A DESIGNER PARTY DRESS FOR LESS

DÉPÔT/VENTE SHOPS GENEVA

by Vivian Holding & Suzy Parker

Let’s face it, living in Geneva is not cheap, although we here at thingstodoingeneva.ch do our best to guide you to discover what’s free, cheap and affordably priced in the city, as well as of course some of the unavoidable ‘Geneva priced’ things.

If you are on the look out for that perfect little outfit to wear to a work’s Christmas party or a special night out, but your budget won’t stretch to paying full price for an item you may only ever wear a couple of times – perhaps a dépôt/vente shop may be just the place you need.

Better known as a dress agency and quite often tagged with the words ‘pre-loved’ and ‘pre-owned’, they are shops specialising in buying and selling fantastic quality clothes and accessories at a fraction of the original retail price.

Why buy second-hand? Well …..

It’s green – recycling clothes helps the save the environment.
It’s much more affordable (up to 50% cheaper in most cases).
It’s much more of a rewarding experience – the thrill of the hunt is so much sweeter when you find that special piece.

For a fun round-up of the ultimate red party dresses on the High Street and in some of Geneva’s pricier boutiques read this article.

Suzy Parker, shares her secret to some of her favourite local dépôt/vente shops.

CHANEL FOR THE PRICE OF KAREN MILLEN

I love the opportunity to visit my local dépôt/vente shops in Carouge – you can get some beautiful clothes e.g. a Chanel dress for the price of a Karen Millen one, or a Karen Millen dress for the price of a Zara one. The owners work hard to keep the quality high, so they are very nice places to shop and a fantastic way to make some money if you have nice clothes you no longer want to keep. And now is the perfect time to explore them if you’re looking for the perfect dress for your Christmas party.

Here are my top 4 shops in Carouge, ranging from high end to designer plus one in Eaux-Vives that is great for kids clothes. Do remember to check their opening times if you are making a special trip as they tend to have shorter opening times than standard shops.

GARÇON MANQUÉE

This is the crème de la crème of dèpôt/vente shops as the owner only takes in designer clothes. They don’t hold a huge amount of stock, so you might not buy something every time you visit, but it’s a lovely place to browse. I recommend popping in regularly as the stock changes frequently.

ADDRESS: 31 rue Saint Joseph, 1227 Carouge.

TELEPHONE: 022 342 21 30

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/numero6boutique/

GARDE À VUE

Another of my favourites is Garde à Vue, as I’ve found several really unique pieces there which always draw complements when I wear them.

ADDRESS: 19 rue Jacques-Dalphin, 1227 Carouge.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Gardeavue1227/

AFFAIRES À SUIVRE

Another one with designer clothes, but the owner will also take Karen Millen and the equivalent, provided she thinks they will sell. Well worth popping in regularly – you will definitely pick up some nice things from there.