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The Ultimate Guide to Designer Fashion That Appreciates in Value

Author: Stylist and brand team at Tellar

Date: 2025

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Author: Tellar Styling Team

Date: July 2025

Disclaimer: This post is entirely honest, independent, and always free. No sponsorships or paid placements.

Fashion is often seen as a depreciating asset—but some clothing brands defy that rule.

While most garments lose value once worn, certain designers produce pieces that not only retain their worth but appreciate over time, becoming collector’s items, resale stars, or future vintage icons.

This guide breaks down the fashion brands and designers whose pieces are most likely to increase in value, why they do, and how you can make smart wardrobe investments today.

What Makes Fashion Appreciate in Value?

Not all designer clothing becomes an investment. The following factors are key:

1. Limited Production Runs

Scarcity increases value. Capsule collections, runway exclusives, and one-off collaborations are more likely to appreciate than mass-produced seasonal drops.

2. Iconic or Cult Status

If an item is tied to a fashion moment, celebrity, or cultural shift, its resale value skyrockets.

3. Craftsmanship and Materials

Hand-finishing, couture techniques, and high-grade materials (cashmere, silk, Italian wool) ensure longevity—and resale desirability.

4. Brand Prestige & Market Demand

High-tier brands with international demand (especially in Asia and the Middle East) tend to hold value best.

Clothing Designers That Appreciate Over Time

Here are the fashion houses and designers whose pieces are considered investment-worthy:

1. Chanel

Chanel ready-to-wear, especially tweed jackets and logo-emblazoned pieces, regularly increase in value on the resale market.

Why:

  • Limited quantities

  • Strong global demand (particularly in Asia)

  • Timeless silhouettes

Best investments:

  • Vintage boucle jackets

  • Paris-Dallas and Métiers d’Art collections

  • Rare seasonal colours

2. Dior (by Galliano or Maria Grazia Chiuri)

Dior’s recent revival under Chiuri and legacy Galliano collections have become sought-after.

Why:

  • Feminist slogans, corsetry, tailored jackets

  • Galliano-era pieces are becoming archival

Best investments:

  • “We Should All Be Feminists” tees (first run)

  • Saddle bags and logo bodysuits

  • Tailored wool coats

3. Hermès

While Hermès is better known for bags, its clothing—particularly cashmere outerwear and leather pieces—has become a high-value niche.

Why:

  • Ultra-limited production

  • Highest-level craftsmanship

  • Never discounted

Best investments:

  • Double-faced cashmere coats

  • Lambskin trousers or wrap skirts

4. Yves Saint Laurent (YSL / Saint Laurent Paris)

Vintage YSL, particularly from the 70s–90s, has become one of the most collectible designer categories.

Why:

  • Runway pieces are being reissued

  • Archive sales are driving demand

Best investments:

  • Rive Gauche coats and blazers

  • Silk eveningwear

  • Le Smoking jackets

5. Phoebe Philo-era Céline

Collectors and fashion editors hoard Céline from Philo’s minimalist reign (2008–2018).

Why:

  • Discontinued forever

  • Clean lines, neutral palettes

  • Surged in resale value post-departure

Best investments:

  • Belted wrap coats

  • Wide-leg trousers

  • Structured tunics

6. Gucci by Tom Ford (1995–2004)

This iconic era is prized for its sex appeal and runway legacy.

Why:

  • Pre-owned Tom Ford Gucci is rare and bold

  • Reissues have reignited interest

Best investments:

  • Satin slip dresses

  • Logo corsets

  • Velvet tailoring

7. Ralph Lauren Purple Label & Collection

While more classic in aesthetic, Ralph Lauren’s high-end lines maintain value due to quality and wearability.

Why:

  • Low production, high-end tailoring

  • Strong demand in menswear resale

Best investments:

  • Cashmere outerwear

  • Heritage tweeds

  • Wool suits

Explore more in:

📍 Ultimate Guide to Ralph Lauren Investment Pieces

8. Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood archive pieces—especially tailoring—have seen surging value posthumously.

Why:

  • British fashion heritage

  • Sustainability relevance

  • Cult Gen Z revival

Best investments:

  • Tartan mini skirts

  • Corset tops

  • Blazers and orb logo pieces

9. Maison Margiela

Artisanal and numbered collections consistently command top resale prices.

Why:

  • Avant-garde design with limited release

  • Deconstruction trend influence

  • High editorial and academic interest

Best investments:

  • Numbered line pieces (0–6)

  • Tabi boots

  • Deconstructed outerwear

10. Comme des Garçons

Especially the Rei Kawakubo-designed lines, which are highly collectible and museum-worthy.

Why:

  • Conceptual fashion

  • Cult fashion week status

  • Gender-fluid shaping

Best investments:

  • Runway coats and blazers

  • Tulle-structured pieces

  • Collaboration capsules (e.g., H&M, Supreme)

Other Honourable Mentions

  • Bode (New York): Patchwork heritage shirts now fetch 2–3x retail

  • The Row: Luxe tailoring and knitwear with enduring minimalism

  • Prada: Nylon reissues and 90s archive resurface every few years

  • Marine Serre: Moon-print archive gaining value fast

  • Burberry (Heritage Trench): Limited editions hold value well

Tellar.co.uk: Your Fit for Designer Investment Pieces

Before you buy a collector’s item, ensure the fit is perfect—especially when shopping online or second-hand.

Tellar.co.uk helps you match your body measurements to 1,500+ brands, including luxury designers. Whether you’re buying new or resale, you’ll know the right size instantly.

✅ Use your bust, waist, and hip measurements

✅ Or enter a brand you already own

✅ Tellar tells you your exact size in any label

✅ Ideal for designer resale sites or archive hunting

How to Use Tellar.co.uk

  1. Create your free profile

  2. Use the Store Size Lookup

  3. Download a free printable measuring tape

  4. Find your exact size in real-time across 1,500+ brands

No more guesswork. No more returns. No more wrong vintage sizing.

Explore now:

📍 The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide

📍 Finding Your Clothes Size

📍 UK vs USA vs European Sizes

Follow Tellar for Daily Fashion & Fit Advice

Final Word

Fashion doesn’t have to be disposable. With the right knowledge and tools, you can buy clothing that grows in value, wears beautifully, and becomes part of your personal archive.

Tellar.co.uk gives you the fit confidence to shop investment fashion properly—knowing your exact size, understanding the designer’s cut, and getting it right the first time.

Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.

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