Q: Dear Bagaholicboy I am new to the world of shopping online, and I was wondering if you could provide a list of merchants who sell online, are reputable and only 100% authentic. Anything else I should know or look out for will also be much appreciated…
R Go

A: Dear R, thanks for the query. Frankly I have been wanting to cover this for the longest time; besides your email I also got many others asking me more or less the same thing. But before I launch into the list proper, here are some points to take note of.

Perks Of Shopping Online
01. Prices are almost always cheaper, especially when the sales are ongoing. It is never hard to score yourself a bargain provided you do your research.

02. You get more options when you shop online in terms of the range available. Buyers in Singapore tend to be very conservative, so what you see in the boutiques here may not be fully representative of what is really available.

03. While you used to have to wait for the new collections to make their way slowly to Singapore, now you don’t have to. LUISAVIAROMA for instance has just launched their ‘Buy It First’ program, allowing you first dibs before everyone else.

Perils Of Shopping Online
01. There are 10 times more online merchants selling fake goods than authentic ones. A good tip; if the prices seem too good to be true, it’s probably fake.

02. Shipping is usually expensive, so check out the online merchant’s rates before you commit. Or look out for promotions that offer free shipping (which happen 2 or 3 times a year) before you purchase.

03. Like I’ve said before, anything that is shipped to Singapore with a stated value of SGD400 or more will be subject to an another levy of 7% GST. If you’re lucky sometimes it gets through without issues, but more usually than not be prepared to fork out the extra.

And here is the list of of online multi-brand merchants I will not hesitate buying from (in alphabetical order that ships internationally including Singapore); Browns, Colette, Diabro, LUISAVIAROMA, Matches, myTheresa, Net-A-Porter, Oki-Ni and Yoox. Brands that ship directly to Singapore include Anya Hindmarch, Burberry, Hayden-Harnett, Lulu Guinness and Mulberry. Specialised bag makers that I like include Carga, Floto and Killspencer.

Honestly there are loads more, but this list should give you enough to look through for the time being. And if you come across anymore but ain’t 100% sure if they are legit feel free to drop me an email.
Love, Bagaholicboy

Image: iStockphoto

And other bits:
1. Arlene, as of now there is still no confirmed news on the opening on Goyard in Singapore. I have a hunch though; Marina Bay Sands.

2. Ed, as far as I know, the quatrefoils and flowers found on the surface of Monogram Canvas are hardy, fading usually only occurs after long periods of use and exposure to the sun. Lots of it.

3. Marian, besides the Chanel Classic Flap, other iconic bags I like that you can check out include the Miu Miu Coffer (gorgeous pleated body), the Loewe Amazona (such angular beauty) and the Fendi Baguette (love that buckle).

4. Syafiqah, given your budget of SGD2000, you have loads of options. If you are not a fan of monograms and want something simple and elegant, why not check out Loewe, Mulberry and YSL; all 3 brands can be pretty discreet with their branding. Better yet, get 2 bags instead of one and budget around SGD1000 each. Those I like include Coach, Kate Spade and Longchamp.

5. Melissa, new colours from Balenciaga next season include Cylade (a deeper shade of Tempete), Sang (brighter than Sanguine), Tomate (burnt orange), Sorbet (luscious deep pink) and many more. And if you want to be first in line when they launch sign up for Erica’s email updates here.