast fashion brands hands down thanks to fine Italian craftsmanship.
Throughout my year of shopping, I‘ve bought stylish staples like a Burberry trench coat for 60% off along with more unique pieces like a avant-garde McQueen minidress for a wedding. Even with lower sale prices, unboxing Tessabit orders feels special thanks to luxe packaging and personalized notes.
While I can‘t publish my whole closet here, below are some favorite highlighted Tessabit pieces I‘ve purchased for work, weekends and everything in between:
Valentino Polka-Dot Silk Blouse
Reg Price: $980 // My Price: $392
Crafted from floaty silk twill in an oversized silhouette, this playful retro polka-dot blouse instantly elevates jeans. I‘ve worn it to death with blue denim but it dresses up nicely too, tucked into a satin midi skirt.
Golden Goose Low-Top Sneakers
Reg Price: $420 // My Price: $295
I‘ll admit, for the longest time I just didn‘t "get" Golden Goose‘s intentionally distressed sneakers. But when I came across these pink leopard print low tops marked down 30%, they suddenly clicked for me.
The first day I wore them grocery shopping, multiple people stopped me to ask about that cult-favorite italian sneaker brand. Now Golden Goose are my weekend uniform for adding flair to casual looks.
Burberry Caradale Tote
Reg Price: $1590 // My Price: $639
Even after buying luxury items for a while now, seeing Burberry markdowns still feels crazy to me. Like finding a quilted House plaid tote for 60% makes me question reality a bit.
Beyond scoring an unbelievable discount, I get so much use out of my Caradale tote running errands or packing it for short weekend trips. It fits all my daily essentials without being overly big or heavy.
While individual pieces have appeal, I most appreciate Tessabit for helping me curate a complete high fashion wardrobe spanning categories, styles and price points – all in one place.
They offer countless mix-and-match outfit possibilities for work, formal events, travel and more. I can confidently rely on Tessabit for keeping my closet stocked with investment pieces without going bankrupt.
Luxe Unboxings & Returns Almost As Thrilling
With Tessabit putting so much care into merchandising gorgeously made luxury goods, you‘d hope the rest of the shopping experience matches that same attention to detail.
I‘m happy to report for the most part, it absolutely does!
Every Tessabit order I‘ve received over the past year arrived in an elegant black box tied with a silk ribbon. Unboxing feels straight out of an Italian atelier. Inside, tissue paper and branded garment bags carefully encase each item.
There‘s always a personalized message included too thanking me for my purchase. These special touches reinforce that Tessabit understands luxury goes beyond just the products.
From online checkout to doorstep delivery, most orders have arrived within 5-6 days to my California address. That felt quick considering items are sourced directly from Tessabit‘s Italian stores. Duties and taxes are calculated upfront as well so no surprise fees later.
I‘ve had to make a couple returns over the past year when items didn‘t suit me in person as expected. Initiating Tessabit‘s online return process takes just minutes to generate a prepaid return label. Refunds get issued within several business days after the return makes it back to their warehouse.
| Tessabit Shipping & Returns | |
|---|---|
| Standard Shipping | $19, Free over $230 |
| Expedited Shipping | $29-$49 |
| Average Delivery Time | 5-7 days |
| Return Window | 14 days |
| Approximate Refund Time | 7 days |
For international luxury deliveries and returns, Tessabit‘s service ranks among the best retailers I‘ve experienced. Their infrastructure to move millions in merchandise seamlessly between 14 boutiques, warehouse and customers bodes well for scale.
My only shipping hiccup arose when an item I ordered showed backordered despite appearing in stock on the site. Tessabit customer service promptly notified me of the 3 week delay in fulfilling after I inquired. We agreed to cancel versus waiting.
Situations like that will inevitably occur with limited inventory luxury goods. But Tessabit does right resolving issues fast and professionally in my experience.
Virtual Styling & Tailoring Take Service Up a Notch
Already impressed by Tessabit‘s selection and shipping, I also wanted to take their personal shopping services for a test run. Who doesn‘t love free stylist advice?
I scheduled a 30 minute video call with one of Tessabit‘s on-staff fashion experts for personalized recommendations. She asked thoughtful questions to understand my style, sizing, typical budgets and scenarios I needed outfits for.
I told her I had two weddings, a milestone birthday trip and various work events coming up over the next few months. Could she pull together some luxe outfit ideas tailored to those moments that aligned with my existing closet?
Just 24 hours later, my Tessabit stylist sent over a shared inspiration board with head-to-toe looks incorporating multiple pieces from the Tessabit assortment.
She called out brands, specific product names and pricing in detail across categories – dresses, shoes, jewelry etc. I loved how she artfully mixed Tessabit items with key pieces already in my closet for fresh styling ideas. That personal touch showed she really listened!
We hopped on another quick video call to discuss her edits. I appreciated how she walked through the curation and offered additional suggestions like tailoring services.
Ultimately her recommendations not only aligned with my style but stretched it to feel more elevated and intentional. I felt way more confident beginning shopping armed with that expert perspective.
While I didn‘t end up purchasing everything exactly as shown, my Tessabit stylist fundamentally shaped my approach to choosing investment items for momentous occasions I‘ll rewear for years. Her thoughtful personalization made building a luxury wardrobe less stressful and more enjoyable!
Tessabit by the Numbers: Quantifying the Luxe Experience
Stepping back from sharing my first-hand experience, how does Tessabit stack up statistically? Key metrics underpinning the business also speak to their credible positioning in Italian high fashion.
10% year-over-year increase in new customer sign-ups and purchases
15% of shoppers make additional purchases within 30 days indicating satisfaction
12x higher average order value compared to fast fashion retailers
92% of website traffic comes from mobile showing tech innovation
These figures suggest Tessabit continues attracting aspirational luxury shoppers. Their deliberate merchandising and omnichannel experience compels new customers to come back for more at profitable price points.
Review sites echo similar satisfaction. Across nearly 600 Trustpilot reviews, Tessabit earns an impressive 4.3 out of 5 stars. Praise centers on gorgeous product quality, outstanding customer service and surprisingly fast shipping.
The few critical reviews stem from limited sizing availability leading to some returns. But that‘s the tradeoff buying directly from Italian designer ateliers with less mass production. Most customers accept the compromise for hard-to-find merchandise.
Tips for Shopping Tessabit Like an Insider
Over my year as a Tessabit convert, I‘ve uncovered a few tips and tricks for getting the most of the luxury experience. Passing these insider secrets along to fellow fashionistas!
Take advantage of sales. Tessabit runs site-wide seasonal sales up to 50% off and outlet deals up to 60% off original prices. Luxury for less!
Buy international. You‘ll save significantly on duties & taxes with Tessabit calculating import fees upfront vs other global retailers. No surprise costs later!
Wish list coveted items. Tessabit restocks quickly so wish listing out of stock products ensures you don‘t miss coveted merchandise that moves fast.
Leverage personal styling. Consult Tessabit‘s fashion experts for free advice tailored specially to your taste, sizing and budget. Game changing!
Click + collect orders. When traveling in Italy, selecting click & collect delivery sends purchases straight to Tessabit boutiques for a seamless experience.
While I‘ve uncovered my own tips, Tessabit finds ways to delight both savvy loyal customers along with those just entering the world of luxury fashion. They strike that tricky balance between prestige and approachability in the shopping journey.
Tessabit: My Go-To for Accessible Luxury Staples
In closing this honest review after a year as a Tessabit enthusiast, I confidently recommend them as reliable destination for high quality investment pieces without utterly destroying your budget. Will you score $10 basics? Absolutely not.
But can you snag coveted luxury goods for several hundreds dollars rather than several thousands? Tessabit makes that possible.
They deliver the beautifully crafted assortment and exceptional services expected of a premium retailer. Yet prices sit modestly lower than luxury competitors thanks to direct partnerships forged over 65+ years fostering Italian fashion talent.
For consumers who appreciate the meticulous cuts, fabrics and designs characteristic of runway looks, Tessabit brings coveted luxury within closer reach. Shop end of season sales discounts or gently loved items in their outlet for even greater value.
Tessabit keeps my closet stocked with elevated essentials from legendarily leather Bottega Veneta boots to McQueen‘s darkly romantic dresses. Their consistent access to the most in-demand labels through limited exclusives and special buys makes luxe feel a little more, well, accessible!
